Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-09

l
rapidly being completed for the hold
ing of the National Patriotic Regatta
on the Severn at Annapolis, Md. Sat-
urday, May is and there are grounds
| for the belief that the event will be the
| most remarkable intercollegiate rowing
contest in the history of the sport in
this country. Not alone in the mum
Der of entries but in the conditions
which will surround the regatta does
the event stand out as one of unusual
Importance. In addition, the compeu.
ton may have a far reaching result
upon college rowing in years to come
when national and International CON
ditions have returned to a normal
state.
Seven eastern college crews are
virtually assured for the so-calIeu
varsity race and if Syracuse Univer-
sity accepts the invitation, as appears
likely, there will be eight starters Tor
main events. The entry for the fresh
men contest is not expected to reach
this number but ii appears certain
that three to five Of the first year COM
binations will take the water in race
preliminary TO the varsity battle oil
crews.
Two Mile Course Favored.
No definite decision regarding the
distance of the race has been reached
at the present time but it is thought
that the main event Will be two mile
contest. There is q rule at the United
States Naval Academy which limits
the Navy crews TO race not to exceed
one mile. 500 yards. The majority OF
the other institutions entered, however.
have adopted the two mile distance as
a standard for all preliminary season
races and 1t is thought that the
Naval AGA DENY rowing authorities
Will not object to lengthenng the Ma
under the Circumstances.
A feature never before attempted
upon SO large scale is that every one
of the visiting crews will row the race.
Owing to the demand upon railroad
transportation facilities il is almost
impossible to ship g racing shell to as
tant points with any certainty that the
craft will be delivered in time for
scheduled date. This was one of the
difficulties which was overcome oE
staging the -egetta at Annapolis. a
number OF eight Dared racing shells
belonging to the naval academy ana
the Baltimore rowing clubs will be
available for the invading crews ana
these will be awarded by lot.
Very Little Preparatory Work.
The various college crew coaches will
arrive at Annapolis several days in ad-
nrf1
borrowed shells in accordance TO the
requirements Of their respective oars
men. Them embers OF the crews.
bringing their own oars, VIII not
reach the scene Of the regatta until
the day before the contests and Will
spend Friday afternoon and Saturday
morning padding abou. the course and
becoming familiar with the particular
racing lane which they secured IN tne
blind draw There are unlimited faciE-
ties for staging a big regatta upon the
Severn. Two courses are availa Die
and are known as the inner and oyer
course. In blustery weather the 1orm-
er is used as owing to the protected
waters therei S little interference with
the prog ress of the races.
Not since the early seventies has
there been an intercollegiate race
with as many3as eight entries. The
nearest approach was the Poughkeep-
sic regatta Of 1907 when seven varsity
e!ghts finished the four mile row down
the Hudson in the following order:
Cornell, Columbia, Navy. Pennsylvania,
Wisconsin, Georgetown and Syracuse.
Very early in the history OF American
college rowing there were regattas at
Saratoga and Springfield in which the
entries ran into two figures but that
was so many Years ago that the rowing
records OF some Of the colleges which
supported crews n those days nave
become dim traditions.