Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-16
BOAT CLUB CREWS
PLAN BIG REGATTA
Interclub Competition Will Be
Held on Saturday,
May 2e.
THREE EIGHT 0ARED RACES
Van Vliet Has His Charges Well
in Hand-Picked Crews Will
Fight for Honors.

Fight for Honors.
Plans for the big inter-club regatta
to be held by the Virginia Boat Club
on May % have been formulated and
the various committees in charge are
busily arranging the equipment in or
der to have everything shipshape when
the time comes. No stone is being left
unturned to make this regatta the
most successful ever held by the club.
and to this end the cooperation of
the $50 odd members will be asked.
Coach Van Vliet, who was instru-
mental In arranging the schedule OF
events. is greatly pleased with the in
terest shown in the coming regatta by
the new members. The river is
thronged daily with the newer blood
of the club. and to a man they are
learning the art of propelling craft
through the water.
The regatta committee appointed by
the Board Of Governors consists OF
Irwin II. Williams, chairman: Woodson
p. Waddy, r. S. Brook. Jr.. Robert Fra
zier and a. r. Kershaw. The program
follows:
o'clock-First heat, eight-oared she'll
race 1.-TWO crews).
$3.50 o'clock-Second heat eight.
cared shell race 1.-TWO crews).
o'clock-Pleasure boat race, lady
coNswains.
1880 o'clock-Four-o gig race.
o'clock-Final heat, eight-oared
shell race, winners OF the previous two
heats being matched.
$50 oclock-Canoe race.
5:45 o'clock-"Old Clothes swimming
This program will give the specta-
tors the chance Of seeing three thrill
Ing races between the crews OF the
eight-oared shells, and in addition IL is
hoped that a crew from the First Ma
tional Bank will come down and trv
conclusions with the Junior Boat Club
four.
This regatta will probably be the
largest and best ever staged by the
pected to be present. The new Mayo
bridge will give an excellent view
or the finish of tho races and II Is
thought that from this point of want
ase that hundreds of aquatic follow
ers Will be stationed
The senior crew will have the nro-
position of taking on AnoIostan in
July. This club has always turned out
cracker-jack number of oarsmen and
the coach realizes that he will have to
go some to find n combination to de-
feat the Washingtonians
COACH VAN VLIET HAS
NOT YET PICKED CREW
AS yet Van Vliet has not picked his
hrst crew. and there are at least
| eighteen or twenty men worthy of con
sideration. There Is an almost Ger
tainty that Wiltshire will be retained
at No. .. Wiltshire is big fellow
Weighing 1S5 and has improved won
derfully under Van Vliet's direction.
Atwell at No. and Thompson at No. 7
are also regarded as being sure fix
lures.
For the past two weeks the Junior
crew has raced crew composed OF old
and new men, and has always led the
way back by good margin. On Fri
/ 81 lac,
Nliet split the crews up equally as pos
sihle. The first eight to pull out from
the float to row down to the two-mile
start. seated as follows: Brock. cox
swain; Atwell stroke; Hottie, No 7;
! Thompson, No. 8; wiltshire No. 5:
No. ?. and Lafoon. No. l. In the second
eight were galady of old and new
stars. Beers, coXswain; Kershaw,
stroke; Gillian, No. 7; Parsons. No s:
Mercer, No. s; Ryland. No. 4 Spillman,
No. 3; Forrest. No. 2. and Van Vliet,
No. /. This formidable crew which av,
! eraged 1855 pounds looked like 1t could
row Yale and get away with it,
Down by the lower chemical works.
with clear stretch OF water for two
! miles. the crews Unanswered for the
best positions. Both boats got away to
n fast racing start. Neck and neck
they raced together until the mile mark
was passed.
| Then slowly Brooks huskies began
to pull away from the other boat AT
the mile and half mark open water
was between the two craft, and when
both crews took the final squirt at tho
bridge the gap had been widened to
several lengths To man. both crews
showed UP splendidly. 1t was a Cruel
ling race. and 1t amply showed the re-
suit of Coach Van Vliets instructions,
particularly to the new men.
The GOODNESS and clearness ~ MIND
which has characterized all OF Van
| Vliets crew is rapidly beginning to
| manifest itself upon his proteges at
the boat club. The nervous excitement
and mental perturbation OF one month
ago is nearly effaced now and the men
! take their positions for the daily races
with calmness and elaboration. This
| is an important factor in the develop
| ment of n crew. for it is a known fact
| that many race has been lost right
at the beginning by an awkward start
with much splashing and Grabbing.
| This morning, to give the men a little
work out In tho sun. the coach will
| take two crews a couple of miles down
the river and practice the famous
"threc-siN" racing start. This start,
when done rightly is highly efficient,
there being no quicker method Of get
ting craft away on an even keel than
this. All candidates will probably be-
on hand by II o'clock.