Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-20
AMATEUR oARsMEN's RACES.
Competitors Must Hereafter Only Row in
Home Club COlOrs.

Competitors Must Hereafter Only Row in
Home Club Colors
As stated in yesterdays STAR the executive
committee of the National Association of ANA
teur Oarsmen held . meeting on Saturday
night in New York. The meeting lasted until
o'clock Sunday morning.
There is an interesting sequel growing out of
the Hawkins case that has not been called to
general attention heretofore. It is the prac-
tice in vogue in some of the large clubs to en-
ter athletes and oarsmen from all parts of the
world under their club names. The practice is
generally regarded as pernicious one, since it
has the effect of breaking up local clubs. 1t
was for this reason that the executiv, commit
tee of the National Association of Amateur
Oarsmen at its Saturday night meeting gave
rotice Of change in the rules governing anna
teur oarsmen, providing that no man shall be
allowed to enter regatta for any club unless
be lives within fifty miles of the home of that
club. When this rule is in full force and effect
there will be no more Saratoga or Canadian
oarsmen rowing under New York city club
colors. number Of local athletes have been
heard to express the hope that this same rule
would be enforced in all other local organiza-
lions devoted to fostering amateur athletics.
PERMANENT PLACE FOR REGATTA.
Another very important action taken by the
executive committee at its Saturday night
meeting was the appointment Of a committee
of three to determine where the annual regatta
under the auspices Of the National Association
OF Amateur Oarsmen shall be held. 1t was an
nounced that the association had received a
cordial invitation from the Saratoga Athletic
Association to hold the regatta at that place.
1t was shown that Saratoga had many advan-
tages, and it was indicated that the invitation
would be accepted. 1t il generally thought
am fhat I Gar at
experiment proves to be q success the course
on the lake will be made the permanent course
and that all annual regattas may eventually
be held there, just as Englands principal re-
gattas are held on the Henley course on the
Thames. II the regatta is held at Saratoga, as
now seems probable, it will take place in the
week of July II, which Immediately precedes
the horse races. Thus a double attraction is
secured.
Still another important result Of the Satur-
day night meeting is that concerning the
change in the standard course. The association
has been for a long time considering the pro-
ject of substituting races with q turn for
straightaways. A straightaway race eliminates
to large extent the danger Of fouling, puts
a premium upon the speed of the crew rather
than upon the skill Of bow oarsman, and has,
in a vast majority Of cases, established beyond
dispute the right Of winners to wear the laurels
Of champions.
At the same time it is idle to ignore the fact
tudt tuCiS CAAet o"ANcrPiSou Acciu6 thde EdCen
with a turn, which are more popular in New
England and tho west, tend in . large measure
to popularize rowing. 1t was pointed out at
the Saturday night meeting that it is difficult
to attract large numbers Of people or to
awaken enthusiasm among those who attend
regattas when all that the spectators at the
finish can see is the final squirt in hard-fought
race, the previous history of which they can
only conjecture. This is obviated at the New
London course as well as on Cayuga and
Owasco lakes, where a railway skirts the shore
and an observation train can accompany the
races.
There WAS some discussion at the meeting as
to whether the association would sacrifice too
much by mourning the greater danger Of fouls,
the chance Of speedy crew losing q race
through the lack of skill in their steersmau,
and a liability to the wash from official tug
boats on the course. in order to secure in turn
ing races an increased public interest It was
finally determined by the association that the
latter course would be the best, and instead of
the straightaway mile-and-a-half races that
have heretofore obtained there will now be races
of three-quarters Of O mile straight and re-
turn. This decision will hold good with regard
to all save the eight-oared race, which will be
the same as before, namely, q mile and q half
straightaway.
Members Of the association express the be-
lief that this action, which ia in many ways the
most important one that has been taken in
amateur rowing circles for q long time, will be
adopted by other regatta associations through
out the country.