New-York tribune., 1903-06-22

Poughkeepsie Getting Ready for Big
Contest on FRIDAY.

Poughkeepsie. n Y. June u (speciaD.-Fifteen
college crews will in the big intercollegiate
regatta here next Friday, which is the eighth an
nual contest of it's kind rowed over the Pough-
keepsie-Fighland since the beginning OF
these regattas here. fl 1885. Already the town is
beginning to welcome the first quota of visitors
who here witness the annual struggles
The village itself is starting to put on its holiday
garb, and all stores exhibiting college co!orS
in profusion.
Although there yet five days before the races,
and many complications are probable in college
rowing in that period. Cornell is none the less
pronounced favorte for the varsity contest. Those
who follow college rowing here cannot figure any
winner for the senior except the Ithaca collie
gians. The reason for this is easy to discover.
Cornell in its practice work the river has ex-
hibited that form which Is TO the winning
Cornell crews of the last years, and which is
the envy OF ali the other on the river. Again
it is significant that Charles Courtney did not
put in this varsity three from last years
winning combination who were still available If he
desired These Frenzel. the captain; Halle
wood and Sebring. The fact that Courtney has
in his opinion found three men who are better
than the three veterans of last year seems 10 ndi-
cate TO many that there is every reason to believe
that this Cornell eight is better than that of last
season.
SUPERIOR TO LAST YEARS CREW.
The crew has been practising hard at Pough-
keepsie. and has shown really marvellous mechan-
ism and excellence of rowing technique that in the
minds Of many seem he superior to those of last
years boat. which Courtney pronounced the
smoothest rowing crew Cornell had. The
veteran Cornell coach says the present eight is not
equal TO the 1902 shell in smootness and excellence
of form, but those who know Courtney believe this
is due rather to modesty his part than to any
thing else. The up State collegans have the neav-
fest and tallest varsity the river the men
averaging over six feet tall and ia pounds in
weight
For second rhoice WISCONSIN seaus m no +ha
popular. largely because Of the fact that the
Badger eight includes six of last years boat, which
finished second TO Cornell. Andrew O'Dea says
that the eight is the best Wisconsin has ever
had and. in consequence the Westerners are look
ing forward to making a close race OF it with
Cornell, and it is not too much to say that they
have secret hopes that they will be able to win
This opinion is not shared. however by any of the
local rowing experts. who think that no matter
how good Wisconsin may be and how much better
than last season Cornell will the less be more
speedy. The Western eight has heavier crew
this season, averaging two pounds mere a man
Much uncertainty exists about the ability of the
1a CoI5IIbis % eigt has +be e n+ege t9is snason
of being good deal heavier than it was last sea
son. and this should help the crew coed deal. as
lack of weight has for two years been Columba's
most severe handicap. The boat includes five of
last seasons crew, and Hanlan says they are
better oars now than they ever were The Morn
ingside eight has done four miles this season in
is Tnd6ubtetlV VI good Another aGVantage to the
crew is that its men are not overtrained condi-
season.
PENNSYLVANIA NO LONGER FAVORITE.
Pennsylvania is no longer the favorite it was a
few years ago, and there are few who are bold
enough to make any predictions the which
give the Quakers a position better than fourth
Many. in fact, do Eot hesitate TO say they think
that possibly Syracuse or Georgetown will finish
ahead of the Pennsylvanians who formely
counted on almost invariably to win The trouble
with the Philadelphia college is that il has not
this season men of the proper calbre for varsity
crew. Ellis Ward. the coach, has worked hard
with his men, but it is not possible to produce
winning boat without first having the right sort of
men physically. The Quskers have strength but
they do not seem TO have form, as they row in
GEORGETOWN and Syracuse are not considered as
possibilities among the leading crews though many
would be surprised 70 see either OF these crews
beat Pennsylvania
liz the races tor varsity fours and freshman
eights Cornell has about the measure Of pub
lie appreciation as 1t has Ia the senior contest
The Ithaca freshmen are believed to De on a com
II appears. not have great difficulty in winning. II
- ILi''Le u ~ ser e-a -tcLts fo- Sacord 11on,
ba and Wisconsin are the probable favorites for
second in the freshman contest,
far there has been practically no betting on
the races but those in position TO know say that
the odds Cornell III the varsity race should he
al least 3 70 /. and possibly higher as race time
The announcement of the first betting odds was
made te-day. Cornell is pronounced favorlte. the
odds ruling at even money that they will defeat
either Columbia Wisconsin. The Morningside
dence in their eight and been wagering TO 10
that their varsity will defeat Cornell. Wisconsin
that its varsity viii win from Cornell and Column
ba Since their fast time trials Pennsylvania s
for their osrsmen and will it is said bet that they
will finish among the first two crews; The betting
wagering which eight will beat the other