THE WORLD’S SCULLINC CHAMPIONSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2125, 26 February 1908, Page 3

THE WORLD’S SCULLINC CHAMPIONSHIP.

WEBB RETAINS THE TITLE.

A MAGNIFICENT RACE,

A SCENE OF TREMENDOUS

EXCITEMENT,

(Special to Times.) AVANGANUI, Fob. 25.

It is the evening of the groat race, anil Wanganui is irnnt ie with delight, for onco moro their athletic idol has proved his claim to the world’s championship as a sculler. Tho weather broke dull and rainy, and though tho rain stopped just helore the start, it. was sufficient to interfere, somewhat with the attendance, which was not as largo as had been expected.

THE START. By the time we had reached tlio starting point, tho rain had ceased, but tho sky retained its sombre hue. There was a dreary wait, but presently there was a cry of “Here they come,” and Webb appeared round tlio bend sculling very leisurely. As lie came near the freight-laden steamers the crowd cheered lustily. He looked in splendid condition; his clear pink skin and the rippling muscles of bis arms and legs proclaimed him as fit as man could be for a Homeric struggle, such as every ono know to bo in front of him. As ho approached nearer one noted his prematurely grey hair, which gave him the appearance of a much older man, and his brow unusually puckered with wrinkles, which gavo him rather an anxious look. In a few minutes Trcsidder in his boat, rowing -with a littlo moro spirit, hove in sight, and he, too, was cheered. Ho was browner and swarthier than AYobb, of sturdier build, and with not such neat limbs, but lie, too, looked the very picture of condition. AVhat impressed one most about him was a suggestion of bull-dog tenacity and determination. The set of his iiead and shoulders reminded ono of Hector Alacdonakl, the great Scottish soldier. AYliilo AVebb paddled in the vicinity of the umpire’s boat very quietly, Tresidder employed tlio sparo timo in making several starting dashes. At this stago tlio people on tlio boats were shocked with somo disgusting language from one of tho challengers who was on tho bank, and apparently furious that bettor provision had not been made for him and his mates to got on board tho umpire’s boat. Tho language used in tlio presence of ladies, too, was so disgusting that tlio police should really have taken some action regarding it. Tho incident was such as to cast a slur upon professional rowing, and tho Australian concerned owes an apology to tlio inoffensive New Zealanders who were compelled to listen to it. However, tlio men got on board tho boat, and tho unpleasant incident was passed, though not forgotten._ Tho start, in professional sculling nowadays, is by mutual consent, blit if the contestants cannot get away within a certain timo of their own accord the services of a starter aro called into requisition. AA r ebb and Tresidder, however, lined up, and were quickly off the mark, their long narrow skiffs shooting forth liko arrows from a bow.

THE RACE. Tresidder got slightly the better start, dashing off- at about 31 strokes to the minute, while AA’ebb was content with a longer stroke of from 26 to 27 to the minute. Tresidder, however, didn’t long retain the slight advantage ho had obtained, for AVEBB AT ONCE DREAV LEA 7 EL with him, and then began to forge slowly but surely ahead. Tresidder, however, was in good form and not to be easily shaken off, though even in the early stages of tho race one could not help thinking that AVebb’s beautifully clean style must more than counterbalance the stamina and determination of the older mail.

All was now excitement; the scullers soon left the steamers with their sightseers some distance behind, but once the latter were fairly under full steam they began to gain, and their passengers had an excellent view of the race. As

AVEBB BEGAN TO FORGE AHEAD the crowd yelled and cheered, and the cavalcades of horsemen on the left bank urged their steeds frantically over the undulating road. AA’ebb was on the inside, close to the lefthand bank, and by the time threequarters of a mile had been covered he was in a good position. At tho mile post he had still further increased his lead, and appeared to be going well within himself with a long graceful swinging stroke. He was also steering exactly, but a little further on, near the bend, lie seemed to hug the willows dangerously, with TRESIDDER PRESSING CLOSE UPON HIAI

a length or moro behind. So closo did bo get that many on the umpire’s boat waved their hats to tho right as an indication to the rowers to keep further out. Presumably, however, AA’ebb 'knew wbat he was doing, and was only taking advantage of cutting the curve with the least possible margin to spare, so as not to lose in distance

Tresidder, meantime, was making a hard fight to keep up, and AA’ebb bad certainly no timo for looking at the scenery. The champion bad settled down to a steady stroke of about 26 to the minute, and now seemed to put a little more vigor into his work. He drew forth from tile crowd

GREAT BURSTS OF CHEERING as lie further increased his lead to

three or four lengths. It was now evident that AA’ebb must win unless it were that bis challenger had somo tiling up his sleeve, and tvas reserving himself for a final spurt. All Trosidder’s most determined efforts, however, were of no avail. The pace was too much for him, and be now appeared to be laboring slightly. AA’ebb got clean ahead, and then rowed out from the left bank into tho centre of the' stream, so that- Tresidder had to struggle in his wash. AA’ebb’s tactics in shifting his course caused some surprise on the part of the uninitiated, but lie probably knew

that by this time the tide had turned, and was manoeuvring to get all the benefit possible from the current at this part of the river, or more probably it was to escape the light breeze which was blowing lip stream to this point. As we approached the dense crowd on the hill on the right hank, and it was seen that Webb was apparently already a victor, a mighty cheer went up from a thousand throats, and spread like the HOAR OF A BREAKING WAVE along the banks. 'toward the finishing post, Webb, in the van, was watching bis opponent, and seemed to have the race easily in band, but Tresidder was not yet quite done with, as he struggled gameljvon, and reduced the gap between the two skills perceptibly.

