The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-28
COLUMBIA IS PICKED
TO FORCE CORNELL
Experts Believe Eight From Metropolis Will Prove to
Be lthacans Strongest Rival for Premier Hon
ors in the Poughkeepsie Regatta

POUGHKEEPSIE, June 2S.-It is
barely possible that if the coaches en-
counter just the right conditions for
fast rowing nearly every one Of the
crews on the Hudson will have a time
row over the fun four-mile course in
the early part of this week.
But il the conditions are not favor
| able, nothing strenuous viii be done.
and the crews will confine themselves
TO light limbering uI paddles and
few racing starts. Just at present not
one Of the coaches has anything TO
complain about the physical fitness of
his charges. The Cornell men were
troubled with intestinal complaints dur
ing the early part of the week. brought
on by the hot weather and the change
of water, but they are all over it now
and are in fine fettle. Courtney has net
been working his oarsmen hare at all,
and for that reason they are in better
condition than they otherwise might
have been had they been driven at
racing speed through the blistering heat
Of the last week.
AS the race draws nearer It is be-.
coming more and more evident that
Cornell is not going to have everything
It's own way in all three races, which
was the impression which got abroad
after the Ithacans had taken their
first few rows on the river. Columbia
is looming up stronger every day and
is sure to give Cou-tney's men hard
tussle in every race. Syracuse, too, is
showing up well with her freshman and
four-oared crews and deserves just
little consideration. The caliber of the
work that the Pennsylvania and Wis
consin crews has been showing in the
last few days Of practice does not en-
title either 10 any very serious atten-
ton.
Powerful Crew.
That Cornell has a powerful varsity
crew cannot be denied by any one who
has seen Courtneys men dash over the
course, but one thing is lacking which
in former years has been the earmark
of superiority of Cornell. The 1903 Cor
nell crew is poor on form. There is a
noticea bic break at No. ?. Courtney
tried out Backus. a varsity substitute. in
this place last week, bat, although ne
rowed better than simson, the regular
man. he apparently did not put the
same energy irto his oar. and his stay
was short-livel.
is usual with Courtney's crews. but the
men manage their slides well and dis
play fair workmanship. Composed as
1t is of six OF last years victorious
freshman eight and one of the four.
with Weed, the stroke Of the % fresh
man crew In that place, the crew is not
a seasoned combination by any means.
Not one OF the men has ever been il,
race. and the sensation may
not be any too good for them in the
race on Friday.
Columbia Improving.
In this respect Columbia is not much /
better of. for only two of last years !
varsity eight are in the boat this year. /
Renshaw at bow and Saunders at No. 4 |
are the old men, and, with Spalding, |
40. Z. who rowed in TIE 07 varsity race /
they may hold the other men together /
If there is any danger OF their falter |
ing Columbia varsity rows in better
form than any crew on the river, and +
the men seem to row with just as much !
power and endurance as Cornell. They
work their slides beautifully, and have |
a long, swinging pull through. with no /
clipping. Their Improvement since they |
have been on the river has hee1 so |
marked that they are fast supplanting /
Syracuse as second choice.
Since Phillips return to the 5heu the |
crew has been going just as finely |
as il did the few days before he became /
III and those around the CGlrIIISja |
quarters have essry confidence that the !
crew that beats the Blue and White /
senior combination will have TO row a /
mighty fast race Murphy is showing |
in every days practice that ne is quite |