SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4657, 4 February 1924, Page 2

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

HANNAN THE CHAMPION.

A LUCKY VICTORY.

"Pat" Hannan, of New Zealand, de feated “Billy” McDevitt, of Tasmania, by nine lengths for the Australasian sculling championship. It was: a very lucky win for the New Zealander. McDevitt look the lead from the start and held his opponent off by bout lengths until the last quarter mile, when he sheered right off inshore, mistaking his course, and, losing easily over a hundred yards, gave victory to his opponent, who secured a nine-lengths verdict, McDevitt rowed the better race all the way, judged as a sculler. His body work and dipping were both superior, and he had little difficulty in maintaining his lead up to the point where he went astray in his course. This was the first big sculling race ever rowed pn the Waitemata. Formerly the Parramatta tuid the Wanganui rivers have held world-interest on the dates of international races. In furtire the Waitemata will rank with either of these famous courses and have its share of such contests, for Saturday’s race proved that it is a couise equal to the best anywhere. The credit of having insisted upon a departure from tradition and giving the Waitemata a trial lies with the chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr H. R. McKenzie, who got together a committee to guarantee the purse of £5OO for which the scullers, fought to-day and made all arrangements for the transporting of those who wishea to witness the race. The Waitemata course from a point above Whenuapai to Hobsonville is a« good as any, in the opinion of experts who followed the race. The fact that there were spells of rough water does not detract from the suitability of the course, for a stiff sou-westerly breeze prevailed which would have 'made patches of rough going on any stream or inlet. McDevitt declared prior to the race that he had no hesitation in stating that it was splendid for sculling races, and he was satisfied it was one of the best available in Australasia. Hannan went as far to declare ’.he course to .be ideal. It was equal to anything in either New Zealand or Australia, and had the advantage of being practically straight, with smooth water at dead tide, whilst the race could be seen from good vantage points almost from start to finish. At the conclusion of the race Mr McKenzie and members of the committee declared themselves to oe highly satisfied regarding the suitability of the course. - They were also deeply gratified at the very large attendance of the public to view the race, and felt sure that this successful test meant’further exhibitions of champions on the course, with increased public interest. There was no doubt that the upper Waitemata would in future be rowed over by world champions.

Saturday’s race was for a purse of £5OO, guaranteed by the enterprising committee which has set out to bring champions of the game to Auckland. There was great public interest in the' race, and steamers, launches, sailing craft, and motor cars conveyed thousands of people to the finishing point at Hobsonville, whilst at every point of vantage along the course there was a crowd to cheer the fighting scullers along. Though rowed in beautiful environment and under a cloudless sky, the frequent intervals of water made choppj by the stiff sou-wester made it a gruelling go all the way. McDevitt, starting off with a fast stroke, established a lead of a length when, a couple of hundred yards of surface had been spun over, and he doubled that lead in another hundred yards. Thereafter he held his man at a distance of from two to five lengths, and looked an easy winner until about a quarter of a mile from the flnisn, when he swerved in almost a halfcircle inshore. When the gun went to announce the finish he was close to ; the buoy with the red flag just off the Hobsonville wharf, and Hannon was a couple of hundred yards away under the high land of the opposite shore. It was impossible for those in the official boat to see who had won, but almost all thought the Tasmanian was the victor.

McDevitt pulled up as soon as the gun ’went and .sat still, with a satisfied look.

“Who won, Mac ?’’ called out several on the official boat.

“I don’t know,” replied McDevitt, and he joined heartily in the laugh which followed the statement that neither did anybody else know. McDevitt then declared that Hannun hadn’t crossed the lipe when the gun went. “I’m over,’’ he added. Then came word from the shore that Hannan had won. "He didn't cross the line,” said McDevitt "Somebody pointed out that the buoy against which McDevitt was keeping his boat wasn't on the line. “This is the line they showed us,” said McDevitt. “Why didn’t they stick to that ?” “Hanna"n won,” declared an authoritative voice. ’•Al" right,” said McDevitt. The official announcement was that the judge declared Hannan the winner by no less than nine lengths. Mr R. B. Lusk Was judge, and Mr Norman Wade the umpire.