ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 24 December 1910, Page 16

ROWING.

~ HOW FAEES WILLIAM WEBB F ; • - (Bi Meuoort.), •• • • Boxing Day.—Webb v. Pearce," Wangaiiui. January I.—Picton Kegatta. —- January l.—Lyttelton'Kegatta. - February- 24.— N.Z. Championship • Eegatta,: Wanganui. Webb's : Experimental Boat.; . , The big,rowing event of-Christmas week is,: of.-course, the. professional contest at Wariganui.between Harry 'Pearce, champion'of Australia, and New Zealand's own William Webb, and ex-champion of the ■»ord, for'a stake of £200. . The chances of the men, so far as can be calculated from their past performances, have already been analysed. The odds as regards weight, strength, aiid youth are on the .side, of the Australian, against; which Webb is "pilling his great, determination' aiid" his beautiful oarsmanship. The usual news on'the scullers' training: operations lias been published', which is to. say that'the' public has been- told just so much as.is considered'advisable by. bopartie's— only that and nothing more. Wehb is reported to be in excellent con- , dition, and to be at the top of his ing form, and," so far, nothing has' been heard of the bad arm that was such a bug-bear during Ills two last preparations. ; .

•Ho is said to be "trying out" a new boat of his own design and building—a boat that is as "fine" as never a boat was before—with-a .view'to using.her in the race. This lias been causing somo cogitation locally,, amongst the boating fraternity, and fears'lnive been expressed that -Webb is sacrificing too much .carrying power 1 for lightness and "fineness." The very marked lack of beam that he is reported to liavo gone in for is a'.rooiBion, to some extent, to tho old-fashioned "wager" boat. This class of boat, however, was far longer than Webb's experiment is, and this length gave it "run,' and carrying, power. .That is, it prevented it from burying- between the strokes—a characteristic fatal to speed. Tile later typo of boat—the "stumpy"— was first used iu a championship race br George Towns, in his raco with Gaudaur at Rat Portage, Canada, and has'sinco been accepted as the last thing in racing craft. The theory governing Uie type is that it is faster to travel on top of tho ■ water than' through it—a theory", by the way, that is'now generally accepted, in yachting circles—and this end is attained by an increase of beam and "floor,"', nnd a corresponding decrease of length. ,The . extra beam supplies the buoyancy, nnd r.o prevents'the "burying:".- In .short, the beam now gives the ■ carrying power instead, of the length, as formerly.

Webb's new craft, however, is Teported to be neitiiet- "stumpy'' ooi th°> o model. It is'a short Doat without beam. Hence the anxiety of the cognoscenti. Webb, however, may ho depended upon to give the new Ifoat every possible trial before risking an important race upon its capacities. His Opponent. As for Pearce, we are told that he b right down to his racing weight, and is as thoroughly fit as "Billy" I'ogwcll and "Jack" Arnst can get him. Of his form we hear, that lie has an ugly, screw, that he drops'a shoulder in his swing, but that he gets undoubted pace. And this is all we have. We can only be sure of one thing, and that is that the race will be a bitter one. Pearce is known to bo exceptionally fast over a mile, and we all know#Webb's tenacity in a stern chase. . What the Race Means to Webb. There is one aspect of the race that counts for a good deal, and that is the effect of a victory for Webb on the Australian mind. There is no doubt that, "on the other side," ho lias never been accepted at his true worth. It is said there that he lias never beaten anyono worth while —all his wins have been over untried amateurs,. or over professionals, .who have'. either never "arrived," or have been "has-beens." Should he beat Pearce he will settle this state of affairs for good and all, for Pearce is deservedly thought a. good deal of, in Australia.' Webb wins. this race and never wins another, he will have forced it upon the Australians that .he is the champion that New Zealanders hold him to be, and this is merely, worth while, apart from ali other considerations. Practice for Picton, Local crews have been hard at work for the Picton regatta,, and, taking it big and large, the elements have been favourable. The crew that catches the eye. most as a likely winner is tho Star Maiden Four. This combination is improving, with every row, and, though, still a.shade on the; rough side, will take a ppwer of beating if tho men row up to practice form, and if the dislocation attendant on the Christmas holidays does not "play up" with their, condition. ' The Petone Club. 'My .Petone correspondent sends tho following summary of the form of his club's representatives: — "Tho Tegatta crews have now quite settled down to hard work. There has been an alteration in-tho Maiden Four, which should prove a success; A. White is replacing S. Bland in- the bow. The Junior. Four is doing good work in their new best-and-best boat, and really surprised the selectors by, the way of . sitting their new charge. The Youths' crew are - not doing so badly, but. they must quicken up a good deal yet, or they will .be found wanting on the'day of"the race."

' During. the wek the Petone Rowing 1 Club Junior Fours were disposed of. The entry.was disappointing, only three crews nominating. The winners u;ero S.„ Marsden (sir.), J. Whitley (3), A. Packard (2), and W. Bawer (bow), who defeated, in the' final, a crew stroked. ;j by A. Hume, by a length, after a gruelling tussle. Dominion Championships. ■The programme and prize-list of the 'New' Zealand • Championship Regatta is now to hand. No less a sum than .£165 is- provided in prize-money, allocated ap follows 'to ten events:— : Championships.. 1 , Ist prize. 2nd prize. Fours,. 2 miles Pairs, U miles <£12 .£3 • Double' sculls li miles ... 1 =212 <£3 : Sculls, li.miles .£lO. <£2 1 ■■■■ Junior Events. Best-and-bcst I-'ours, ill initios-. ..(«». .-. ■, Clinker Fours, lj miles-... J!10 >62 ' "" : Maidens. , Fours,'l mile .;. <£10 £2- • Sculls, 1 mile ..;... M ■£! Youths' Fours, 1 mile .... <£7 £2 Senior Fours, 1J miles ... £5 ■ (Open to all crews except Championship FOUr.) r,,y, i. ... <■•> ' A Presentation, ' : Mr. Eric Johnston, : a member ofntho Star. Boating Club, jvith a .lengthy, list ■of regatta and club' race wins to' his credit, and who contemplates acquiring further 'merit by taking upon • his shoulders' the'burdens of matrimony during the coining week, was the recipient of a presentation from his fellow-mepj-bers ,on. Thursday afternoon, as a mark of esteem and goodwill. Arrangements are proceeding for • a match between "William Albany and Ernest 1 Barry for the English sculling championship. The contest will probably take ijilace in May next.