Rowing Notes.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 122, 1 November 1902, Page 25

Rowing Notes.

By Native.

THE Wanganui Regatta Association has decided to hold the Championship Regatta on the 19th February. In addition to the Championship events there will be races for Maiden Fours, Junior Fours (best boats), and Junior Clinker Fours. There will also be a second race for Senior Fours, excluding winners of Champion Foui's. The Wanganui people are very enthusiastic in their regattas, and with a prospect of liberal prize money the Championship Regatta of 1902-3 piomises to be very successful. In my notes of last week I omitted to give the names of Crosbie and Samuels as the old Union Rowing Club (Christchurch) pair. This combination was very successful in the Champion Pairs and Double Sculls during the seasons 1892-3, 1893-4, and 1894 5, winning the double each season. The Star Boating Club got oft all of the heats of the Senior Fours and Junior Fours during the week. Bridge and Bayfield met in the final for the former on Saturday. Bridge was the popular fancy, but Bayfield had an easy win of about four lengths. The winning crew consisted of A. Bayfield (stroke), N. H. James (3), D. T. Mowat (2), R. Gray (bow). The stroke will hold the Cock Trophy for the next twelve months. In the Junior Fours, J. D. Scott (stroke), H. Smith (3), W. J. Stevenson (2), A. Watson (bow) won their final from Evatt's crew comfortably. The winning stroke holds the Rhodes Trophy. I expect that the Match Committee of the Stars will now be making their selection of crews to represent the club at the various regattas. As one of the committee acts in the capacity of starter, and another has been engaged stroking a crew in the Senior Fours, it is apparent that the selection will be one of reputation and results, as neither of these two gentlemen have been in a position to watch the form of the oarsmen engaged in club facing. Taking the Senior Four first, there is .no question about the stroke position going to A. T. Bendall if available. Bayfield and Bridge should also be in the selection. If R. Pownall is inclined to take the matter seriously, I think that this four would have a great chance in the Champion Fours.

Assuming that the first three are available, and the lattei doubtful, I would not have the slightest hesitation in taking either James or Johnson from the Junior crew, in order to make a strong representation in the Champion Fours. Last year's youths' "crew should certainly represent the Club in the Junior Fours, but in the event of James or Johnson being found a place in the Senior crew Duff or Fell might fill the vacancy. The following ought to make a likely Maiden Four — Evatt, Wheeler, Duff, and H. Smith.

At the New South Wales Rowing Association's regatta on the 25th October, Daley had a row over for the sculling championship of New South Wales, being his third successive win. The Mercantile Club won the Champion Eights. As the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association rules provide for maiden races being rowed in boats according to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association specifications it will be necessary for regatta committees to bear this in mind when framing their programmes. This will particularly affect the regattas at Akaroa, Lyttelton and Christchurch, where the Maiden Pairs and Double Sculls are rowed in the clinker stump outriggers. The racing for the Wellington Rowing Club's Senior Fours and Junior Pairs was to be commenced on Wednesday evening. I expect that Mr. Nidd will have his Regatta crews out shortly. With Crawford, Calnan, Galbraith, and W. J. Spencer in the Champion Four they ought to make it lively. As the new rules of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association do not come into operation until the sth of January, it practically means that tins season's racing will be carried out under the old conditions. The delegates from local associations that are to be established cannot meet before March, and in all probability the Regatta programmes will be completed by the date of the meeting. The Stars have got a good entry of 15 crews for the Ladies' Fours to be rowed on the 12th proximo. By direction of the delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association the Managing Committee is asking clubs for an expression of opinion as to whether they are agreeable to be taxed with a view of providing funds for the Championship Regatta, so as to enable the managing body to carry out that function on a permanent course, independent of funds contributed by local residents. The idea is a good one, and if adopted there is no doubt in my mind as to where the Championship Regatta should be.

Picton without a doubt. The local committee have been solely to blame for the failures (with one exception) that have taken place there. I might say that the present suggestion was embodied in an alternative scheme submitted some years ago by Mr. A. S. Biss, but not adopted. I hear that the present champion four from the Kawatin Club will be at Wanganui to defend the title. From present appeaiances the class of competitions will be superior to last season.