Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03
CANOE|STS IN RACES
AT WASHINGTON CLUB
Its Last Regatta of the Sea.
son-Some Exciting Races
Are Pulled Off.

from top to bottom.
All OF the events except one were for
members Of the Washington club only
The exception was a single challenge
race between A. F. Lucas of the Potomac
Boat Club and r. c. Rutherford of the
Analostan Boat Club, which was Sc
Quel to the general regatta ana water
ladies took part in any of the events
The program included singles, doubles
and fours. and fitting contest.
Interest was to great extent centereo
IN the race for fours The washington
club has developed some mighty fine
paddlers, as was demonstrated In the
regatta last month, in which that club
took pretty nearly everything In sight in
the canoe races. On that occasion, how
ever its crack four did not show UP well
and another four from the same club Sc.
cured second place in the race that was
won by the Virginia Canoe Club. 1t was
said at that time that the rough water
on the outside of the course was re-
crew that it was generally thought had
a splendid chance to win the race. Fol
the purpose of finding out what the varl.
Gus tours in the club could do yesterday &
race was arranged.
The two Washington Canoe Club crews
that participated in the September gen.
eral regatta were in the race, and there
was a third four. picked up on the spur
of the moment. Cleveland Sklnker,
George Schmitt. Myran Buchanan and
won second prize in the September event.
The crew upon which the hopes of the
club had been centered was composed OF
Rogers, Allen Wolf, Pomeroy and Ed
Scbmitt The scrub four was made
up of Chandlee. Wolf. Baker and Wood
ward.
Surprise in the Fours.
For the first half of the third-of-a-mile
course all three boats kept nearly to-
gether, and 1t began to look like most
exciting race. Them. at about the half,
the boat piloted by Ed Schmitt began
to drop behind, while the other two kept
nose and nose. When the final squirt
was called for CARROTS crew forged ahead
and crossed the line several lengths In
the lead. But the surprise came when
the scrub" crew. putting forth its best
keep its early gained lead over the other
four, and a little more than nose 1t out
The game race put up by the scrubs"
aroused great enthusiasm In the specta-
tors, and the last few seconds were de-
voted to loud cheers for the scrubs"
and cries to them to keep their lead.
Horace Woodward was pilot for the
scrubs"
Rivaling this event In interest was the
single race between Lucas and Ruther-
ford. In the September general regatta
the former won this race from the lat
ter, who was forced, owing to the dtrec-
ton and strength of the wind, to paddle
on his off side. Rutherford, who has
for several years won consistently. believ-
ed that he had not been given fair
trial yesterday. Realizing that his rivals
claim was we'll founded. Lucas consented
to run another race for the sport Of the
thing. Conditions were ideal, and both
men did their best: They had been
were in fine form.
Lucas padded a very short, quick
stroke, while Rutherford took a longer
stroke. trusting to his strength in push
ing the boat far ahead each time and rest
tire race, however, Rutherford was lit
tie In the rear. At the end he failed to
quicken his stroke and put steam into 1t
enough to overtake Lucas. who finished
with over a boat length of open water
showing between his and Rutherford's
boat.
Rutherford Ii Satisfied.
Tim satisfied now" was Rutherford's
smiling comment as he padded up to. the
boathouse after the race.
In the club singles Cleveland Skinker
was the victor and Buchanan came sec
ond, with Lawrence Eberbach third. The
closest race of the afternoon was that for
club doubles. which was captured by Ed
Schmitt and Rogers by such narrow
margin that many OF the spectators be-
lieved it was a dead heat. Garrett and
Buchanan pushed them SO hard at the
close that 1t was the consensus Of opinion
that If the race had been a few feet longer
Schmitt and Rogers would not have been
the winners. When the line was reached
Garrett and Buchanan were gaining with
every stroke of the paddles. Woodward
rolP
third place.
An unfinished fitting contest, started at
the annual summer club regatta and post
poned on account of darkness, was con-
tinued, but its conclusion had to be post
poned once moro for the same reason, al
though one more heat was got out OF the
way. In this Rutherford and Crane de-
feated Barnes and Eberbach on fouls.
neither crew suffering an upset. Eacn
wielder OF the lance Is allowed f1ve fouls
under the rules. They consist OF grab
bling the boat with the hand to keep from
falling out. When darkness fell Schmitt
and Lea had been up against Rogers and
Pomeroy for over half an hour and each
crew had but one foul to its credit. This
event will be completed at later date
this fall.
To Improve fitting Contests.
The experience of the Washington Ca
noe Club with fitting yesterday and at Its
summer regatta has given rise to the
suggestion that somer change should be
made either In the rules or the boats
to insure an ending of the contests more
quickly and decisively. The present con-
ditions were ali right SO long as there
were no highly trained filters, but this
form of canoe rivalry has been developed
to such an extent that it frequently &C.
ours that two crews are matched that
can tilt hV the hour without either going
over or losing on fouls
In order to obviate this difficulty 1t has
been suggested that the plan adopted in
New England be followed here and that
a. small platform be built in the canoe
near the bow to support the lance bearer
about on q level with the gunwale OF
the boat Standing on this sort of a
platform would be difficult In the ex-
treme, and great skill would have to be
exercised by both paddler and litter In
the approach and the thrust, while the
contest would certainly be terminated
very quickly by one being thrown over
board. This idea has met with pretty
general approval. and may be tested out
before next years regatta Is pulled of
II will be q distinct novelty in this Sec
ton Of the country, but as q matter OF
fact, It is very old, having been in use
In punt fitting contests In England since
olden times.
The Summaries
Challenge singles, one-t third of q mle-Won by
A. T. Lucas, Potomac Boat Club; second, r. c.
Rutherford. Analostan Boat Club.