Rowing.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 21, 24 November 1900, Page 13

Rowing.

The rough water in the harbour lately has somewhat marred the training of regatta crews. The St. George Rowing Club's (Auckland) Tual Fours were won by Richards, James, Cuthbertson, and W. Jagger. The Trial Fours of the North Shore Rowing Club, Auckland, were won by J. Sullivan, R. Cave, E. Wilkinson, and Paterson. Chris Fredericks, of the Picton Rowing Club, who has stroked their champions to victory on various occasions, is about to take up his residence in this city. Mr George Norton has completed the new best-and-best racing four foy the Wellington Rowing Club. She is a good serviceable boat, but I fancy is rather big. She is very similar to the Picton's boat. J. Calnan and J. R. Crawford will row T. Spencer and A. Hill in about a fortnight to see who will represent the Wellington Rowing Club in the Champion Double Sculls. A good race may be expected. The St George, Waitemata, and North Shore Clubs, of Auckland, have ordered new clinker outriggers from Melbourne, and expect to have same in time for the Mercer Regatta, which takes place on Bth December. The Wellington Rowing Club's maiden crew have been out consistently lately. For strength this crew would compare favourably with any in the colony ; but are very rough at their work, and' would do well if they would study the finer points of rowing. C. Maudsley, having been transferred from Wellington, has had to vacate his seat in the Star's Senior Four, and his place has been filled by W. E. Bendall. The loss will be severely felt by the club, as he was undoubtedly the best man in the crew. The Star Club's Junior Four do not seem to be rowing at all well. The dash and life that was so characteristic in the crew last season is absent, and I think Widdop could put more vigour into his work, when the other members of the crew would no doubt also try to do likewise. I have noticed the Star Boating Club's two maiden crews out lately. Fell's crew seem to be the best combination, and are rowing nicely together, and should defeat Gale's ciew, who do not appear to get their work in together. I fancy either crew will have to improve wonderfully to gam premier honours during the season. The Wellington Rowing Club's junior crew go in for early morning training. They have the idea that the early bird catches the worm. There is no doubt that, in Wellington, the early oarsman catches the good water. They are a tine combination as regards strength, but • Shilling is rowing far too short, and does not give his men a chance of getting their full weight on. I should think that if lie changed places with the No. 2 it would be an improvement. Some little time back a man named S. Hickson, of Foxton, issued a challenge to row any man in New Zealand for a stake of .£5O. The challenge was accepted by J. Bonnifice, of this city, who is wellknown in Sydney as a professional sculler. Bonniface journeyed to Foxton to make all necessary arrangements, but, to his surprise, when the question of putting up the stakes came to be talked about, Hickson put forward the plea that, on account of stress of business, he would be unable to row. It seems very strange that, after issuing a challenge, a man should act in such a manner. Surely the little man from the Empire City did not make him show the white feather?