BY STROKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 64

BY STROKE.

The past week has not been one of the Lest for rowing, a nor'-easter blowing most of the first part of v the week and Saturday seeing a strong sou- wester ppoiling any decent rowing. The same conditions have prevailed at Port Chalmers, but the regatta crews from the Port shed were not to be kept back by the weather, and the*' have all put in a good week's work. The night work is now over, and the men are free to put in their evenings at the shed Crews will start in every race at the Inyercargill regatta, so that should be pleasing' news for our southern friends. They will be good crewß too. The Senior Four have had a few good spins, and are gradually getting combination. They are improving with every row. M'Donald is apt. however, to chip in & short one now and again, and should be careful to keep it long. He doubtless misses the veteran Keenan rowing behind him. No. £ (Clark) is still inclined to coll a bit. He must keep a strain on with the straps and steady the body more. The youths' crew/ will be very strong, and should account for this race. They are the same «rew which has done so well at the last few regattas. By the way, this crew has now won the Youths' Cup, presented by Sir James Mills to the club which wor it three times. The Queen's

Drive, Oamaru, and Otago crews had also won it once, but the Port Club has been ; most fortunate in striking- an exceptionally strong set of youths, who have stuok together for some three years, and have now v-on the cup outright. Congratulations to the crew and club on their performance! The Junior Fours from this shed are rather rough, and are sadly _ in want of good coaching. Stroke's slide is always tooquick. He should lift at once with the shoulders. No. 3 should sit up more, and not double up as he does. He should also steady the body at the finish of the stroke with the straps. The crew is not showing such good form as on Boxing Day, but with a little advice from the^clder members and a few more spins together they will no doubt soon show better form. The Maiden crew are showing about the best form of the lot. and if they continue to -improve the way they are doing they should soon be a very good crew. Altogether this club's chances look very rosy for a win or two at the southern regatta next month. The Dunedin Amateur Club's crews are training at the Otago shed, and are putting In some good work. For the Junior ana Senior Pairs Rapson has taken Breeze in place of Coriway, who* "has* been appointed a delegate of the Dunedin Fire Brigade for Napier, and will therefore be unablo to row. Breeze is a likely-looking man, and site veil in-.the boat. He has a- fine reach, and with proper coaching and looTcinir after he should develop into a first- : class man. At present he 1 is inclined to cut* his stroke short, and must remember to pull it right through. He weathers too Att, and would «aye .bis wrists if he dad not feather half as much. Bow might be a little smarter with his hands. The youths from this olub are rather tight, but are keen and -willing. The | deputy-captain (Mahoney) is looking after 1 them, and will, no doubt, soon knock them into shape. A fault very noticeable throughout the boat is the way the men come forward on. their slides. They must remember that on the recovery the ghouldera should follow tfae h«nd», «^d the body (which should swing forward from the hips) should come forward in an uiohned I position, keeping the seat back, and just crawling forward. At present the men sit up- stiff and come up hands, body, and slide all together. The time of bow and No. 2 can also improve a lot. , The stroke of the Maiden and Junior Four is doubtful if he can row, and in case he does not Mahoney will most likely I stroke the crew and Shankland will row ' The Otago Olub has selected some good crews for the Port Chalmers regatta on March 23. At the Invercargill regatta on Wednesday week this club will be represented W Stevens -and Paterson in the Maiden Pairs, and the " rep." crew will be , starters in the Senior Four. For the Port i regatta the club will have two crews for 1 the Maiden Double Sculls, both crews most likely also starting in the Juniors. Sibbald and Quelch form No. 1 crew, they tMJving won this -event on Boxing Day m cood style. No. 2 crew is a new combination, and a fairly strong one, Consisting of W Kerr and Bannister. I noticed them out the other night, -under Mr Drake, who will give his attention to them. At present Banni3ter'a time is very bad, he getting in a long time, after, stroke, but no doubt he will improve- , , a ... M I The Maiden Pairs (Bennet and Scott) are a nuggety pair, rather inclined to be short, but both men are starting with a wiU an<t are shaping fairly well, especially stroke. Bow wants to reach out more and watch the catch more closely. He is also mclmed to row deep. If , he turns his knuckles well over before catohing he will find toe rets a better catch. Stroke's old fault still bangs to him— that is, crouching,— although he w not nearly as bad as he was. If .he would sit up a little more I think it would be *n improvement. The Maiden Four are a good even crew, all the men being about the same «*>. Stroke is not Towing as well as he might : hia slide runs away iifith him, and therefore he has no leg drive at all. He must remember that the shoulders are there for use and he must first lift with them. He does not reach out enough either JNo. 3 ri a strong young fellow, and with ooaoh- { ing should make a good three. He is i rather inclined to crouch. , ! The Junior Four will be taken in hand . by Mr Kirkcaldy, and they should prove a ' strong combination. They are all tall, strong fellows, and "should get in a very long stroke if rowing properly. The only thing is that there is rather too much weight in the bow, Paterson and Mills making a- very heavy pair for bow and No. 2. No. 3, is away just now, he having gone to Wanganui to see the sculling race between Webb and Tresidder, aiid a sub-) stitute is at present rowing in his place. • The Senior Pairs and .Double Sou lls ■will see the veterans M'Grath and Priest cut again. Neither has done day work yet, but are, I understand, to make a start at once and get into training. The representative crew are .now putting in their last week of work before going Taken all through, they have gone Taken all through, ' they lave done through a long, haTd training, having done plenty of work; and I am sure the men have stood it well. They are all looking first class, and the few days' rest last week has done them good, and they are now doing principally sprint work. Their coach i.s very pleased with them, and is very confident that they will win on the 4th. The crew leave by the morning express on Tuesday, and are in charge of one of the asooeiation's vice-pjrepjdents (Mr J. E. Galbraith), who accompanies the crew as manager. The best wishes of all local rowing men go with them south.