Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-19

New London, Conn.,, June 1S.-On the eve of the forty eighth regatta between the crews of Harvard and Yale universities the same uncertain | ty prevails that has mrked the night before the annual aquatic contest on l the Thames river for the past few years. Harvard's crews are favored to win but it is conceded that the Yale
 combination composed of powerful
 oars-men contain possibilities that
 cannot be disregarded.
 l In fact it is the tried and proven | coaching system of the Crimson navy 1 as opposed to the Yale experimental
 methods that causes the Cambridge crews to stand as popular choices to- | night. For the past six years liar yards varsity eights have decisiveiy 1 defeated the Blue oarsmen and in some seasons the varsity four and freshman. eights have followed suit, | sweeping the river under the coaching I of Jimmy Wray. During this period 1 of Crimson success the Yale coaching policy has undergone several changes, none of which has been productive of victory. Under the circumstances 1t | is but natural that Harvard's crews | should be favorites in the wagering l even though the odds are slight. Veteran oarsman, however, have not l lost sight of the fact that the Eli | crews, especially the varsity eight,
 
 three weeks of practice on the Thames I and that physically there is little to choose between the rowing squads Of the two universities. Considering the varsity four mile race alone it Is be- lieved that the two eights will leave the starting line on virtually even terms. After the first squirt the sixteen oarsmen will settle down to a test and demonstration of coaching system and rowing policy. TH kt-- H.,I T to the form and methods of rowing as taught by Guy Nichalls, the famous Oxford university oarsman and mem Der of the English Leander crew, with out being outdistanced early in the race, victory for Yale is far from an impossibiHty. Should it develop, as was the case last June. that the Blue become demoralized by Harvard's ma chine like stroke and early lead there can be but one outcome to the race. In their anxiety to increase the power and speed of the stroke each oarsman will row at variance with his crew mates and a procession will result with Harvard setting the pace. This was the case in 1918 and with that eX- perience still firmly fixed in their have labored hard to prevent its repe- tition.
 Consequently the race is expected to resolve itself into a test of the effici- ency of the coaching systems of the two university navies. Wray and Harvard are synonymous whenever college rowing is discussed, and his record since he signed his first con tract to coach the Crimson crews has
 been one of remarkable success. The
 same cannot be said of the Yale sys- tenn in recent years. Professional and amateur coaches, both English and American, have been tried. but to date the results have not been satisfactory.
 Many close observers of the situation have claimed that the poor showing was due to the lack of continuity of anyone system.
 It is certain that radical changes followed the, overwhelming defeat here last year. Hartcourt Gold and A G. Kirby, the English coaches of 1913, returned to England and after I many conferences it was announced that Guy Nickal1s and c. F. Gianhlll would coach the 1914 crews.
 Under the coaching of Nicka1ls and Giannini the winter and spring train ing routine moved smoothly. until the Yale eight finished last in the trian-