New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-28
F0UR-NIuE RACE
DOOMED, ASSERTS
ROWING EXPERT!
Sentiment Among Leading
Coaches Favors REDUCING
Distance of Classic
BY FRANK O'NEILL

he
try are doomed, If the word OF /. MAJ,
closely identified with the sport |. -.
be accepted as authoritative. Tn.
members of the board Of steward, a
the intercollegiate Rowing Associate,
returned from their meeting in thu
city to confer with the coaches al the ]
colleges, and 70 thrash the matter on
thoroughly before taking any action.
This conference, however, will be
mere formally, for the sentiment
among most Of the leading coaches. ipl
GLIDING Charles E. Courtney, Of Corl
neil; Joe Wright, Of Penn; DR.. ]. DunI
can Spaeth, Of Princeton, and otheri
has long been to reduce the di,tanet
TO three miles.
Rice In Minority
Jim Rice. coach Of the ColumbiS
crews, clings to the belief that foul
miles is the proper distance for col;
lege oarsmen to race. He is in IA
minority, however. Columbia men, in
Guiding former Blue and White oars
men, and some Of the candidates noj
trying for a place in the boat, tadI
issue with Rice.
They believe that with the race hx,g
at three miles Columbia would be abb
70 make a better showing. They poi1;
out that lack OF beef and Drawn at ca
lumbia has been one of the serio9
handicaps, and where skill would csrrh
the boys through at the shorter dii 4
lance, it is not enough to aecomplis
results in the longer race II not SUD-
ported by the necessary Drawn.
Whatever the opinion of the MI
nority body, the best interests Of rovp
ing demand that the length Of the racc
be reduced. This is the opinion q
rowing men throughout the eountrf
Whatever the pros and cons of the sud
ject of lasting harm done by four-mil
races, and they are many, the prob$o
bility Of more crews entering three
mile race is considered suficien
justification by the stewards TO reducl
the distance. b,
w lsCOHSlN - dlIuOtb NtlNnAu W ~
turn to Poughkeepsie IL the race
rowed at three miles. Dr. Ehler, hesS
OF the department of physical eduet
tion in the University of Wisconsin, =
no longer in control. DR.. Paul with
ington, q former Harvard oarsnlsn, anb
a great rowing enthusiast, viii tai
command of athletics there IN the neal
future. Indeed, the former Crimsd /,
blade is virtually in control now, an
his influence is bound to be fen.
Badgers Did Well 7
The Badgers rowed some fine rset:
over the course from Krum Elbow l..
"below the bridge" and their. retuf
10 the regatta would be hailed by row
ing enthusiasts. IL was DR.. Ehier WI
Instituted the investigation on the &
feet of rowing on the after life T.
oarsmen which resulted in the soat
ton of long distance racing at the eol
lege.
Princeton. is strong IN his stan
against four-mile races, and ne ~
ruled that the Tiger crews may not rcg
in a race Of greater distance than "
miles. Dr.. Spaeth voices the sentlnel
of members Of the board OF stewart
in a statement issued recently IN waif
he said that four-mile rowing was "
suited to our climate environment ~
locsI conditions at most OF the Ga
leges. He further maintained ts
where shorter distances were 10Y
more races might be held without if
of injury TO the men, and interest,"
the sport enhanced.
The Princeton coach, whue oppes
70 the four-mile race, might thereioi
: consider an invitation 10 compete
Poughkeepsie in a three-n1ile race.
All the colleges supporting rcFl
have a three-mile course near at hsn
with the possible exception OF rnne
TON. However. the Tigers could pr
pare at Carnegie Lake without re'
{ difficulty.
A Severe Strain
Ono man who rowed at school, an
later in open competition, said on y
matter: Rowing races at any ns''rrs
subject a man TO severe STRAIN.
periencc gathered first hsnd mas 1sss
US that rowing qusrter-mle 1ss.
exhausting to a degree. \ nslHhn
sprint will take the enthusiasm on, y
any but the perfectly conditioned ~
pleasures of smashing through iosl
mile race may be imagined. The vaf'oi
movements connected with perict "
ing produce an unnatural STRAIN on y"
respiratory organs and on the nes1-
1.-THE drive at the finish OF 4 sh.f
in rowing forces one TO eXhale spsi
matically. Rowing thirty-four or mr1
five strokes 20 the minute just a,o3
doubles the work Of the lungs tss
not without It's affect on the heart
normal human being respires s's1
seventeen or eighteen times IN
minute under normal conditions hnJ
rowing the only time that the "
have TO IN up their lungs IS on ms u
coyery. Thus it will be seen thn =,
coaches carp on control OF the ID
not only because a slow recovery
the run of the boat, but y an.1
some chance for the men 10 oresws
"In most intercollegiate races III
beat is kept IN around the *
minute mark until the last mi!e' ~
il is raised just as high as inc gO,I
OF the stroke and the ability OF ~
crew 10 follow admits. Smashing CO..
the three miles is bad enough, DIV ~
10 that the agonies OF an sddip.I
mile. which is one gruelling spn
with the stroke dashed up around orr
and YOU have something TO think oe' /
Brooklyn Horse Show DATES
IT. .wo,tv-ffth annual Brookly1