All I can do is to assure my readers that nothing has been set down here the truth and accuracy of which I have not proved--at least, to my own satisfaction.
_The illustrations are reproduced from photographs by Messrs. Stearn, of Cambridge; Messrs. Gillman, of Oxford; Messrs. Marsh, of Henley-on-Thames; Messrs. Hills and Saunders, of Eton; Messrs. Pach Brothers, of Cambridge (Mass.); and Mr. J. G. Williams, of East Molesey._
V. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_) 72
VI. COMBINED OARSMANSHIP IN EIGHTS (_continued_) 89
VII. OF AILMENTS--OF TRAINING AND DIET--OF STALENESS--OF DISCIPLINE--OF COACHING 109
VIII. OF THE RACE-DAY--OF THE RACE--OF THE NECESSITY OF HAVING A BUTT--OF LEISURE TIME--OF AQUATIC AXIOMS 128
IX. FOUR-OARS AND PAIR-OARS--SWIVEL ROWLOCKS 144
XII. COLLEGE ROWING AT OXFORD. _By_ C. M. PITMAN 194
XIV. ROWING AT ETON COLLEGE. _By_ W. E. CRUM 234
XV. AUSTRALIAN ROWING. _By_ E. G. BLACKMORE 255
XVII. A RECENT CONTROVERSY: ARE ATHLETES HEALTHY?--MR. SANDOW'S VIEWS ON THE TRAINING OF OARSMEN 288
APPENDIX--HENLEY REGATTA RULES; RULES OF THE A.R.A.; RULES OF THE C.U.B.C. AND O.U.B.C. 307
PAGE THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT-RACE, 1894 _Frontispiece._ FIRST HENLEY REGATTA PROGRAMME _To face_ 6 FIXED SEATS. NUMBER 1 20 " " 2 22 " " 3 24 " " 4 26 " " 5 30 SLIDING SEATS. NUMBER 1 38 " " 2 40 " " 3 41 " " 4 42 " " 5 44 " " 6 45 " " 7 47 " " 8 48 " " 9 50 " " 10 52 " " 11 54 SNAP-SHOTS--CREW IN MOTION. NUMBERS 1 AND 2 56 " " " " 3 AND 4 58 " " " " 5 AND 6 61 " " " " 7 AND 8 64 MR. C. W. KENT 78 MR. H. G. GOLD 81 HENLEY REGATTA, 1897 130 HENLEY REGATTA: A HEAT FOR THE DIAMONDS 157 A BUMP IN THE EIGHTS 194 A START IN THE EIGHTS 202 THE GOLDIE BOAT-HOUSE 211 A HARVARD EIGHT ON THE RIVER HUDSON, AT POUGHKEEPSIE 272 COACHING ON THE RIVER HUDSON 284 ROWING TYPES. NUMBER 1 289 " " 2 298 " " 3 301 " " 4 303 " " 5 305
My object in the following pages will be not merely to give such hints to the novice as may enable him, so far as book-learning can effect the purpose, to master the rudiments of oarsmanship, but also to commend to him the sport of rowing from the point of view of those enthusiasts who regard it as a noble open-air exercise, fruitful in lessons of strength, courage, discipline, and endurance, and as an art which requires on the part of its votaries a sense of rhythm, a perfect balance and symmetry of bodily effort, and the graceful control and repose which lend an appearance of ease to the application of the highest muscular energy. Much has to be suffered and many difficulties have to be overcome before the raw tiro, whose fantastic contortions in a tub-pair excite the derision of the spectators, can approach to the power, effectiveness and grace of a Crum or a Gold; but, given a healthy frame and sound organs inured to fatigue by the sports of English boyhood, given also an alert intelligence, there is no reason in the nature of things why oarsmanship should not eventually become both an exercise and a pleasure. And when I speak of oarsmanship, I mean the combined form of it in pairs, in fours, and in eight-oared racing boats.