Page:Boating - Woodgate - 1888.pdf/113

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The Captain.
87

breadth and weight, sealing close upon 13st. Eton crews were. not then so heavy as in these days, and the wondrous old Fton ‘Mat-Taylor’ boat, which then was still in her prime, would not satisfactorily carry so heavy a weight in the stern. Mr, Corkran placed himself at No. 7, and installed a light- weight, Mr. Mossop, at stroke. %Jn this year Eton won the Ladies’ Plate for the first time, University College leaving them to walk over for it, afier University had had a severe losing race carlier in the day against the Kingston Rowing Club for the final heat of the Grand Challenge.

The duties of a captain are not confined to the mere selec- tion of his racing crew for the moment, nor to the preservation of order and régime in the matter of training. If he is to do his duty by the club, he should be on duty pretty well all through the scason. He should keep his cyes open to note any raw oarsman who shows signs of talent, and mark him to be tried and coached into form hereafter. A captain of an elective club can do much to maintain the credit of his flag by leocking up suitable recruits who have not yet joined a leading club, and by inducing them to put themselves under his care, and to submit themselves for election. One of the best oars that ever rowed at Henley, who became an amateur champion (Mr. W. Long), was secured for the L.R.C. by the prompt energy of the then captain of that club, on the occasion of Mr. Long's déu¢ at Henley Regatta. On that occasion he came from Ipswich, to row for the pairs, with a partner much inferior to himself. They did not win, but Mr. Long’s hitherto unknown merits were at once seen, and his enlistment in the 1..R.C. ranks had very much to do with the long series of victories, especially in Stewards’ Cup and other four-oar races, which for seme seasons afterwards attended. the fortunes of the L.R.C.

Per contra, to show how a good oarsman may be going begging, in 1867 Mr. F, Gulston was not asked to row cither by London or Kingston ; he went to Paris to row in a pair-var, and still the L.R.C. overlooked him, though he was a member