The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2150, 5 August 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1907.

NEW ZEALAND SPORT. Tho keenness of tlie uverago New Zealander in all matters pertaining to sport is well known and tho fact was merely emphasized by the extraordinary enthusiasm with which the news of Webb’s victory in his sculling match against Towns was received. There is in the present instance reasonable excuse for this outburst for although tho sons of Maoriland have won laurels in many sports and pastimes this is, we believe, the first! occasion upon which a New Zealander has been rowing champion of the world. There was some dissatisfaction in British rowing circles at the

action of the ex-champion, George Towns, in suddenly retiring ant] handing tho championship to his

younger brother. -It was claimed as unjust that one who had not, figuratively speaking, “won his spurs” by contest with some of the Old AVorld cracks should he entrusted with so high an honour. However, the holder proved so willing to defend his newly-acquired title as to disarm a good deal of the criticism that might otherwise have been directed against him whilst Webb’s magnificent showing on Saturday must provide convincing proof that t'he position is now in worthy keeping. As in the case of the yachting contest for the America Cup, and the Interrational Lawn Tennis competitions for the Davis Cup so it is with the YVjorld’c Rowing Championship. Challengers in attempting to wrest the honour from the holder must be willing to compete in his country. Thus the next contest for the sculling championship of the world will almost- certainly take place on the Wanganui River. Little wonder then that the inhabitants of that town are overjoyed at the success of the New Zealand representative in Saturday’s race.