WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 64, 7 June 1927, Page 12

WITH the OARSMEN

BY

“RIGGER”

Sydney Varsity Visit Winter has the rowing world in its grip, and those who take the water must brave low temperatures. Winter rowing, however, has a firm hold in Auckland, and there continues to be a fair amount of activity from each of the sheds. Most New Zealand oarsmen are unaware of the fact that English rowing is begun in the chilly days of early spring. The absurd-looking scarves which English university oarsmen wind round their necks are thus not without some practical value, but it is hard to imagine such neckwear on the Waitemata.

The Dolly Vardon In Hamilton there is a tea-room, the Dolly Vardon, where rowing men frequently congregate. Rowing trophies, including the Dewar Shield, whereon the names of many Aucklanders are inscribed, decorate its walls, and among the photographs are numbers of rowing groups.

Under these circumstances it is appropriate that such a resort of rowing men should bear such a name. The Dolly Vardon was the first outrigger skiff imported to New Zealand, and was for long raced on the Manawatu River, at Foxton. A few years ago the historic craft was burned in a fire which destroyed the old Foxton shed. West Eriders’ Dip West End’s prolonged racing season is to be closed with the Laidlaw Cup, a sculling event, heats for which were despatched over the week-end. Hay lock, Straton and Woodside were the winners of the three races decided. In the last race, between Woodside and Dowling, the latter had employed a crisp and snappy stroke to such advantage that he was a length ahead at the red shed, and appeared to have the race in hand. Rough water at this stage began to worry him, and finally he capsized, Woodside going on to win. Dowling would probably have got the verdict, and missed an unplesantly chilly bath, if he had steadied once he had established a lead.

Waitemata Encouraged Waitemata oarsmen have been heartened by Mr. A. D. Bayfield’s remarks that a Waitemata crew could adequately represent New Zealand if a crew is sent to Australia in October. It seems that the Otago crew is unable to go, probably because its members have already had a lot of travelling.

As runners-up in the New Zealand four-oared championship, the Waitemata crew, consisting of Johnston, Brooker, Doubleday and Smith, is the logical substitute for Otago. The fine combination that wore the blue and gold at Picton could probably hold its own with the best Qf overseas fours, and some of its members are sure to oe considered for the Olympic Games crew.

Australian Rowing In Australian rowing West Australia at present holds its own fairly comfortably. The State championship is held by the Jarrahlanders, and last week a University crew brought further glory to the West by lifting the Varsity rowing honours, won on the Nepean, New South Wales, before a huge crowd of people. Auckland University footballers who row the Australian student oarsmen in practice were not impressed with their short, jerky stroke, though the time was wonderful. * * * Olympic Games Rowing Though the Australian Rowing Association has decided not to send an Olympic crew to Amsterdam, West Australia is dissatisfied, and thinks its crew should be given the same chance as was given to the Murray Bridge, South Australia, crew, which failed signally at Antwerp. It is claimed that the short, sharp action of the West Australians will give them a good chance under Continental conditions. There is still doubt about New' Zealand’s intentions regarding the Olympic games. The Olympic Council should realise that oarsmen, more than any others, are likely to bring New Zealand success abroad, and every effort to send a crew should therefore be made. * * * Duco Finish I. W. St. Clair, the Hamilton sculler, claims to have found, in duco motor-car enamel, a perfect finish for the undersides of rowing skiffs. Having tried out the highly-polished varnish on one of his favourite scullers, he declared stoutly in its favour. Heavier than the ordinary finish, duco is said to compensate for its weight by its lustre and silken smoothness—a claim that certainly seems reasonable. If St. Clair’s treatment is proved to be a success, the Hamilton Rowing Club will apply the new composition to others of the Waikato racing fleet.

Sydney Varsity Crew While in Sydney with the New Zealand Varsity Rugby team, C. T. Keegan, Auckland University footballer and

oarsman, inquired into the prospects of inducing a Sydney University eight to come to New Zealand next summer. Keegan helped to arrange New Zealand’s first interVarsity race, staged on the Waitemata last Easter, and if the latest project materialises they will have made

another advance which may have farreaching effects in inter-colonial sport. So far the prospects of success seem bright. The Sydney men are eager to come to New Zealand, but the cost will be excessive if the men are compelled to bear it all themselves.

Tour Suggested Suggested, to overcome the difficulty, is a limited tour, including visits to, say, Auckland, Wanganui, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, at each of which centres there is sufficient rowing interest to attract a “gate.” For instance, on the Wanganui, a race between the Varsity men and a Wanganui Collegiate School crew would be a cardinal attraction, while on the Waitemata the Cornstalks could not only race against an Auckland Varsity crew, but also could measure blades with a crew from the Waitemata club, holders of the New Zealand eight-oar championship. The visitors should be able to use a boat borrowed from the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, and, if they came over, some sparkling eightoar racing would undoubtedly be seen. * * * THROUGH THE MEGAPHONES If eight-oar racing develops in New Zealand the practice of supplying coxwains with megaphones will follow. In the past New Zealand has been curiously reluctant to adopt these refinements, which often are so helpful, both in training and racing. * * * Some Auckland rowing men believe no Olympic crew will be sent abroad next season. This critic, on the contrary, is convinced that among Olympic candidates, oarsmen will get preference. On past performances they arc entitled to it. Great activity at the Waitemata shed last Sunday coincided in a singular manner with Mr. Bayfield’s remark that a Waitemata crew might be sent to Australia. OARSMEN AS FOOTBALLERS Auckland oarsmen are doing excellently in football, and some of them may win representative honours.

S. Hadley, the Marist hooker, rows for West End in the summer, and Payne, a League forward, is another West Ender. Page and Soloman. North Shore, discard green ana white for red ana white when summer orings rowing round again. Scloman £ recent regatta record is as impressive

as his Rugby performances. Keegan and Brooke, ar ® Waitemata oarsmen, the latter a “prospect” for the mooted Australian trip, and also for any Olympic Games ere', sent abroad. STEVENSON FOR AUSSIE W. A. Stevenson, Waitemata sculler, definitely intends to compete in Aus* tralia next October, and with that view is putting in plenty of work. New Zealand will therefore be aae* qaately represented in sculling, an(l is desirable that a crew should be over, as well, to uphold the Dominion rowing prestige. Experience abroad will benefit » venson, who can be trusted not f . repeat the breach of another succes New Zealand sculler. Leading ea * in a race against Australians, *the * Zealander so far forgot sculling e as to stop and wave to friends on bank.