Page:Boating - Woodgate - 1888.pdf/63

 now staked out, and neither competitor can hug the bank, the difference between windward and leeward stations, even when hereafter a gale shall blow, will no longer be so glaring as of old.

The Universities no longer compete at Henley. In these days of keelless boats more practice is needed, in order to do jus- tice to the craft, than when heavier and stcadier craft were used. Jt is found to be impossible to collect all the cight best men of either-U.B.C. twice in one year. Examination and other causes

reduce the ranks more or less ; and, as the annual Putney match between the Universities is considered by them to be of more importance than any other contest, they devote their best energies to that, and leave minor sections of either U.R.C. to fight Henley battles. It is found that a good college eight, ora club crew of which some one college forms a nucleus, can be got together better, in the limited time available for practice for the regatta, than eight better men who probably cannot find time to practise all together for more than a week, and who will further, for the same reason, he short of condition.