The Washington times., 1907-12-08

likely 70 recover, and that is the Grand
Challenge Cup, which stands for the
supremacy In rowing, 50 far as eight
Dared crews arc concerned.
II Is true that there are very many
Englishmen that do not fancy much the
manner in which the cup will come
back to England. The crew Of the
Sport Nautique de Gand. OF Belgium.
has won the trophy two years in sue
cessiOn now, and judging from the en-
tries at the Henley Regatta, they would
have more than an even chance Of win
ming IL for the third time
This possibility. however. hgs been
met by the Henley Regatta stewards by
the simple method of barring all foreign
crews from the competition this year.
The Ostensible reason for this is that
the Olympic Regatta, to be held later
in the season. will give the foreigners
an opportunity. and hence they should
be barred from the Henley event.
Stewards Obstinate.
1t is difficult for the Eelgians. and. in
fact. for any lover OF fair play. to
follow this course OF reasoning. but the
action Of the stewards probably will
stand. despite the movement which is
now on foot among some British men
to secure an exception in the case OF
the holders OF the cup. Capt. Frank
Beddington, the noted authority on row
ing, voices the sentiments OF the best
element among British rowing men
when he says:
The Grand Challenge Cup. for eight
oars. was established IN 1879. since which
date it has beer competed for annually.
II was won for the first time by a for
eiEn crew in 1906. and the cup was again
won by Representatives OF the same
foreign country IN 1867, who are not
10 be allowed to defend 1t in 1905.
Childish Arguments.
''Some of the arguments put forward
by the defenders OF the Henley stew
ards border on childlshness, the dOmi-
nant note being the Olympic Games
Regatta. 1t is well for everybody TO un-
derstand that the Olympic Games Re
EattA has nothing whatever in this
world TO DO with the Henley regatta.
First, the conditions are not the same;
second. the course is not the same:
third, the trophies are not the same
The Henley regatta was instituted I'm
y
those days a sort Of institution regatta,
and gradually. as invitations continued
to be extended further afeld, Il became
invested with almost International in
terest. Ultimately foreign entries were
invariably accepted, II Of a satisfactory
amateur status and made on OF before
June l.
No Defence Whatever.
Foreign competitors have always
been extremely welcome at Henley. and
everybody over here was looking for
ward TO seeing the Belgians again in
1905. In the year 1906, II Will be remem-
bered, Leander did not put on a crew.
That year the Belgians won the Grand
Challenge Cup.
Public Repudiates Stewards.
THE Grand Challenge Cup is 4 per-
petuaI challenge cup, and snO one in
this world can for one moment suggest
that holders of a perpetual challenge
cup have not the moral right to defend
Il. II IS impossible to defend the action
of the Henley stewards on any ground
whatever. That is my case.
THE same spirit still dominates the
conduct OF all things English as here
tofore, and foreign nations may rest
assured that sport in the British Isles
will be conducted on the same honor
able principles as before.
A report comes from Stockholm that
the Royal Swedish Yacht Club has de-
cided to abandon. for the present, at
least, the proposed challenge for the
America Cup. because OF the financial
stringency. which has made it almost
impossible to secure the necessary
financial backing. This abandonment.
however. is only temporary. and as
soon as the stringency has passed and
things assume their normal aspect, the
matter will be taken up again.
William Oistop. who has been very
active in the matter. said recently:
I'VE will take up the scheme for the
challenge for the America Cup again.
as soon as the crisis Is over I have
been promised considerable financial
support, and ! regard the plan to cnai-
lcnge as practically assured, although
it may not be next year.
The Prince OF wales is to go in for
yachting He has recently bought the
ketch Corisande, and proposes having a
when he will turn the COrisande over to
Prince Edward of Wales. who is an en-
thusiastic yachtsman.
Automobilists in Spain are surprised
and grieved at the recent action OF the
alcalde of Madrid. Conde Penaiver. who
is also president OF the Royal Automo-
bilists' Club.
He has issued extremely strict regu-
lations regarding the automobile traffic.
and las gone so far as to have Chains
drawn across the roads at all entrances
20 the city, compelling autoists 10 stop
before entering Madrid. The large num-
Der Of accidents in and about Madrid
has caused this action. Conde Penalver
says he is acting as much in the in
terest Of the automobilists as of the
public, for, unless the recklessness of
some chauffeurs is stopped. such reSu-
lations will be imposed as viii seriously
cripple the sport.
Winnie O'Connor. the American jockey
who has been riding for the Viscomte