The Washington herald., 1915-11-21
Leader in Local Aquatic
Sports Is Against Forming
of Southern Body.
VARIOUS VIEWS TAKEN
By EUGENE NJ. FOSTER.
intermediate oarsnan, Potomac Boat Club.

intermediate oarsnan. Potomac Boat Club.
The proposition to form a new rowing
association as recently proposed by one
of the Baltimore clubs and commented
upon in The Herald. of the 18th. to be
known as the Southern and to embrace
clubs from Baltimore. Washington, Rich
mond. Alexandria, and other cities in
this locality. is not favorably commented
on by officials OF the rowing clubs of
Washington.
One official, who has been connected
with rowing circles for over thirty years
and considered one of the greatest au-
thorities in the country on the game. ex-
pressed the opinion that the idea Is an
old one that has been discussed a number
of times before. but dropped for the lack
of support.
! He stated that he could not see the
need for additional associations as the
ground is sufficiently covered by the as
sociations now in existance.
| Take the question from its various
sides: First. what could be gained from
such an association that could not be OBJ
tanned through other means now at hand
at less expense and trouble. II such an
association was formed how many clubs
would enter crews and what would be
their class.
Two clubs from Baltimore would prob
ably compete, the Ariels and Arundels,
possibly from the Severn club Of An
napolis and Potomac clubs. the Old Do
minion Club of Alexandria might enter a
four and the Virginia Club. of Richmond,
could furnish a couple of entries. but
from where would you get any others.
In all you have seven clubs from which
TO obtain entries for all of your events.
but how many crews would they send.
Would Not Send Crews.
THE Severn and the Old Dominion
could harly send more than a four or
a quad apiece and that would leave but
five clubs from which to fill your three
eight-oared races which are considered
the largest attraction of a regatta"
The whole up-shot of the case would
be that YOU would have about two or
possibly three entries for each of these
events.
The question answers itself by show
ing that the races would be merely
matches. with the disadvantage Of having
the crews lose their class as juniors
or Intermediates and only have the glory
Of defeating one or two crews, and those
only from a restricted area
What athelete wants to change class
under such conditions. II he feels that
his crew has a chance to win a race
he wants a large field. with class tc
race against so that in the event of
crossing the line in the van he has gained
a great victory, not a hollow one.
So much for the crew men, now what
about the clubs and the financial hackers.
Expenses Heavy.
The plan as proposed by the Balti-
more Club is to have the regatte held
in that city each year. That might be
very well for the Baltimoreans, but what
about the out OF town clubs, who will have
to pay travelling expenses for the crews,
hotel bills, cost of shipping boats and
equipment and other incidental expenses.
What will the financial hackers Of
Baltimore do when called upon to con-
tribute for. one. or possibly two regattas
in one season, for they would no doubt
take the National or the Middle States
some time Would they not get tired
Of contributing and let the association
go to the wall 1 think they would and
can but see a short life for such an
association.
do not think Washington could
support a regatta each year, or one
every other, and from my personal
opinion do not feel that the two clubs
here would support such a proposition.
] am sure that the crew members OF
the Analostan and Potomac Clubs, would
much prefer to wait for one of the large
regattas. such as the Peoples, Of Phil
adelphia. the National. or the Middle
states. Where tneY WOuld race against
some of the best crews in the East or
in the country, than to lose their junior |
of intermediate standing by winning what
would practically be a match race.
With the senior oarsmen things are
different, for they do not change class
upon winning a race and would not mind
having chance to pick up few extra !
medals.
As have shown, the proposed associa- |
ton would have practically only match |
races, so why not settle the question by
having different clubs hold closed re-
gattas, invite various clubs to compete.
but only have two entries in each spe-
clal event. In this way the benefits OBJ
tanned from the proposed open regatta
would be had without suffering the in
convenience of having some good Junior
or intermediate graduate into higher
class with little to show for his Efforts
Such a plan Is now being worked be-
tReen fhe Arundels Of Ralfimnre andI