SCULLING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2154, 21 May 1914, Page 8

SCULLING.

TKE RETVFtft OF HANNON, MATCH : WITH'WEBB MOOTED. Among tho passengers to return from h.vdiU'y yesterday by the Willoeiira was .liiiiK-s ■ llsiiuMn (i>c-tter. known as ''Paddy"), rise Woliington sculler, who is regarded on iiydney-sido ns out) of the best scullers now looking for matches. "I'addy" llaniion is iwt verv well known over here as a sculler, fkv iflre lie lot t ior Australia noariy twenty months ago, he was a member of the Wellington Jlowing Club,' but us Wellington Harbour is not the most congenial place in the world for tho fosterins of wager-boat sculling, and feeling that he had something-in'him in that line of sport, Halinon betook himself to Sydney, and placed- himself under the Oipcrienced ojre of that veteran trainer, Ham- Floyd (tho man who showed Arust how to win the championship o; the world). Under Floyd's tuition. Hamsoii soon developed into a fine sculler. : With five months' coaehinii, he won a £50 (or new wager-boat) handicap 011 the .l'arramatt.a River (Sydney), and later beat Archie Priddie' in a match over a three-mile eons'so for £1.00. .. lu another mile handicap Hasv> uon lost by a few yards to George Day, bitt_ excuses himself for t not winning by saying that he is' 110 good over the mile. "I'm a sticker," said Hstinou to a Dominion reporter yesterday, "and feci lust as ht over tho last half-mile as 1 do- over tho first."

Of lato he has been battling hard for catches,-and has elialleugcd Matbeson, ciyd. Pearcc (Harry's brother), Whelcli (the Akaroa. man), and Hilly' Fopvell. The last-named ,sculler-. was the holder of the _,f.e,tv .Zealand, professional cha.nipionship, which Hannoti \sas anxious to secure,. In. ros)iy. to his. challenge, I'ogvrell ivrotrS, -saying that there was 110 eliance of his being able' to get across to New Zealand, and without further., parley forfeited the title to Haviiiou. When 'that was announced the transfer of the title vi'a.s disputed by Webb, of Wangamii.'Hamion's claim to tlie title was sup« ported by .Mr. Richard Coombes, of the Sydney '' Bofereo, 1 ' but Hannon stated yesterday that the point did not matter much, as the title was 11-0 good to him without a match. To that end negotiations are at. present being opened up with Webb for'a mutch for £!M0 asidc awl the championship of New Zealand. There is every prospect of the match coming oil', and Hniinon is over here to push the ma tier fenvard to n definite issw. ■

When asked as to how he, as a New fealaiider, wfts regarded b.v the sculling community that dwell* by the shores of the placid Pari'amatta, 'Hannon stated in ail modesty that he ted been referred to on more than one occasion ns "#ll- - Arivst." Hannon is as unlike the TitsTt of Tai Tnjw as it is ))ossi!iie for » man to be. Ho is about oft. Din. in height, medium in build, but very well Bet up, having, that type of figure that will dovclsfc.iii'to... sfcockine&s with age. He is clean shaved, aiKl_ lias eirough chin development to indicate a capacity to bang 011 as long as there is distance to be covered. ; Hannon brought over a practice boat; And a wager boat, botli built by Towns, ami-will stay in Wellington nil til the Webb match is fixed tip definitely. When the date is arranged and the deposits are up, George Towns will come over to train him for a 'few weeks'before the race.

The news that Wm. Webb, the onetime idol of Wa-nganui, may enmo out again will interest oarsmen in all parts of the world. Though lt-e was soundly bc-aten twice, by A rust _ in races that involved the championship of the world, Webb's admirers have never been known to admit that- he was fit at tlie time. Webb loves.scalling for it-soif, and has never neglected tha. river suiee he was presented with the charming "little wtwden hut" on tlio banks of the Wanganui. As late as December last Mr. Wro. Tuck, the loyal backer of-Webb, informed the writer tllat,.".Billy" was then s-Milliug better than over ho did in his life, so tliat there are possibilities in the talk of anot'hf-r. watch for the championship of New Zealand.