ROWING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 57, 1 December 1926, Page 8

ROWING

(By

“Sculls.”)

Star Boating Club. Regatta crews of the Star Boating Club for the season have already been announced. Those who are not included are reminded that these crews are by no means unalterable, and are urged to be in readiness to fill any vacancies that, may occur." It is the intention of tho Match Committee to select No. 2 crews to participate in the Mothes Shield Regatta. In order that the club races be interfered with as little as possible, these No. 2 crews will be given comparatively short notice and will be selected so far as possible from men who are paying close attention to club race training. If any No. 2 crew puts up a sufficiently good performance in the Mothes Shield Regatta, it will be given an opportunity cf starting at the Wellington Regatta and possibly also at the championship regatta at Picton. Club races were continued by the Star Boating Club on Saturday, the first and second heats of the senior doubles being rowed off in calm water, although rain fell incessantly throughout the afternoon. In the first heat Diehl (str.) and Cudhy (bow) beat McLean (str.) and Foden (bow) bv about four lengths. From the start Diehl had tho advantage and maintained a fair lead throughout the race. The second heat was won by Whittaker (str.) and Leask (bow) from H. Waugh (str.) and Lovell (bow) by a good margin. The final was rowed off on Monday evening, Whittaker defeating Diehl by about six inches, after an exciting race. Several heats of the junior pairs were also rowed off. Thomas (str.) and Webb ()x>w) defeated Bell (str.) and McGibbon (bow). H. F. McLean (str.) and Butler (bow) were defeated by Sampson (str.) and Alitehell (bow). Bolton (str.) and Hinkley (bow) defeated Walpole (str.) nnd Russell (bow). Thomas wits defeated by Bolton. The next race on the club race programme is the Ladies’ Fours. This will be rowed on Saturday. December 4. provided the wenther is suitable on that day, and, failing this, on the first following suitable Saturday. The race will be open to all memlxirs of the club (including regatta men) and will be rowed through all bents and rounds to a finish on the one afternoon over a course of about a quarter of a mile.

Purchase of Eights. The New Zealand Bowins’ Association has increased its order for rowing eights from nine to thirteen. The order for nine eights was nlaeed in England some two months ago. but since then Canterbury and Auckland have increased their applications by two, and consecuently the New Zealand Conn- 11 has increased the order. It is unlikelv that all the boats will be to hand in the Dominion much before the end of February next, although there is a likelihood of some of the boats Jieirg shipnod earlier, so as to bo nv diable for the ehamninnshin reiratin wh’ch takes niece at T>icfon about the middle of Fobrua'w. The thirteen boats landed in New Zealand will cost the council about £2690.

Permanent Championship Control. Commenting on the proposal to establish a permanent course for chanipionshlp regattas, a writer in the Chrisehnreh "Star” remarking on the fact

that the Wellington Rowing Aeweaa tion’s remit at the annual meeting or the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, advocating a permanent course for the New Zealand championships regatta was negatived, states that this question was first brought up some thirv years ago, and since then, at frequent intervals, has been more or less perfunctorily discussed, but it has never been tackled seriously despite its great importance. From the brief published, report of the arguments for and against the proposal, it would appear that views were much the same as they were when ,■ it was first mooted. The Wellington, delegate gave good reasons in support • of the remit, his association being of the opinion that some of the courses selected for the championships were unsuitable, that the regatta should be held at a place easy of access to all clubs; that the course should be ascentral as possible, and that it should . be fair to all competitors. These are excellent ' reasons for a permanent course and cannot be disputed. But the old parochial spirit is as prominent as ever, judging from the. remarks of the opposition, whose main objections were that every association should have the championships in turn, that the movement for the selection of a permanent course displayed a selfish , r’m expensed of running the regatta would be too great a financial strain upon the association to which K wa“ nermanentlv allotted, and that noting wild ’of the championships gave a fillip to rowing in the centre carrying it out. At the same timfl the opposition agreed that, in some respects, the existing system was not satisfactory. Years of experience have convinced every unbiased person that a change is necessary, and that the big event in the Dominion rowing should be carried out at as central a place as can be obtained, and has available a fair course, that is. a course on which no competitor has an advantage over another as regards position. The local associations" should take a much broader view of the subject than hitherto has been the case, and sink local desires for a policy of the general welfare of the sport. But the change is not likely to be brought about if its . advocates are content merely to advance the proposal at on annual meeting of the New Zealand Association. Reforms are not usually effected in that manner. If the Wellington Rowing Association is honestly of opinion that, a permanent championship course is accessary in the interests of the sport, then it should enter upon a systematic campaign amongst the local as-ociations. giving its reason for th« change, and answering the of the opposition, and keep hammen ing away until the truth comes home the disbelievers. Selfishness, and ignon a nee and indifference are amongst tM causes of objection to reforms. Surely the advocacy of a policy advanced in the general interests of the sport, cannot be regarded as selfishness, though apparently one speaker at the meeting thought so. One would be inclined to think it quite the opposite. Should not the interests of the sport, as a whole, be given priority over local demree"