New Britain herald., 1919-06-20
HARVARD CREWS WIN PRELIMINARY RACES Yale Freshmen and Juniors Lose
 Out in Gruelling Contests
 BIG RAGE THIS AFTERNOON
In Both Freshman and Junior Con- tests tho Battle Was Close But the Crimson OaPsmcn Had Reserve Strength For Sensational Finish

Crimson Oarsmcn Had Reserve
 Strength For Sensational Finish
 Regatta Course, New London, June 2O.-In two of the closest races of re- cent years, Harvard crews won both preliminary events of the annual Yale-Harvard regatta here this fore noon and thereby greatly boomed the Crimson prospects for the final four mile contest, the feature race, to be rowed late this afternoon.
 Both Races Close.
 In neither the freshman or junior varsity events was there open water visible between the shells at any peri cd of the two mile course and only the superior power and rowing form of Harvard enabled the Cambridge oarsmen to triumph. The official time in both races were as follows:
 Freshman race-HarVard, 10:36 3-5; Yale 10:37 1-5.
 Junior Varsity-Harvard, 10:4O 4-5; Yale, 10:41 4-5.
 Finish Close.
 A SCant quarter shell length separ- ated the first year crews when liar ward led tho way across the finish line
  race. The Crimson youngsters were first to catch the water at the start which was made under perfect wealth CT conditions. A west wind just rip pied the waters of the Thames and the glare of the sun was softened by a film of cloud. Once in the van liar ward heightened her lead until at the half mile flags she was showing the way up river by a little less than a shell length. Both crews got away at a 36 stroke but Harvard dropped to 32 at the half while Yale was rowing a beat higher
 Yale in Mad Squirt.
 Yale spurted and with more force in her blade work cut down Harvard's lead in the second half of the first mile so that at the half way mark Harvard's advantage was less than three-quarter length. Here Yale was rowing harder but Harvard got better results from her smoother blade work The challenge of the Blue, however, had it's effect upon Harvard for as the rival shell crept up on the Crimson the Cambridge oarsmen lost some of their form so that near the finish both eghts were rowing @ slugging and a regular stroke.
 Harvard Too Strong.
 It was a gallant effort on the part of the Yale youngsters but their rivals had too much in reserve and swept across the finish line with just about a fifth of a length to mark their vic tory. Yale showed the result of the spurt for rowing a 32 stroke to Har- wards 30 three of the eight oarsmen went down just after the shell lost headway. The collapse was only momentarily, however, and both eights padded away soon after the customary exchange of cheers.
 Junior Contest Hot One.
 The junior varsity race was even closer for the greater part of the dis tance and at times the two shells ap- peared to be travelling through the water with bows aligned. Weather conditions changed rapidly between the events and the juniors got away amid thunder and flashes of lightning Yale got the jump at the pistol report and it was not until a quarter mile had been rowed that Harvard drew up on even terms. From this point it was a hard battle for the lead and the Cambridge crew was but 3-5 of a sec ond ahead at the half mile. Both were SlrOklng at 3O ana there was little diff ference in form. Although maintain ing the same position at the mile Yale had begun to splash and by the sheer power of her blade work was holding her place along side the Harvard shell. l
 Men Row in Rain. Half a mile from the finish the rain burst on crews and spectators alike l and the race ended In a drenching l doWnpour and with darkness so black l that yachts and river buoy carried i lights. Like tho freshman contest the ! junior event ended in a thrilling i sprinting finish in which every oars i man put his last ounce of strength l into his stroke, but again Harvard got l more power out of her drive and | crossed the line with about q quarter l length margin, just one second separ- ! Htng the bows Of the racing craft aC- COrdlng to the official timers watch. , The rain appeared to refresh the oars men for although they were badly 1 pumped out but one man went down in the Harvard shell after the race i