Length of Crew Race Discussed

In view of the recent agitation at a number of eastern colleges to shorten the four-mile crew race the following extracts from the letters of different captains, managers, coaches and others connected with college rowing, which were gathered by the Yale News; and appeared in an article in that publication which dealt with the subject, are interesting and authoritative. Of the letters received, the number of those which were against the shortening of the race was slightly larger than that of those in favor of the proposed shortening of the distance.

Captain H. A. Murray, Jr., '15, wrote as follows: "It has yet to be proved that a four-mile race is definitely injurious to college men of sound physique who have gone through five months of careful training. And, in my opinion, much investigation will have to be made before the question is decided one way or the other. In regard to changing the distance to three miles I do not believe it would lessen the strain on the men as the pace would naturally be more severe over the shorter course and the results would be about the same. I feel very strongly in favor of retaining the four-mile race, as a crew to win must know how to row and cannot rely entirely on slugging. It is the very fact that it is a long grind which makes it so worth while and so appealing to those who delight in a test of endurance."

Captain Denegre, of the Yale crew was also against the shortening of the race. He made the following statement: "In regard to the four-mile race I am in favor of it because I consider it a better test of skill in rowing and coaching, and as a better test of endurance and general ship. In the consideration of this question I think we should place some value in past tradition and in the fact that four miles has been the established distance. The three-mile race is an untried thing. My opinion is that it would develop into more or less of a sprint and would be more detrimental physically than the longer course. In all racing it is the pace and not the distance that kills. In addition, the last mile of the four-mile race is often the most exciting and is the greatest proof of superiority between rival crews."

The next letters were from Princeton and Cornell, both of which were opposed to the four-mile race. The Princeton opinion was given by the manager of the crew and was a reflection of the general sentiment throughout the university. In contrast the Cornell letter was by a member of the physical department who upheld the view that the four-mile race is too strenuous on young men who are in their early twenties. These above opinions are a sample of the many submitted and show that the question among other colleges is still an open one and no doubt in the near future the yet untried three-mile race will be given a thorough try out, although whether it will be successful or not is still doubtful.