SCULLING

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1922, Page 4

SCULLING

HAD FIELD AND PADDON AT WORK. WANGANUI, April 3. There was a big crowd of spectators on the hanks of the river yesterday morning to witness the training operations of Had field and Pnddon. Hadfield and Sharpe were the first afloat, and they sculled lip to the start iiig point, with the object of having a good spin over the full course. Sharpe was given a few lengths start, and mode the pace very strong for the champion. They had not gone far before the Australians, who had followed them up, swung round and came down slightly in front of’the local men. Conditions were perfect, and it was a pretty sight to see the'five scullers coming down all fairly’ close together. The Australians were evidently taking good stock of the other two, watching Hadfield very closely. The champion was striking about 26 to the minute, Sharpe doing the •same. The latter gradually closed up on the Australians, and at the two miles post had drawn level. Casey got too close into the overhanging willows on the Kaiwlmike side, and struck some branches, being almost capsized. This caused Pnddon to swerve to avoid a collision, which he did narrowly. Rowing in fine style. Sharpe got to the front and stayed there till the end. Hadfield did not exert himself after covering the first two miles, but be kept up a solid pace to the finish, his sculling being excellent, and bis steering wellnigh perfect. Paddon does not appear to be sure of his hearings yet. the course he steered yesterday, being somewhat erratic. However, the fact that there were s<> many boats all of a. heap, no doubt made it more difficult for him, and be will do better in the race. As to his rowing, ii was very fine, his blade work being clean, and he got his weight oh without any apparent effort, his long sweeping stroke making sculling look very easy to him. He can liven up, however, as he has shown in some of his sprints, and if lie is! a fijt man on lie day he will row a great race, win or lose.

Yesterday afternoon Paddon took a. suell off the river, but Hadfield bad a row over the full course, accompanied by Harold Sharpe, Archie not being afloat