EIGHT-OARED BOAT RACES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18055, 15 January 1927, Page 1

EIGHT-OARED BOAT RACES.

“ WILL BE HELD ON AVON,” DECLARES MR R. B. OWEN. That there will be eight-oared boat races op the Avon in two years’ time was the prediction made by Mr R. B. Owen this morning, when referring to the interview with Mr F. D. Kesteven published in the “ Star ” yesterday. Mr Kesteven 'considers that the two eight-oared boats that the Canterbury Rowing Association has received from the New Zealand Association are. not going to be any good to the sport here. Mr Owen expressed a directly opposite opinion. He said that when the proposed regatta course on the lower reaches of the Avon was made it would be quite possible to have eight-oared races, and he hoped that every care would be taken of the boats until this course was ready. Eight-oared boat racing would help the sport here, and not ruin it, as Mr Kesteven seemed to imagine. There was nothing finer to watch than a race between two eight-oared crews. In England enormous crowds turned out to see races of this description, and he was sure that, with a proper regatta course and with facilities for people to watch the races properly and in comfort, the same amount of interest would be aroused here.