WITH the OARSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 325, 10 April 1928, Page 14

WITH the OARSMEN

EY

“RIGGER”

NEARING THE END With the exception of the Barrett Cup races, to be rowed next Saturday at West End, the season has now closed. News from, the other side of the world, where the season has started early is interesting and confounding to the many pessimists who deplore what they hold to be the decline of interest in rowing. CAMBRIDGE WINS AGAIN The Cambridge crew had little difficulty in beating Oxford at London last Saturday week. This is the fifth time in succession that victory has gone to the Light Blues, who won this year by the uninteresting margin of ten lengths. The time —20m 21s—was 7s slower than last year, but on that occasion Cambridge was set a harder task to win. This year it is reported that in the last two miles the winners were able to take the race more easily. The best time for the race so far is 18m 295, won by Oxfor din 1911. VARSITY EIGHTS It was rather a surprise to Auckland oarsmen that Wellington had two .lengths to spare in the Varsity boat race last Saturday. The Auckland crew was a promising one both or> paper and in th« boat. The four mei in the middle of th< crew were from tin same club and hac frequently rowec together during tin season. Ross, win: stroked the crew Brooker, Auckland’; All Black, anc Keegan, of Waitemata, should hav» been depended oi to bring the northern boat in at the finish. Crease and Mullins, who were stroke and seven respectively in the Wellington boat, are old campaigners, however, and possessed the inestimable advantage of knowing the tricky Wellington course-

APPEAL FOR FUNDS Hope of sending the eight to Amsterdam is by no means dead, and the Hew Zealand Olympic Association is optimistically carrying on with its appeal for funds. Although the desirability of sending a crew is fully recognised, there is no rush to contribute, and, in spite of all the work that is being done, chances of sending the men are not looking bright. It is hard to understand why many local bodies and sporting associations have ignored appeals. All are quick to see the advantages of advertising the Dominion abroad, and yet they will not respond to a call for help from those who are trying to promote one of the surest advertising schemes possible. Conservatives deplore the place taken in the scheme of things by organised sport, but it is surely better to take whatever advantage possible out of the so-called evil, than to raise helpless hands in horrir. As a final effort, Mr. Amos, chairman of the Olympic Association, will travel to Auckland and deliver an address on “Hew Zealand’s Representation at the Olympic Games” on Wednesday evening at eight o’clock in the Unity Hall, Upper Queen Street. If .every Auckland oarsman advertises this lecture, and persuades several friends to attend it. much will be done for Hew Zealand sport in general and rowing in particular. BETWEEN SEASONS It would be an excellent thing for Auckland rowing if, during the offseason, an occasional half-day were spent by enthusiasts in overhauling plant. It would take some time to mention all the races that have been lost, all the afternoons wasted, through faulty equipment this season. Temporary repairs are made at the time of a breakage and though not dependable, they remain unaltered because the end of the season is near. Hext season breakages occur again in the same place. A club with its plant in perfect order on opening day would have little trouble with accidents during the season. This will end the notes “With the Oarsmen” this season, and “Rigger” hopes that the opening of next season will see prospects brighter than ever for th© old sport.