The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-22
FIVE WILL COMPETE
HENLEY REGATTA TO BE AN IN.
TERNATIONAL EVENT.


the Water, Regarding the Sort of Stroke
That Alone Wins Races There-Fine
Words for the Cornell Crew-FieId
Keeps Kicking.
ey-on-thet Thames, March 81
Unusual attention is centered upon this
\ ears regatta from the act that, more
tran ever before, Ii vi. partake Of an
International character. in addition
to the entry of thu Yale crew, there
IRE entries from rowing clubs from
Holland. France and Germany. 1t
is also hoped that the famous Argo-
naut club of Toronto VIII again cross
the Atlantic and compete. In conse-
quence the officials are making prepa-
rations for what will undoubtedly be
record year.
Mr.. J. F. Cooper, secretary Of the re-
gatta committee, said:
Nothing could have given the COM
mittee more satisfaction than the en-
try of crew from Yale. They are
SO well known TO the English athletes
by reason of their contests that they
will be welcomed with open arms. As
yet the Yale men have made no ar
rangements for quarters. l can sug-
gest nothing better than the same
house, Underwood, which Cornell occu-
pied last year.
TWO FOUR-OARED CREWS
81 would suggest that in addition to
the eight-oared crew, Yale enter four
Dared crew for the stewards cup. The
Cornell men last year frequently ex-
pressed regret that they had not en-
tered for this race. If Yale should
bring fourteen men, four-oared crew
could easily be made up from her eight
and, IN addition, her substitutes could
form a junior four-oared crew and com
pete for the Wyfild cup.
There has been no important change
in the rules for this year. In fact, the
only change is that the time of entry
for the Dutch, French and German
crews has been extended to June l. This
is allowed because the presidents of
these various rowing organizations as
sure the Henley officials that the crews
so entered are simply amateurs, and
the officials take their word for it.
Each of these associations will enter
a crew for this summer. We are espec-
tally anxious to have the Argonaut club
of Toronto again compete. A more
=
sportsmen, never entered here. They
made the race of the year. NJ. Thorn
son Of that crew assured me that they
wouiI come again this year, and 1 sin
ce:ely hope they may"
TAXES THE LONG STROKE.
The general opinion of watermen is
that the short, sharp stroke WI not do
for the Henley course. One of these,
Jackson, the famous old waterman, who
has seen all the contest for many years
said:
1.-The Henley course IS a difficult one.
Although only mile and five furlongs
in length, it is all deadwater, with no
suspicion of tide, and it takes an I'M
usual amount OF extra muscular
strength to row over it. Old Oxford
and Cambridge boating men say it does
them up more completely than work
on the longer course from Putney to
Mortlake. which has the advantage of
a strong tide. L do not think any crew
can ever win here which does not en-
plOy the long and even stroke. Take
Cornell, for instance. This was the
prettiest crew 1 ever saw in a boat.
They sat straight and trim, one behind
the other, like soldiers on parade. But
their quick stroke pumped them out.
EVERY one OF the OIneE crews last year
pulled a long and deep stroke. AL
most every conceivable style of rowing
has been tried here, but only one has
been successful.
TEN DAYS, IN THAT CLIMATE
Regarding the climate, l think one
70 three weeks is as long as any crew
should be here prior to a race. Most
OF the English crews used to train here
for five or six weeks. You will find
they do not do so now. Another thing
about this deadwater. In it, it is es-
sential that when a boat is once start
ed it should keep its momentum and go
straight along. At Henley there is no
advantage Of tide to aid this. In the
race between Cornell and Trinity the
former, propelled by the short stroke.
seemed to stop between the time the
blade was taken from the water and
again put in, while Trinity's boat went
along at the same pace from start to
finish"
In the town itself many preparations
are being made for the forthcoming
event. The hotels are being redecora-
ted and have already arranged for the
extra patronage which they Will enjoy.