The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-17
Rowing

The visit of Harvard oarsnen to
England and the apparent change in
the style Of rowing ut Cambridge uni
versity has stirred up the biggest con-
troversy known in England in many
years. The "Bairhairn" style. or at
least the stroke taught by S. Fair
BARN. the noted Cambridge coach, is
the cause. and it came in for some
pretty hard knocks on all sides: for
those who thought they knew all
about scientific sweep rowing saw
several faults in the Cantabs' method
of handling the ashen blade. Some
there were. of course. who sided with
Falrbairn and averred at length that
the changes at Cambridge were for the
best. and that after all he was de-
cidedly up to date in his style of
stroke. This view has gained new
support. especially since Cambridge
defeated Harvard. although Fairbairn
rir not coach the Light Blues: but,
nevertheless, il was his stroke the
men rowed.
1t seems that the particular point
in the Fairbairn method which did not
suit the adverse critics was a pause
which he insists on at the finish of
the stroke. a fault. which was said,
causes a sluggish recovery and is bad
policy. But II seems that Fairbairn
does this for Il purpose, as the oars
man is inclined to jump too quickly
forward in his slide. and thereby re-
tardS the free run of the boat between
the recovery and the catch. In
long and remarkably forcible letter
from Australia. where he now is. Fair
BARN answers all his critics. He
says: There is Il lot of irresponsi-
Ole talk going on ON what people are
pleased to call 'Fairbairn' style.
have been told many times by men
who have exchanged ideas with me
that people talk the most awful
twaddle and call it 'Fairbairn' style.
ANY fault any oarsman may have that
l may happen to coach. people are
pleased to saddle rs my style. One
varsity president was heard distinctly
TO mention an oarsman whom he had
taught himself and had never coach
ed. and say that WAS the style
coached. gather that am accused
OF advocating an oarsman should
pause at the end OF the stroke. This,
undoubtedly. would be loss of time.
Principles or Rowing.
use expressions to convey ideas
TO the oarsmen ] coach that | would
not use in an abstract argument on
the correct principles OF rowing. For
instance. say sit back till you get
your hands away. Trust to the run of
the boat to bring You forward. Let
the boat run out from under you. The
object of these expressions is to check
the tendency inherent in all oarsmen
to cut the finish and rush forward.
These are the most common faults of
an oarsman. The reason is he is an
Xious to get on with the next stroke.
and the brain thinks he has completed
the stroke he is at before he has. The
more you coach the oarsmen to row
1t out to the finish. the better. They
are always afraid of wasting time.
never realizing that the quickest way
10 get the next stroke is to row the
one they are at truly home. Get them
20 master this part, and the whole art
OF timing follows. Rhodes. Muttle-
ourry' myself. and many others al
ways agreed that you can coach an
oarsman to sit back as long as you
like at the finish and you will never
get him to take long enough. the an
omaly being the longer you keep your
thoughts concentrated on the stroke
You are at, the quicker and easier you
get forward for the next. Let your
thoughts run ahead to the next stroke,
and YOU will let your weight off the
stroke you are at, and SO take LONGER
getting the oar through Take your
time. and be sure to finish it right
ont. and the door is open to row the
next stroke correctly. Make the least
hurried movement. and the rhythm
is gone, and you are trying to get
through the door before opening it.
My coaching is simply on the lines
OF more haste. less speed A good
coach here put it very we'll the other
day to me: You can never get them
10 understand they can't come forward
slow enough Coaching for a lively
recovery Is apt to make the oarsman
rush. Surely every oarsman is i'm
bued with the idea that he must waste
no time in the air, and consequently
is too eager to get forward. Remem-
Der that oarsmen are not perfect, or
no coach would be needed If an oars
man seems sluggish at the finish, to
shout out get a lively recovery!' is
apt to make him rush.
Perfect Recovery.
The perfect recovery, where the
hands, body, and slide finish together.
ana the hands are sent out like a
flash OF lightning, takes well-jointed
oarsman years to learn; to hurry the
less adaptable pupil in his learning
stage is fatal. / think the present day
coaches are too anxious to get a lively
recovery. and are thereby apt to de-
feat their own object varied in
my coaching the orthodox varsity
style when ] went to Cambridge, the
reason being had the advantage of
nearing some varsity oars discuss the
different styles-Australian and var
sity; and though prejudiced in favor
OF the former. they concluded, after
practical trial. that combination
was the best. ! also rowed with the
metropolitan clubs, and EXCHANGED
IDEAS with HASTE and others who
were brought up in a different school
to the varsity style, and the result
was the papers called us sluggish, and
yet we rowed record trial and
stayed ahead of the river and won the
grand in 1885. with the same crew we
rowed in the May races-the only
time 1t has been done, think.
My object in coaching is to do what
good ] can for English rowing, as I
think England's prestige is greatly
owing to her games; | am certain the
oarsmen must catch the water as
quickly as possible and as hard as