Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-12
EXPLAINS LOSS OF RACE
WIND CAUSED LOCAL CREW
TO LOSE AT PHILADELPHIA
blight Was Shifted From Position just
Before Stnrt-Four Onrnmen Had
Been in Gruelling Event.

Been in Gruelling Event.
While local boating enthusiasts arc
willing to give the Virginia Boat Club
crews the fullest praise for their per-
formances at the Middle States regatta
on Labor Day, the oarsmen themselves
are not entirely satisfied with their
showing. believing under moro favor
able circumstances that tho eight"
would have easily copied its event
Summerf1eld Brock, coxswain Of tho
crew which took second place in it's first
real race. has written the following in
teresting account Of the events In which
the Virginia Boat Club figured:
Il don't mean to make excuses for
our crew not winning the eight-oared
race at Philadelphia on Labor Day but
few cold facts concerning tho race
VIII mike 1t plain to the folks here in
Virginia who didn't have the opnor.
tunity OF seeing it, that ali hands did
their level best, and that luck was
against US.
The race was scheduled for 4:45
o'clock. On reaching the starting line
few minutes before that time got
the eight lined up at our buoy and
told the starter We were ready.
The Potomac crew. on our left. was
immediately blown over into our water
by the strong quartering breeze, fetch
Ing up nearly length ahead OF us The
starter called them back Then Tespcr
was blown over into Potomac. The
starter made them pull away and back
up 10 their buoy. BY this time We had
been blown over SO far that our star
board oars were all but touching the
shore, so we had to pull round and go
back to our buoy. All three crews were
blown out of their proper position four
times and every time had TO pull ahead
and then back UP 10 the buoys.
owing to Thompson. our bow man.
being one of the strongest pullers II
was my aim TO be pointing little 10
port on the start, but tho wind kept us
swinging off to starboard The only
way to keep straight was TO have Mont
gomcry. our No. . man, paddle which
pulled us ahead of the other crews and
necessitated our backing water 20 get
on our buoy.
HAD TO PULL RUDDER
TO AVOID HITTING SHORE
Finally, from the starters view
point. l suppose we were even with the
other crews. The bows of ali three
boats probably were even. but the
wind had again swung us around so
that we were pointing directly in
shore The starter called out, Ready.
all. and At the same instant fred his
gun. and we were OF.
The only thing to do was TO pull
running into the shore. Any ono who
has stecred racing shcllboats knows
that pulling the ruddeT around Is
equivalent to hanging tin can over
the stern. as our coach expressed it.
Both Potomac and Nesper took an
open-watcr lead on us Immediately.
When passed under the bridge,
quarter Of mile from the start, we
had pulled up to Nesper's stern. but
Potomac still had open water. At the
half-mile the positions were practical
~ the same. then redoublcd my
efforts in urging the crew 10 their
greatest efforts. and they certainly re-
spondcd in grand style For the last
half-mile Il was nothing but ono long
sprint. ] never felt a boat jump
and run tho way ours did Every
man put in every ounce h. had. and
ti.cn some.
at the head of the island we were
Potomacs stern From there on there
was such babel Of cheering and yell
ing from both sides-crowds on the
island and greater crowds on the Riv
or Dr!ve-that I had TO raise my
voice 10 high c.
And the crew, from Dorsey Tyler,
stroke, all tho way TO the bon. SIM
ply oOtllt themselves, ana IN the IN st
Quarter-milo pulled TO such purpose
that Potomac went over the line only
two scconds--half u lcnGth-ahead NJ
us and Vesper n half length behind us.
My throat seemed SO hot from
shouting at the men TO put in just
little bit more we needed 10 get ahead.
that ! almost believe ! could have set
fire TO piece OF paper. had ! put IT
in my mouth. Instead. l leaned over
and put my head in tho water.
IT am fully convinced that had it
not been necessary to make 80 much
use OF the rudder at the start, and
that II, instead OF being pointing at
the shore We had been pointing down
the river, same as the other crews.
there would have been different
story to tell. SO here's hoping for
hotter luck next time
While Mr.. Brock did not offer il as
an excuse. 1t is we'll to say that four
members OF the crew had just finished
n gruclllng mile race in tho iour-oared
Gig event, and consequently were do
ing wonders to go against fresh men.
Coach George Van Vliet has reason to
he proud OF his boys.
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