ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2361, 18 January 1915, Page 3

ROWING.

WEBB ACCEPTS HANNAN'S CHALLENGE. A FMIP TO THE SPORT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Wanganul, January 16. W. Webb has agreed to accept P. Hannan's challenge to row for £200 a~side and the championship of New Zealand.. Webb suggests the end of May as the time for the match. GOOD. FOR SODLLING.

.(By Stbetoheb.)

telegraphed news that William Webb has decided to accept "Paddy" Hannan's challenge to row for the professional championship of New Zealand and £200 a-side 'in May will be received with a good deal of satisfaction in rowing circles, where it has been felt tor some time that a stimulus was needed to bring one cf the healthiest and manliest phases of athletics under the more immediate notice of the younger manhood of tho Dominion. Tho match will be held to be interesting for a variety of reasons. Webb, an ex-champion of the world, won the title' on the Parramatta from Charles Towns, to whom it had been handed by. his brother George. That was "seven or eight yearß ago. The advent of the New Zealandor and his defeat of one of Australia's crack oarsmen caused a sensation in sculling cinjas, and brought fame to Webb and Wanganui. Webb was soon challenged to uphold his title by Treßsider, whom he had little difficulty in .vanquishing on the Wanganui River. Wanganui was delirious with joy, and began to assume that its representative was invincible: It was' the Titan of Tai Tapu, "Dick" Arnst, who prevented that idea taking a very firm root. Arnst was never bothered,, though, he said it was a hard race. Arnst always said that his latest race was his hardest Then it was said with some foundation that Webb was not.at his best, and a second race was arranged. Again the big southerner prevailed, and the rowing world deemed Webb well settled as far as the world's' championship was concerned. Since then Webb has not raced, though he has kent u» hiß boull;ing; more or less fitfully. Last year >an article from a Wanganui correspondent said that Webb was rowing as well as ever, and a claim was put forth that he was still the'professional champion sculler of New Zealand, throueh his defeat of Stanbury on the Wanganui : River. The fact that Whelch, of Akaroa, held that title, and was .reaten for it afc'Akaroa by William Fogwell, was accepted by the rowing world of Sydney as conclusive that Fogwell was the bolder. -Knowing this, Hannan, a Wellington sculler, who was gaining experience in the best of schools—the Parramatta—endeavoured' to bring off a match with Fogwell (who was pacemaker ,to Arnst when the latter rowed Webb),* hut as the latter could not get away to New Zealand to row for the title (which must be disputed only in New Zealand waters), he said he would forfeit to .Hannan.. Then en me Webb!s claim, to the title (vide "Referee"), and Hannan's challenge made in May. Inst to row for the title and £100 a-side. Webb could.not see his way clear to row for the stake mentioned, stipulating - £200 a-sido. Tin's backing Hannan secured. A month' ago a challenge was publicly, made.nndhas (according to a Press Association telegram) been drily'accepted. Hannan is not yet 30 years of age, and at present scales about' 12 stone 21b. He has :uot met'any of the' 'big guns in Australia. Probably his best win was that against Priddle, whom he beat rather easily on the Parramatta. He has never been "tried out" with such men as ."Charlie" Towns. Alf. Felton', Harry Pearce, iind Syd. Kemn, buthe is confident in his powers'to do better in the. future than he has in ths past. Hannar> originally belonged l to Wellington, an<? there promises to' be a lively interest in,tNs match.

To'those who der~*e any time, or attention to rowing; the- match will be interesting From another point of new. It.wilt, for example, BC 'nternsting to see if Webb can "come hnck" to his best form of other days. He is still on the sunny Bide of 40, and_ William Beach did not win the championship of H-.he world until he was 35 years of age. It is said that the prime rowing age is between SO and 35 year?. tAs Han nan is "a little under and Webb a little over that happy mean, it will be unusually, interesting to see whether the virility of youth can defeat the skill _ and exnerience of an ex-wnrld's champion.

.'■. The're has been.6om«thing to sav about a match hetween Webb and. Charles Towns, and in view of the boom in rowing that'exists in Now South Wales at present, together with, the fact that Town's is rowinrc better than everatpresent (he defeated Ryd. Kemp fairly easily at the New Year) . I-would riot he at nil surprised of a development in that direction, iwMing Webb is able to "come back." The race with Hannan will doubtless decide if Webh is likely to apain meet the man from whom he wrested the world's championship. Hannan has done very little training in Wellington as the woather conditions have not been favourable, and_the match uncertain. He will now turn his thoughts to serious thinirs with 4 view of justifying himself with, tho?« who hive faith in his powers on the sliding seat.