BOATING GOSSIP.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 193, 21 January 1875, Page 3

BOATING GOSSIP.

{From the Press.) The meeting held the other night, to settle the preliminaries for the Heathcote regatta had been looked forward to with much interest by boating men, and the programme, bids fair to be an unusually good one. With a decent balance in hand, several prizes already presented, and more promised, and with the co-operation of a public always liberal in boating matters, one may feel sure that the Heathcote regatta of 1875 will be quite as successful as any of its predecessors. The names of the committee are—as the auctioneers say—a sufficient guarantee that no pains will be spared as to those minor matters of detail which so often make or mar a regatta. And while on the subject of details, it is to be hoped that the tide will serve sufficiently well to enable the committee to see their way to take the Heathcote course. The Avon course is a very good one, but unless blessed with supernaturally sharp eyes, spectators can scarcely make out the relative positions of the boats during the greater part of a race. When the programme appears, I shall endeavor as far as possible to keep your readers posted in the doings of the various crews, and this reminds me that, compared with the last two years, the present boating season, so far as it has gone, shows a very marked improvement. From the very outset it has been evident, from the attendance at the sheds both night and morning, that rowing was resuming its popularity. Not only have the numbers of regular attendants increased to that extent that it no longer becomes a difficulty to man a fouroar, but it has been no easy matter to accommodate the various candidates. The numerous prizes that have been given by present and former officers of clubs have no doubt contributed in a great measure to bring about this result. In every case the cups have been well contested for ; and—which is more than we can say on many former occasions—all concerned in the various events have gone in for them with a will. If they have not achieved success they have at any rate done their best to deserve it. While congratulating the clubs on the possession of a far superior amount of bone and sinew than has been seen for a long time, and crediting the individual members with their assiduity in practise, it must be confessed that, taking the Avon oarsmen all through, they are, to put it mildly, a trifle short of style. The prizes offered have, as I have already said, no doubt done much to increase the interest in rowing ; but it has also had the effect of bringing four men together into an outrigger before they were anything like fit. Stonehenge has laid it down as a golden rule, that the use of very light boats for beginners is destructive of style. From past experience on Canterbury waters, and with a vivid recollection of a certain Hokitika crew, one is more apt to believe in strength and condition than what is usually called out here "pretty rowing." But no one can deny that four men deciding to row together for the season should make their first essays in boats of the Kiwi stamp at least, and pair-oar practice in connection with the above may be an old-fashioned idea, but may possibly be found effective. I am glad to see young Canterbury so numerously represented at the sheds. Many of the " boys" show a considerable amount of style, and promise at no distant date to make good oarsmen, but I deprecate the prevailing fashion of allowing raw recruits, however promising, to try their prentice hands in such boats as the Tamesis. The zeal exhibited by these young gentlemen is very commendable, but for their own sakes tbey ought to be content to " creep before they gang." It would be an easy matter for captains of clubs to tell off those youngsters —or indeed oldsters—whose styles are sufficiently formed to warrant their taking a Beat in an outrigger with credit to their club; and with a little necessary coaching in " tubs," the greater number would soon qualify themselves for lighter boats. It is to be presumed that there will shortly be a meeting of the United Boating Club, when probably the question will, be discussed of coxswains versus steering gear. The latter in certain waters and with a man who understands the business has no doubt much to recommend it; but up to the present time, so far as New Zealand waters are concerned, with one exception, it has proved a signal failure. Assuming that the old system of coxswains be again adopted, it would be well if some little pains were taken in their education. So far as I am in a position to judge at present, the coxswains of the period consider that they have reached perfection when they can, during a race, keep their boat off the bank, and scream incessantly at their crew to "pick her up.vj With such a river as the Avon, as much depends upon the coxswain as any man in the crew, and in a close boat race, as in a horse race, a great deal rests with the pilot. I hope, in connection with the Heathcote Begatta, to see the question of coxswains v steering gear thoroughly discussed, if not by the U.8.C., by the Heathcote Begatta Committee.

The Heathcote programme contains a ■cullers' race, bat now that the veteran ssuller •ppears to have retired upon his laurels, it may be tiuthfully said that we possess neither men to scull nor boats to scull in. I am, however, glad to hear that the Canterbury Club expect ere be in possession of a boat of this class, and I also hear that Dawson's boat is for sale, and the club that gets it will have a good one. Up to the present there is no doubt that Joe Dawson's superior prowess has discouraged young oarsmen from making any attempt in this line, but now they will have a clear field, and it is to be hoped that this branch of rowing will not be allowed to fall into disuse.

My space will not permit me to particularize at length upon the various events which have been pulled off up to the present, but perhaps the most interesting race that has occurred this season has been the Interprofessional match, which calls for more than a passing comment; not so much on account of the closeness of the contest itself, as the fillip which it gave, and will give, every succeeding season, to boating generally Mr Michael Campbell, who was the originator of the idea, and who pulled stroke of the Squatters' boat, shaped remarkably well, but his crew was in every respect a scratch one. At the end of the season, when I believe it is to be rowed off again, I hope to see him supported m he should be. That a squatters'

crew could be got together that would be very hard to beat there is not the slightest doubt.

When on the subject of sculling I had forgotten to mention that when on a recent visit to the West Coast I saw Hearn, the West Coast sculler, who made such an example for us at the Interprovincial at Kaiapoi last season. His pedestrian performances at the Hokitika sports were remarkably good, and he informed me that he was in all probability going to row a big match at the Grey shortly. Since then he has been defeated in a sculling race at the same place, but should the match I have alluded to come off it will take an uncommonly good man to beat him. I have received a communication from Timaru asking me to enquire whether any of our clubs feel disposed to part with any of their four-oared outriggers. Should such be the case I shall be obliged if the club or clubs will communicate with me upon the subject. SAMPAN.