A 'Varsity Oar.

Manawatu Herald, 27 April 1893, Page 3

A 'Varsity Oar.

In the filer lot Mardh tliere k.^H interesting little paper on the " li-x---%periences of a 'Varsity Oar." In it the old fashioned notion of training on raw beef and beer is stated to be a thing of the past. It is considered sufficient to banish all very unwholesome things from the table, while keeping as nearly as possible to each man's ordinary diet. In point of quantity there are practically no restrictions, unless the Captain considers that any man does not know when he has had enough ; in which case he may remonstrate with him gently, but firmly. The writer says that he has seen a man eat for breakfast a sole and a half, three .chops, a poached egg, and some watercress, but that was regarded as a work of genius. Ot the race itself there is very little to say, except one thing, that could not be said equally well of a hard game of football or a foot race across country. The exertion is, no doubt, considerably greater than is involved in either of these, but the physical sensations are very much the same, and anyone who has entered for any race at all knows the sort of feeling of desperate resolve which is the pleasure that racing gives. Except one thing, and it is that thing which puts boat racing, in many people's minds, far above any other form of sport. It is this, that while in foot race a man can leave off as soon as he finds the exertion more than the prize is worth, and while in football a man may recover his breath in the scrimmage or justifiably leave the work for a moment to others, in rowing every man knows that, by a single careless stroke, he may throw the whole boat into a confusion from which they cannot recover for many hundred yards. Everyone i 3 exptcted in a boat race, and in a University race as much as anywhere, to row his best and hardest every stroke he takes, and never to slack off at all. If it is considered desirable to save up for a spurt at the finish, the " stroke " will do that j by putting in a few less strokes to the minute till the time comes. Everyman behind him is bound in honesty to the rest to shove every Stroka through "as if there were no hereafter;" and when the "hereafter " comes, as it does about Ohiswick Eyot, he will have to rely on the thorough condition he is in to pull him through.