THE SCULLING RACE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1011, 29 December 1910, Page 6

THE SCULLING RACE.

' ' WEBB INTERVIEWED. • ■ : " 'Every dog has his day,', and this one has had his," said ex-champion'' Billy Webb, to a AVanganui "Herald"'reporter, as," after rowing down' from the course Willi Joe Green; ."he stepped wearily from his boat, and carried it into his shed. "I've lost my dash, ,ais'my legs, have lost thbi'r p'owfcr, somehow. ■ One time,- when they felt tired; I could just set' my teeth and drive them through, but that day's gone'-by." ' • • — '■'• • : " ■The popular oarsman, as cheerful-and friendly in defeit as. he had been modest in victory; talked about therace without tiio least trace of bitterness, and 6nly seemed,.disapnointed.-for. the sake of liis friend? and his backers, whom' he de's-cribed-as the."best"sports in the world." ■••He told-the-story of the race steadily. Pearce led from the'jump, but his lead didinot 'wori'y- Billy, who was able, after about three-quarters, of a mile had been traversed, to'.'reverse :the positions and obtain a slight advantage. "I was,feeling well and 'confident when a deadly weariness came over my. legs, , and after that every drive became a burden. Pearce commenced to, draw away; and for a mile and .a half -I got:no pace out of niy boat. I couldn't make my legs work." ' . But wli'tit.about that final spurt? . "Well, , when a man's been doing nothing, for that distance, lie's, just got to show, something, and : .l did. it somehow.""I'm quite satisfied, with my boat, my sculls; ' .and my ..condition., I. could not wish for anything, better. Harry Pearce is all right; : I know ho was rowing well, and he lias.my,congratulations and best wishes." ■,-■'■,• Questioned !\s to l'.ow . Pearce would shape alongside "the big,.fellow," Web) Said: "Dick' Arnst.is a phenomenal man', a , stayer, and fast,' and when I was half a length ahead of Pearce, Dick would have been'two, and he would never have -come back. I don't-think Dick need worry about-Pearce." .'Will-you race again? • ( -"Not J," .said Webb, "I'can't go on being beaten. A man must win sometimes.'. ..I'm. awfully; sorry to disappoint everybody." ■•. When our.representative suggested that "everybody" was not going to worry about him losing,'and that''his backers were not the men to -regret their action, and that Webb's own connection' with, professional shilling had .been an honourable one and a credit to himself as a sportsman, Webb : said ho, "hoped .so, anyway."