A WIN FOR WEBB

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2576, 25 September 1915, Page 6

A WIN FOR WEBB

DEFEATS HANNAN BY TWELVE LENGTHS

FOR N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP THE CHALLENGER OUTCLASSED. (By Tolegrarh— Special Reporter.' Wanganul, September 24. W. Webb, of Wangamii, and P. Hannan, of AVellington. rowed for the professional sculling championship of New Zealand and £200 aside over the "Wanganui River championship course at midday, the race resulting in a runaway win for Webb. Opinions differ as to tho gap which the Wanganui man won by, but it really docs not matter,, but at least it was twelve lengths, and it might have been sixteen. Had Webb liked it could have been twenty-five lengths, so that anyone can judge of the respective sculling capacities of the two men. Hannan never gave his supporters the shadow of a hope after the first half-mile, whilst Webb rowed as pretty a race as ever lie has done in his life, practically justifying the local estimate of his powers to tho effect that he is as gootf a man. as ever he was, though in this race it must bo remembered, that he . was never, pushed after the. first quarter of a mile. To be quite truthfulj Hannan is not'in Webb's class. Oil his performance yesterday, he might be classed as a- good amateur. Throughout the previous night and, up till the timo the Waione left the, wharf -with; tho umpire (Mr. Percy. Evans) and a couple of hundred spectators rain fell .quietly but solidly, damping 'everyone's hopes of. a cheerful, day's sport. There'were comparatively few snags on. the course proper. ' '■ '■■■'. .' - The Race Described.

Hannan won the toss, and chose the inside: •• ;.Aft«r backing' and filling for about five minutes a beautiful start was effected. Hannanmade more fuss with bis sculls than Webb, who dipped lightly, and cleanly. To tliose on the launch it seemed as though Hannan was' steering precariously close to: the willows, as he dug his oars in, whilst Webb kept well out in mid-stream, steering a beautiful course. The men kept well together for the first 300 yards, Webb rowing a few more strokes to the minute than Tiis opponent. Then it was seen that Webb wasidra'wing gradually ahead. At this time the tide was on the flow, and • the rain had diminished to a few: . stray l spots, making the condition perfect. Webb rowed with his knees' together at the catch, but bis arm work was beailtiful. He feathered: .cleanly, ; submerged only threeparts of tlw blade, and got a fine, free run-out <jf his'boat. On the other hand, Hannan was making haTd, slogging 'work of it. : 'At the quarter-mile Webb was' tbree-quarters_ of a length ahead, and at the half-mile well over a length", with Hannan still hugging the willows.

. Webb Well In the Lead. At the mile Webb had drawn a.good three lengths away, and a little farther on he moved in closer to tho bank, giving Hannan his wash. At a mile and a half it was judged that .Webb was about, seven, or eight lengths- ahead, , with the race all over bar accidents. Tbat accident; nearly occurred for Hannan, who was keeping his backers' breath " on' the catch with tho course he was steering. I He got so close to' .tho willows that' he was- seen to cut off some leaves with the blade of ■ his right scull,, and had to ease with 1 his left to get out again. At the two-mile mark, where tho river broadens at the big bend into, the fine mirror-like straight it ; was: computed that Webb was a good fourteen lengths ahead, and taking it easy, and frequently looked round to -seo if there was any drift-wood in his course.,. He held the high plugger quite safe on-the! way down to "the finishing-post, and paddling over the mark at least twelve lengths to the good: Thero was a crowd of four or five hundred people on the banks at tlie finish and the Wanganui man was rousingly,. cheered as the judge's gun barked the •end of the race. ...

The Time for the Race. ' Tie time ot: the race; as given by . tho official ' timekeeper, was -19min. .15 4-ssec.,, which is not particularly good going, as there was no -wind,' and tlio tide was running out, augmented by . twelve' hours'' raiti. ■ Arnsti travelled, the same course when he last met'Webb ,m-: 18miu.' ISsec., also ; rowed- at: flow tide. Webb could have broken the lShnin.liad ho desired to" do so.

."What time did I,take, Mr. Tuck?" asked Webb, at the finish of it-.' "Nine-' teen fifteen. Dashed slow!" replied Mr. Tuck. "Oh, I'ia getting old now," said Webb, smiling. ,'"You must make allowances." ■ "I never saw Webb row better,'.' said Dr. Thacker,: one of Arnst's original backers, and turning, to Mr. Tuck said : "If . I were you, I'd match-Webb against Barry." . ."Barry's at the front," said Mr. Tuck,- laughing.

Interesting Notes. . ; In tho opinion of- those ; who. should know, Haunan is.a sturdy fellow in a wager boat, who would " probably win a ten-mile race, as-; ho. was ,not-'at. all distressed at the finish) nor- was .Webb,' for. that matter. ...-His-slide.,,woi;k,is: on tho slow, side, and the deep, catch he makes buried- his boat at .nearly every stroke. . 1 Between; tho .'.gunwale;, of 'Webb's boat''and;the-water-line:.there, was always a,clear, 'even. space at all ■stages' of '.the stroke.Hannan; lifted the bow of' his boat 'with the! power of bis catch, and . the :nest''instant the water was almost- lerel .with; the gun-

wale. ' With-the exception of his locked-knee style, -Webb rowed with, all the polish,, style, and skill of • a sculler of experience. ■ " : It is not improbable that Webb's, backers will now seek a match witli Charles Towns (from whom Webb won the championship of the world). Towns is understood to be; quite willing. '. Hannsn will. probably enlist and go to the front.' Webb rowed in a boat built! by Neilson, of the Parramatta, and Hainan ill nvTown's-built skiff-. .

HANNAN'S HANDICAP 'AN INJURED LEG. (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.! Wangahui, September 24. Seen after the'.race, Hannan, who did not lo<flc at all distressed, said lie felt in the- pink-of ; condition .at the start. ' After.- they had gone • a quarter of a mile, however, his right leg..'.'went on _liim," .the; result of n looso cartilage, which was caused some years ago by a tramways accident; in . Sydney. From then on he finished the course with his larmSjirand ..was- only able to, drive -liis slide with -one, leg., Webb' was a better man than lie' thought,- -and evidently got .Tight back to his old form. , Hannah further 6tated that before the raco lie folt very sanguine of winning 'from the fact that lie had covered the course 'in a trial in 19min. ssec: Asked as to how lie .would have fared if his leg had not given, way, ho stated ho coulc! not eay, as ho did not know what Webb bad up his sleeve at tho finish of today's : race. Hannan took his beating in the best of spirits.