For a time now Webb seemed to be making hard work of it, and to the onlookers it appeared as if he were really tiring. He certainly was NOT ROWING AS STRONGLY AS TRESIDDER. at this stage, but it is possible that knowing he had the race safely in hand he did not desire to spiirt unnecessarily. Ho was now well towards the right bank, the opposite one from which he started, while Tresidder was on his left; in other words, the two had reversed positions. In a few seconds now the signal gun announced that the race was over, and that Weljh had won. Tresidder struggled gamely to the' end, and then there were such cheers as surely never before were heard on the banks of the river, while sirens hooted and whistles screeched, as numberless boats shot out from the willow banks and dotted the stream. “Wanganui will go mad,” said ono man, and certainly even thus early it seemed as if pandemonium had been let loose.

Trosiddor’s supporters, who tlio night boforo wore calmly confident ot victory, wore not slow to admit' that TRESIDDER HAD AlE'l A BE lIEP MAN.

Bain, tho trainer, enmo down into tho cabin with somo of Ins mates, and said, “AVell, blokes, wo have got I,oaten, but not. disgraced, and boros luck to Webb.” They hail brought tho wherewithal to honor tlio toast. A low minutes after tho -nico AA ebb climbed into ono of tlio littlo river st on mors, anil lilted bis boat in alter Trosidiloi' sculled all the way baorc to Wanganui, 7J miles, which, alter tlio gruelling race of 3.1 miles, showed the stuff of which lie was made. To an -accompaniment of cheering from the vivor banks wo steamed back to the river town, and AVanganui is new celebrating the event. A FAST-ROWED RACE. Bowing strongly, tho contestants covered tlio first milo in exactly Oniin Lee and completed the mile and a half in Smin 40sec, and two miles m I'2,nin Gsec. Tlio full course, 31 miles, was completed in tlio good timo of 20min 28soc.

AFTER THE RACE. IN' TERVIEAV AVITH THE CHAMPION. TRESIDDER SAYS HE “DID HIS BEST.” Press Association. AVANGANUI, Feb. 25 Seen after tlio race AVebb said: ‘I fool very well -after tho race, but from tho start- of training I know that had a hard race to row. Tresidder is indeed a good follow, and lio made a big bid for the race. Tresidder to mo did not {ippuar to bo lowing a jiard race during the first mile, but furthor on 1 woniiorod what ho had m store for mo. At about tho 11 milo distance I fouud mysolf drawing away, and by tlio time two miles had been travelled I bad a lead of 2J lon< T ths, and gained still lurthor as wo rounded tlio bond, which _ I knew well, and liad no difficulty in turning. I had, up to this point, not boon overtaxed, though I was well extended from tlio bend, I felt that I hold Tresidder safely. He, however, put in a groat effort -about three-quarters of a milo lrom homo, and pushed mo much harder, lessoning tho gap considerably, but from then on I kept him in hand.” Asked as to how he felt at tho conclusion, tho champion said that ho could not wish to fool bettor. Comparing tlio race with that ho rowed with C. Towns, AVebb considered that he was pushed equally by Tresidder, and that so far as having to extend himself was concerned, tho two races were very much alike. Regarding his contest- with Stanbury, Vi’ebb considered ho was harder pressed thou, although lie might not have rowed faster. • As to tho future, he was reticent., and declared himself as wishing to get over this last- event before considering his future intentions. “AVell, I did my best, any way, was Trosidder’s remark to those who crowded round him ill the AV.R.C. shed, when tho Australian came up from the stago. “He’s a jolly sight better than I thought ho was,” was a further remark which fell from lus Ups, as Bain, with vigorous hands, brought a still darker line to tho dark tan skin of his charge.

At this point Mr. Tuck put in an appearance, and .assured him that Australia had every reason to feel proud of their representative. “AVell, I can only say again, that I did my best,” was the AVallsond man’s reply, while Bain said that his man had rowed quite up to expectations. Mr. Charles AV. Harkins, chairman of the Tresidder fund, said the race was as good a sculling contest as he had over scon. It was hard from start to finish, and the best man Fail won. Tresidder was always wbat lie thought he was, a game and good sculler, but there was too much youth on the side of AVebb. He had seen AVebb row in Australia, but he had been given to understand that his style had considerably improved, and certainly he was a finished sculler. Webb’s style appeared to him to be not unlike that of Geo. Towns, and there was probably something in Webb’s stylo of training which was worth enquiring into by other oarsmen. This river was a very fine one, and the course was ail that could be desired. Air. Harkins explained that the stake had been found by 200 or 300 subscribers, and one thoroughly good “sport” who had promised £25 sent along a cheque for £SO, though lie said he had not the slightest doubt that AA’ebb would win. CONGRATULATIONS. The Gisborne Club despatched the following message: “Accept congratulations from Gisborne Rowing Club on splendid achievement. Your win will give great impetus to sculling in the Dominion.” Mr. D. E. Dustin, an old townsman -and clubinatc of AA’ebb, telegraphed as follows: “Congratulations, AA’iri. Fresh laurels for the light blue. Never considered result in doubt.” Tho "following telegram was despatched to AVebb yesterday by tlio Poverty Bay Rowing Club: “Tho Poverty Bay Rowing Club heartily congratulate you on your great victory.”

Tlio demand oil craft in the riyer can be understood when it is mentioned that a local resident was advised that- an oil launch capable of holding .about 35 could not bo hired under £4O for the day.