OTAGO ROWING ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 19802, 28 February 1928, Page 10

OTAGO ROWING ASSOCIATION

EXECUTIVE MEETS A meeting of the executive of tlic Otago Rowing Association was Jiclcl last evening, Mr E. V. Fairbaini presiding. EIGHT-OARED RACE. The Chairman stated that, owing to unfavorable weather, the eight-oared race arranged to bo rowed between the North .End crew and the Lower Harbor had not taken place. The Lower Harbor eight had not made any effort to put in an appearance attenvards, and he did not think that this was the right attitude to adopt. Mr W. J. Wilson said that the Port Chalmers men were very busy at that time. They were widely scattered, and it took some time to notify all of them. Tho men were always willing to fall in with arrangements for a trial. It was unfortunate that bad weather and other circumstances had intervened. Tho Chairman said that Mr Wilson’s explanation was quite satisfactory. EDMOND SHIELD. It was stated that the Southland Rowing Association intended to decide the race for tho interprovincial Edmond Shield at tho Invercargill regatta on March 10. Tho raco was included in tho programme, and it had no right to be there. The shield was won by Otago last year, and it had not been forwarded to the Otago Association. _ It was decided to write to the Southland Association, stating that the Otago clubs had received a draft copy of the Invercargill regatta programme, which stated that the race for the Edmond Shield would be rowed at the regatta on March 10. It was also decided to refer the Southland Association to tho Otago Association’s previous letter, which was to the effect that the local body had withdrawn from the competition. INTERPROVINCIAL RACE.

Mr S. G. Styche moved that the resolution passed at a meeting held recently at Port Chalmers, to the effect that no eight-oared crew bo sent to contest the interprovincial race at Wellington on March 24. bo rescinded, Mr Wilson said that the association could not bear the expense of sending ten men to Wellington. Then, again, it would not be fair to send the Otago men when they had no training. The Canterbury and other provincial crews had been training together for some time, and such being the ease an Otago eight would bo at a disadvantage. It was a pity that such was the position, but he was of the opinion that it would be better if a crew was not sent to .Wellington this year. The Chairman said _ that it was to he regretted that the eight could not bo sent owing to the lack of fiimnc';. If oarsmen insisted that an eight sent to Wellington, then the association would have to sacrifice the _ annual Otago regatta, and he was not in favor of such a proposal.

After further discussion, Mr Styche’s motion was put to the meeting and lost. GENERAL. The programme arranged for the association’s annual regatta, to he held on Friday, March 23, was approved. It was decided to subscribe £1 from tho association’s funds towards the fund for defraying the expense of sending an eight-oared crew to the Olympic: Gaines at Antwerp. Tho Ravensbournc Regatta Committee’s suggestion that a youths’ four and a maiden four race he rowed in connection with the Ravensbournc regatta, to he hold on Saturday, March 3, was approved. Mr W. Lysaght was appointed starter, Mr C. R. Caflin umpire, and Messrs E. V. Fairbaini and W. Glengarry judges of the rowing races at tho Ravensbournc regatta, Mr E. V. Fairbaini was appointed starter and Mr C. R. Caffm umpire for the Queenstown regatta, to be held on Easter Saturday. Mr Fairbaini will also represent the Now Zealand Amateur Rowing Association.