UNIVERSITY A AGAIN TRAILS 1926 EIGHT

Rough weather prevailed generally on the Basin yesterday during an afternoon replete with races ranging all the way from an interdormitory affair to the University-Freshman tussle. The latter contest went to the 1926 crew by a good two lengths, Senior A nosed out Sophomore A by a scant 8 feet, University B and C raced to a dead heat, and Gore won decisively from the Standish and Smith Halls eights. In addition to the home program, the second Freshman eight made a trip to Groton and lost to the schoolboys by a quarter length.

The Freshmen well deserved their victory in the University contests, for in addition to being on the outside of a curved course, thereby rowing farther than their opponents, they held throughout a stroke two or more points below that of the Crimson first eight.

The three crews, including the Union Boat Club combination, started off at a fairly high clip but soon dropped their beats in deference to the state of the elements. The Crimson eight led by a slight margin after the take-off, but the Freshmen soon evened up and the two shells cut prow and prow through the first three quarters of a mile. The Unions never figured prominently after the half-mile mark.

Just before Harvard Bridge the 1926 oarsmen hit it up in a spurt that carcied them to a half-length advantage over the upperclass boat, but Brown matched the challenge with a further increase in stroke and had pulled nearly even as the arches rumbled overhead.

The Freshmen would not be denied, however, and lengthening out beautifully to a rhythmic 31 ploughed their way through the waves until at the Henley flags they had a full length on their opponents. The Unions; another length to the rear, stopped rowing at the Henley.

Freshmen Use Lower Stroke

On went the two leaders, veering more and more toward the Boston wall in order to escape the worst of the rough water. It was pretty clear now that the Freshmen had the race well in hand for at a 32 stroke they were able to gain on the University eight at 34. The strip of open water between rudder and prow of the two shells widened perceptibly as they neared the finish, and at the drop of the flag there was nearly 60 feet of it--a full two lengths' margin. Owing to the rough water the crews stopped rowing after a mile and three-quarters instead of completing the customary fraction of seven-eights. No time was taken.

In the class crew race, staged between Senior A, Sophomore A and Sophomore B, the Seniors came through by one of the closest decisions ever recorded over the full Basin course. 1925 B was given a lead of about a length at the start, but soon found itself hard pressed to hold its advantage when the first Senior and Sophomore eights began to hit-it-up.

Sophomore A got off well and by the half mile had amassed a lead of about 30 feet on their rivals. It was interesting to note in this connection, however, the comparative strokes in the opposing shells, for while Weisman was rushing along at about 33, Ohl, in the Senior boat, kept his men under 30 most of the time.

Spurt Came Before the Bridge

The spurt in question came a little before the bridge, as the Seniors, now at 32, pulled up on even terms going under the arches. Sophomore B was about level with the others, and the three crews closely bunched together.

At the Henley the Seniors had about a third of a length on 1925 A, and with a world of power behind each stroke seemed in a fair way to take the remaining distance by storm. With the right to race Yale at stake, the Sophomores rallied sharply and with half a mile to go raised the count to the neighborhood of 34 and buckled grimly to the task of making up the deficit. And they nearly succeeded in doing it, for the prow of the Senior shell cut the line barely 8 feet in front--a rather tight finish to say the least. Sophomore B came along a quarter length astern.

1923 A and 1925 A to Race Today

Owing to the closeness of yesterday's race and the unfavorable water conditions attending it, Coach Brown has decided to hold a race-off between Senior A and Sophomore A today. The winner will row against Yale on Saturday.

University B and C started as though they meant to burn each other out. Both were doing close to 40 at the start, and quickly jumped ahead of the University 150-pound crew which, although rowing well, could not keep pace with its heavier opponents. The seconds had better proportion to their stroke, and slowly pulled ahead so that after three quarters of a mile had been covered they were nearly half a length to the good.

University C Creeps Up

At this point, however, Mumford raised the beat still higher and the third crew crept up in short order. Coming out from the bridge they were even with the seconds and the relative positions did not change a fraction from then to the finish which came about an eighth of a mile beyond Harvard bridge.

Groton Defeats Second Freshmen

The Groton eight showed a slight edge over the second Freshman crew in defeating the latter by a bare quarter length yesterday afternoon. The course was a mile and an eighth.

Gore Hall gained a decisive victory over Standish and Smith on the Basi