NOTED OARSMAN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 November 1927, Page 5

NOTED OARSMAN

P. HANNAN RETIRES. OLDEST CHAMPION IN WORLD. P. Hannan, professional champion sculler of New Zealand, and oi Australasia, who, following upon an operation tor appendicitis, has been advised by his doctor to give up rowing for a year, told a "Dominion’’ representative yesterday that he had decided to retire irom the sport definitely. Hannan, who is now in hi* torty-iourth year, is retiring as the oldest champion in the world. His retirement takes place from to-day. Before coming into prominence as a professional sculler, Hannan had created a name for himself by winning eleven races us an amateur. In 1913, he won the Parramatta Handicap against a big field, including such famous scullers as Ain st, Townsti Matheson and Pierre, hi 1914, he was successful in beating Archie I’riddle, ex-amateur champion of New South Wales, in a first match race on Lake Albert. Wogga Uogga. This was an easy win for Hannan, pie following year, he beat W. Webb for the New Zealand Championship on the Wanganui. He won the New Zealand title, rowing on the Wairau River in 192 u. when he beat W. Fogwell, of Australia, by three lengths. The following year he challenged R. Arnst for the world's championship, but was beaten by two and a half lengths. The same year, he beat “Jumbo" Wells (also on the Wairau) for the New Zealand title. This race was won by ten lengths. In 1922, the Wairau was the scene of one of Hannan's greatest achievements, when he established a New Zealand record by beating W. Fogwell by ten lengths in 18min. 50scc. over a course of 3 miles 100 yards. Shortly after this, he had an easy win over “Jumbo’’ Wells at Picton.

Hi s next big event was his defeat of the Australian Alt. Felton, on Nelson Harbour in 1923. In this race, rowed for the Australasian title, he won by’ 3ft., and also on a foul. Later, he rowed McDevitt, of Australia, for the Australasian title, and won by nine lengths on the Auckland Harbour. A month after this, Hannan, on the lower reaches of Auckland Harbour, again beat McDevittthis time by twelve lengths. Hamilton was the scene of the next triumph, which took place when he challenged R. Arnst for the Australasian title, which he was successful in capturing. Hannan' finished up twenty lengths ahead of his opponent. At Tauranga, in 1925. he beat D’Arcy Eadfield by twelve lengths. When competing for the w rid's championship at Parramatta, Hannan was beaten by Major Goodsell by five lengths. Last year he beat Jim Mason by eight lengths at Whangarei.