ROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2672, 30 November 1909, Page 7

ROWING.

GISBORNE CLUB

The usual weekly meeting of the committee of the Gisborne Rowing Club was held last night, Mr. C. J. Hamilton in the chair.

The following new members were elected: Messrs G. Grant, E. A. Muis, and Campbell. Messrs Cowan, and A. Coleman were appointed the visit-' ing /committee for the week. The sub-committee appointed to revise the proposed new by-laws of the club presented its report. The by-laws were carefully gone through by the meeting, and a number of minor alterations were suggested and made. The amended by-laws will shortly be presented for confirmation to a special general meeting of the club. - 1 POVERTY 13AY CLUB. ‘ The weekly committee meeting of the Poverty Bay Club was held last night, in the Cosmopolitan Club, Mr. J. Webb presiding. The following alterations were made in the crews for the coming races: B. Karton replaces Briscoe in Winter’s crew; J. Pavitt replaces R. Wilkinson in J. Newton’s crew- and J. Patterson takes H. Beebe’s place in J. Webb’s crew. The following late entry was received: R. Wilkinson (stroke), A. Russell, J. Currie, H. Stevens. It was decided to row the races for Mr. Robertson’s trophies on the Waimata course, commencing on December 20th.

Mr. R. T. Seymour kindly donated gold medals for single sculling races, and Mr. H. J; Grieve notified his intention of giving similar trophies for single sculling events. 1 Messrs O. .Redstone and ILBayliss were elected, members of the club. Messrs A. Kirk and M. McLeod -were appointed the visiting committee for this week.

A meeting ofUthe committee, in connection with the coming social, will he held on Friday night.

A GREAT OARSMAN.

Australia has had many champions—and world’s champions—but it is doubtful if she has ever bred such another as William Beach, undefeated champion oarsman of the world. He is only an “ex” because, being satisfied', he chose to convey voluntarily the honors to another. Mr Beach is in New Zealand for the purpose of umpiring at the Foxton- Regatta this week. By occupation he is overseer of the National Park, Sydney ; by repute he is the greatest sculler -that ever went down a river. He told some interesting things to a “Post” representative last week. His history (for the purposes of chronicle) goes back over thirty years. The man who afterwards contested,. and successfully, seven world’s cham-T’ion-ihips, with big stakes attached, mad* the great beginning on Lake (JN.S.W.), when many men are at their zenith —27 years of age. It was a match for 5s a-side. in skiffs, and the other man’s name was Brown. “He was backed bv his wife,” said the retired champion, “and —(thoughtfully) —I only got half the stake!” AVhich was both a good and a bad beginning. Not till thirty, or later, did Mr Beach ever cast eyes on a wager-boat. It ,was Ned Triekett’s, on exhibition. ' “I went back to Sydney j; List to -see the marvel of a man who could sit m such a thing,” said the voteran, “for I had to see it to believe it.” Twelve or eighteen months later the Illawarra man won a £ls race at: Woolloomooloo Bay, and thence h©'pulled himself clear to the top of the river. The oarsman was made up in those days of 12st 21b of Australian bone, muscle, skill, and pluck. He wanted it all (he says) to beat the French-Ca-nadian Jake Gaudaur, on the Thames in 1886. “He caught me overdone—61b or 81b too light. Twice lie rowed me out. At ,tvvo miles he passed me. At the 2J I re-passed him. Again, the big Canadian drove in front, but I caught him level at the four mile's. Then he stopped, done, and I went out. And badly,, distressed we were, said Mr Reach. This all meant £IOOO transferred from Canada to Australia in an English hotel. , . The champion’s races with Ned Haitian are an oft-told tale. Hbw the Ahierican followed'the.Australian home to the winning post in three contests for the championship of the world: and how the retired champion (who had passed the belt to Kemp) came back to the water -and gave his unsatisfied-ri-val a' fourth (a private) match and a drubbing ; and of the American s chagrin and' disappointment venting themselves in tears—-it has all been told’ before. THE OLD AND THE ■ NEW. A comparison ' of Hhe old and the new ? Barring Arnst, the old every , time. Then was the time of giants. The Canadian, O’Connor one of, the best in th© World—Hanlan -than whoni none knew better (pays the veteran) how to fit themselves into a wager-boat ,~H>he y of the: miost .finished. You-may be as big as the side of a house, but it is all .useless if you 'don’t know how to do this,” is the expert’s assurance.. Ass to Arnst? Arnst is a'champion who can be' taught a lot yet; ono. whose left scull is weak on the catch (or was twelve months ago), and'who .is an ab- ; normally strong oarsman rather .than a finished. “One of the type of ■ good big men who will always beat the good little man,” interpolated Mr Bc-ach. Webb according to the, Australian, is a great puller, b.ut his catch is weak. Of many promising nien m Australia, G Dav iwho rows Pearce m Western Australia shortly, promises the most. He has youth and physique, and though

/Pearce is a better .waterman, s tlie man . who 'should know tips'Day in smooth I water.--: •- .• ■ > ' Hard and "long match pulling is usually associated m old' age (in tne sculler) with heart, weakness; but to-day the unbeaten champion is as sound as a bell, he says; and he 1 Iook& it. He admits to no ailment but a neglected appendicitis, and that twelve montlis ago. He is a typical tough, lieavyboned colonial, and J\. Stanbury is another. never l>oing in a boat for nine yeals, Stanbury, under Mr Beach’s hands, returned to the game, .{threw off something like half a hundredweight of embarrasing flesh, and showed George Towns the way home. In a second match, with his \effy arm .badly wrenched and numbed two dqys before the contest; Stanbury led Towns for over two jniiesMr Beach still wears a heavy gold presentation, watch given him by admirers in 1884, when he put Hanjan out. In Sydney, 1907, the retired champion made his last appearance in. ■u rowing contest in.a race- confined to veterans of over 50‘. He finished third to Kemp! ■ ' ' .