Evening star., 1940-06-07
Potomac Distractions
Above Key Bridge
Would Be Razed
Four Clubs to Compete
In Regatta June 30;
Interest Booming
by MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

by MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
A campaign to give Washington
one of the finest rowing courses
in the United States-a long sought
dream of local rowing enthusiasts
was revealed this week with the an
nouncement of an inter-club regatta
sponsored by Potomac Boat Club to
be staged on the upper Potomac
June 80.
officials of the Capitals oldest
rowing organization believe with the
expenditure of relatively small
amount of public funds the stretch
of river above Key Bridge would
provide course of national i'm
portance.
Some even so so far as TO MAIN
tain it would be second to none,
surprising even the Poughkeepsle or
the Schuylkill courses.
But two major hazards must be
surmounted. all admit. One is the
rock-littered mud fiat known as
Three Sisters Island and the other
is the group Of gnawed-off stone
abutments stretching across the
river above the Key span and mark
ing the last remains of the Aqueduct
Bridge.
Course Would Be Natural.
With the ellmina ton of the island
at the northern end and the pier
heads at the lower extremity a
natural course affording a straight
away of Il , miles would be realitA
it is claimed.
Lying as ii does in the middle Of
the stream, the island keeps the
rowing lanes down to five. Out of
the way it would provide a l0-lane
course equal to the cOuntry'S best
Furthermore, officials state, little
more than a mile course is possible
under the present conditions,
The course would be ideal for
spectators when the proposed George
Washington Memorial Parkway is
completed Stretching along the
river on the Virginia shore the road
could provide a grandstand view
that would be a natural. according
to oarsmen
gallery have been made by rowing
groups with the staging of races IN
the lower river off East Potomac
Park. But SAD has been their eX
perience. The river is just too rough
at times for the frail shells.
Abutments Biggest Hazard.
A national rowing course or not
all agree the greatest hazard to oars
men continues to be the seven abut-
ments lying just below Potomac
Boat Clubs headquarters in George
town. Numerous pleas have been
made to authorities for their elimi-
nation but each time they are told
the small amount of river traffic in
the area does not Justify the expense
Club members continue TO Work
for their eventual removal,
Despite these hazards, Potomac
officers are gong ahead with their
regatta which will see oarsmen from
Alexandra. Baltimore and Rich
mond joining in the largest rowing
regatta Of the season in the South.
Clubs sending teams here on June
80 are Ol0 DOMINION, ArunCeI OF
Baltimore and Virginia Of Richmond
Events will include races for singles,
doubles. gig, ouads and IS a high
light, an elimination match III the
eight-oared shells. Old Dominion
and Virginia Boat Club will be
matched in the first heat, and Poto-
mac and Arundel in the second
with the winners to meet
Racing will begin at l:30 pm
and continue through the afternoon.
As a novelty event, Paul Lanigan
and Edmund Mason last years
champion scullers, Will be pltted.
Fleet Capt. Norman MardeE re-
ports unusually keen interest among
members. For the first time III seV-
eral years he has full crews for the
eight gig, quad and double.