Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-30
Oarsmen Plan
Big Events for
Boston Basin
Belgian Crew Will Row Harvard as
a Special Feature of the
Meet.

BOSTON, Jan. @.-Providing the plans OF
local amateur oarsmen are successfully car
ried out, Boston Basin will be the scene
during the coming summer OF one OF the
greatest rowing regattas ever held in this
country. 1t is the idea OF the projectors
to secure the championship regatta OF the
National Association of Amateur Oarsmen,
with a special feature embodying a race
between the Harvard varsity crew and
the famous eight of the Royal Club Nau-
tique de Gand, Belgium.
The Belgium crew is at the present time
the holde OF the Grand Challenge cup, won
at the famous Henley regatta, held in
England on July Z and 8, last year. Since
the plan was first proposed at a meeting
Of prominent local oarsmen its supporters
have been assured Of liberal support by
influential patrons of the sport. So FAR as
the National Association of Amateur Oars
men regatta is concerned, Boston has been
assured of this event by President James
Pilkington, If the local association cares
to finance the same.
The meeting OF the delegates OF the New
England association on February 2 will
consider the project officially and discuss
what steps may be necessary to bring about
a contest between the Belgium and Har-
ward Fights, 1t is said on good authority
that President George b. Magrath OF the
New England association has been as
sured OF the willingness Of both crews to
compete in such an event. The one draw
back, as seen from a local standpoint, is
the lack of suitable quarters along Boston
Basin for the housing of the several hun
dred oarsmen who would attend such a
series of contests. 1t is thought, however,
that
nature could be constructed and that the
Harvard Rowing association would offer
every training facility to the foreign oars
men.
The race between the Harvard and Bel
GUM crews would be an affair Of inter-
national Importance and would undoubtedly
attract thousands of visitors to the city
of Boston, since the race would be on park
property and could be witnessed without
charge. The fund necessary, 1t is thought
could be raised by subscription among local
business concerns which would profit by
the influx of visitors, and the event would
be a most worthy one as the opening
feature of one OF Americas greatest water
parkways.
The Belgium crew has proved a three
time winner of the Grand Challenge trophy,
the greatest prize in English rowing cir
Giles. Every member of the crew is an
amateur without the slightest professional
taints and no protest along these lines has
ever been raised by the English, who are
the greatest sticklers for amateurism in
sport. The Client oarsmen are said to row
a stroke similar to that adopted by Amer
can crews and to be a combination very
hard to defeat, as was proved at Henley.
The cost OF the trip 4 the Belgians has
been fixed at not over 5000. and this money
the local promoters OF the project claim,
can be raised within two days after the
success of the scheme has been secured.
In fact, it is said that Harvard students
at Cambridge have expressed a willingness
to contribute half the sum needed in order
that they may witness what is expected
TO be the best eight-oared crew in Harvard
history In an international race within
sight Of the historic university.