The Washington herald., 1916-01-23
endent Rowing Association to be Made at Meeting Saturday
SOUTHERN OARSMEN TO MEET AT
RALEIGH HOTEL NEXT SATURDAY
PLAN INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION
Representatives from All Sections Of the South Will Gather
to Consider Forming Separate Body.
Opinions Vary on Question

about the Virginia Boat Club and the
Severn Boat Club 1t would be the
greatest help to rowing in the two cities
that could be devised The regatta need
not be an expensive affair; 1t need not
run into twelve, fifteen or sixteen
events. ,.ns --..
A very creditable regatta could be got
ten up with five or six events and could
be of such character of races that
would suit the conditions of the different
clubs: Such an event would be, In ad-
dition to being a great aquatic event, a
big social event.
1t Is a well-known fact that when any
of the big regattas are held in Baltimore
or Washington there is a large delega-
ton of "rooters" from each city to at
tend the regatta, and the whole affair is
made a great social event. As 1t is now
1t is always a question of waiting until
you have a crew that is strong enough
to compete in the big regattas, and the
consequence is that a few men go to the
regattas. The question has often been
raised whether the game was worth the
candle"-to send a crew to a big open
regatta, at considerable expense. when
so few Of the members witnessed the
races"
Expressing himself on the question OF
the number of possible entries, Commo.
dore Driscoll said: 'I think II we could
get entries from the two clubs in Balti-
more and Washington the Seyerns, OF
Annapolis; the Old Dominions, of Alex
andria, and the Virginia Boat. Club, oil
Richmond we would have a regatta that
would be the equal of any regatta held
in the country. think I may say that
the greatest race ever rowed on the Po-
tomac River was the race between the
Potomacs, Analostans and Ariel junior
eights at the Middle States Regatta In
1912, when the Ariels won out by half a
foot In fact. the race was so close that
the official boat had to announce the win
ner before the spectators from the Wash
ington bank of the Potomac knew the
result
Il think the race mentioned answers
the objection as to the restricted area.
THE question OF changing class has
been one of the bug-bears In amateur
rowing, and the sooner we begin to
realize that a race is a race the better
II will be for the sport. 1t should be
borne in mind that there is Just as much
honor In winning one race as another.
because, after all. 1t is the kind of a
race and not the race of any particular
regatta that adds to the glory.
LAS far as the expense Is concerned,
such a regatta as is proposed can be
held with very little expense to the clubs
could get trophies such as are given by
the American Rowing Association In Phil
adelphia. that are very inexpensive and
are priced more for what they represent
than for their intrinsic value.
'It is safe to say that the Patapsco
Navy could guarantee the holding of a
regatta for at least five years and not
feel a dent In its treasury, and this or
ganization is by no means a wealthy one.
II. s-.. II .tay, rad
local rivalries are kept up and all con-
ditions are regulated by an organiza-
ton that does not have to depend for its
existence upon any one club"
The views expressed by Commodore
Driscoll are concurred in by a number
of local boatmen and it is thought that
the association will have many support
ers from the District at the meeting on
Saturday.
The meeting will not only be open to
delegates from the various clubs. but any
one interested may attend the meeting.