SCULLING.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1929, Page 3

SCULLING.

HANNAN WINS. SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. (nr TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WHANGAREI, February 3. The contest for the New Zealand Sculling Championship title was rowed on the Whangarei River this afternoon. The race resulted in a win by one length and a-half for Paddy Hannan (the title-holder) against J. Mason (the challenger). It was a good race all throuugh. The time was 21 min 46 4-5 secs. WHANGAREI, Februniy 3. A large public assemblage this afternoon witnessed the race on the Whangarei river between P. J. Hannan (holder) and James Mason, off 'Whangarei (challenger) for the sculling championship of New Zealand. The former, in green and white, rowed at 12st, and the latter, in dark blue, rowed at 12st 711). There was an east-north-east wind blowing mostly abeam of tlie boats. Tlie start was made by mutual consent, Hannan winning tlie toss and taking the lee (inshore) side. Leading off at 2S to Mason’s 30 per minute, the champion gained a lead off a length within half a minute. At the end of a mile, with the wind freshening slightly, Hannan had forged four lengths ahead. Rounding the first bend into smooth water, Mason decreased the gap by a length. Hannan was sculling cleanly, while Mason was hitting at the catch. With twelve minutes gone and half of the distance of three miles covered Mason had caught up another length which, however, the champion gained with three-quarters of a mile to go. Hannan, however, was steering somewhat erratically, which again gave Mason a i.luince off getting within two lengths, at the Rowing Club shed, about a quarter of a mile from the finish. When 130 yards from home, the titleholder’s boat was rolling slightly, hut though Mason made a detei mined effort, he was a length and a-half behind Hannan when the gun sounded. Hannan’s victory was undoubtedly dub to bis superior watercraft. lbo official time was 21 minutes 46 4-5 so omuls.