SCULLING.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1924, Page 3

SCULLING.

sculling CHAMPIONSHIP. RETAINED BV HANNAN. L ” V TT.I.KO It A PH - -l’Elt PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND. Feb. 8. 1 iie race lor the Australasian Sculling Championship between Hannan and Alt-Dentt. was lowed on Wailcmatn Harbour on Saturday. Hannan retained ihe title, winning by nine lengths. Built oarsmen got anas to an even sari. AfeDovitt. rowing the quicker stroke, took the lead after about 201) oil'tls had been covered, and lie maintained the lead until the two mile po-t had been passed. Turning into the straight to the finishing post, with about a mile to cover the Tasmanian still held a lead of two lengths. At tins point, the scullers parted company. Ilamtau taking the left -Im in I side and AleDevitt till' rightband side of i be course. Now Hannan quickened hi stroke, and lie slo-.vly li.rgeii ahead, cve>i rmill.v n inning l.v nine lengths.

.Mi-Dev it i' expressed di.ssa t ion a ttb the judge’s verdict, ami intimated bis intention of claiming the lit le. "ii the grounds that llauuan never pa- .-d tin- finishing post. 'ihe race was rowed under somewhat. trying oonditinus mr the competitors, a strong south-west wind raising a choppy sea in Hie of, "nine >. tapes. Cud"!' rbe rircini'-t aiK-os. t D-• aiiir of ‘J 1 . 1 minutes 9 seconds must be to garo'eil a a vry line i".a f-• i mam Interviewed after t It" i ;"-c. Hannan in d tea ted hi ; d--iri t i pee l’addun for the world'.; .: it'l : ."g litle on Auckland ILirh'-tr. : .’c tnisd it was bis opinion tin: iF Vp.:vi 'l-t'd course in Auckland " •- fat -ln-rmr to the AA’anganni R’i -.r. tlirovieboio.. tie /ealaniler being strettger and more .-a-ientilie. be firo(lncing Intig. swinging, rytlimieal strokes, but tbe-e produied The maximum results. AleDevitt. pulled mueb more jerkily, carrying through wit It mueb less perfection than Harman. SCULLING DISPUTE. AUCKLAND, February 4. At a reception given AleDevitt by local residents on Saturday evening at AVlu-nuapai. where bis training is Inca fed. AleDevitt .said be had conic from Australia to have a square, ,lil,k<>m go. and let the best man win. lie claimed to have done so. lie oxI is red judgment would be given in bis favour when his protest was considered. 11l that event be was quite willing to a," opt a challenge front Hannan to Kiu ihe race over again over the same course. Replying to the toast of the health of MeDevitt, Giig.tr of AVaitematu County Council, one of the guarantors and a member of the race committee said be heard the instructions given from the bow of tbi’ steamer to the contestants, that they should finish at the beach above I fobsonvilie wharf. No buoys were mentioned. He was quite satisfied that AleDevitt "bo led all the way should have been declared the winner. He would strongly support bis protest at the committee meeting. Alter the nice there was n dispute among tho committeemen as to who actually was the winner. They agreed to await the nmpite’s dei i-ion when this was given. He understood LIAO were guaranteed I;onloker.s on the official boat to back AleDevitt for another race, if the umpire’s decision was upheld.

Meßevitl in a protest against the ,ace being awarded to Hannan says—“l claim Hannan did not finish at all. .He made an illegal .short cut, when we vote definitely instructed to go somewhere else (finish straight for bench). I know of no role which makes it perniissuble for a sculler to finish wherever lie pleases outside the course, even if it U in a straight line with the finishing point.