SCULLING.
Championship ol tha World. Won by Webb. Sydney, August 3.. The sculling race for the championship of the world, between Charles Towns, of New South Wales, and William Webb, the New Zealander, took place on the Parramatta River this afternoon. The weather was dull and threatening, with a strong wind blowing, but right behind the scullers.
Webb won the toss, but there was no particular advantage in the positions. Rush, the veteran sculler, acted as umpire. The competitors received an ovation as they leisurely sculled to the starting-post. Just- alter 4 p-ra. an excellent start was effected, Towns going away at the rate of thirty-eight strokes to the minute, while his opponent was only rowing one less; but the champion did not get away from Webb with the rush that his supporters had expected. At Uhr’s Point it was found that Towns had reduced his stroke to thirty, and, while Webb too had decreased his, he was putting in thirty-two. The first-half mile was clocked as 2min 40sec. and the Maorilander was pressing his rival, who had barely a length’s advantage. Webb was rowing surprisingly well, although his body rolled somewhat.
As the mile post was approached, Webb had reduced Town’s lead to half a length, and hopes of the New Zealander’s supporters were rising steadily. It was clearly evident'that Towns could not get rid of him. As the boats swept past the mile (Blaxland’s,) Webb was almost on terms, the time in traversing the distance being smm 40sec. Webb then opened out with a fine spurt, and Towns gamely responded, each doing thirty strokes to the minute. Approaching Putney Webb had forged ahead, and soon assumed a length’s lead. Towns came at trim, and both scullers edged into Gascoine Bay somewhat, which was Town’s side of the river.
Towns quickened his stroke, altered his course to clear Putney Point. Webb made a great effort to get clear, but Towns came too quick, and hit the stern of Webb’s boat with his left scull. The New South Welshman held up his hand as a protest, and then went on after Webb. Putney Point was left behind in gmin ysec, Webb at this time having a couple of lengths’ advantage. Seeing his rival coming up again he cracked on the pace, added another length to his lead, and the race was then practically over. Towns spurted, but Webb responded readily to every effort Towns put forth. Tennyson’s (about two miles) was passed in nmin 52sec, and there great cheering arose from . the steamers at Webb’s success. He was now able to hold Towns with the utmost ease, and, though the latter spurted and spurted, Webb maintained his eight lengths’ lead, passing Gladesville in ismin 58sec. Towns now made a wonderful spurt, which he maintained almost to the finish, and drew up to within three or four lengths of the visitor; but as the judge’s boat was neared Webb put in hard rowing and gained the verdict by five lengths in the fine time of 2omin 45 sec.
Towns lodged a protest against the New Zealander on the ground of a foul, but the complaint was dismissed. . .
In giving his decision dismissing the protest, the umpire (Mr Rush) said :—'“l wish to say that when Blaxland Point was turned I considered the men rowed as straight a course as possible for Putney, both occupying the same positions that they took at starting. I believe Towns had sufficient water at all times without having to depart from his straight course, and that the slight touching of sculls which took place in no way interfered with the result. Therefore, I dismiss the protest.” Opinions of the Foul. Sydney, August 5. Nearly all the experienced rowers hold the opinion that Webb caused a foul through pushing Towns too far into the bay, but Towns had met a better man on the day. The New Zealander evidently did not know enough about the river, and it would have been very hard on him if he had lost the race on a foul that was certainly not wilful. “ Webb simply rowed the other fellow out,” said Beach, the ex-champion, “and no one was more surprised than I was,” he added. Asked as to what he thought of Webb’s rowing, the old champion said: “ lam not a bit shook on his style, which could be improved a lot, but the stuff is in him, and he is a real top-notcher all the same.” Regarding the Putney incident, Beach said it was undoubtedly a foul, and it is a pity it ever occurred, but, foul or no foul, Webb rowed him out. Press Comments. Sydney, August 5. The Herald says those who had followed him right through and had watched closely the splendid rowing of the challenger, felt that, foul or no foul, the better man was first past the post. As far as could be seen, it was want of experience that caused Webb to get too close to his rival, and as he had caught his man and was leaving him he had all to lose and nothing to win by getting into Towns’ water,
which was not much detriment to Towns, but it was undoubted!}’ a foul under the rules. The Telegraph says Webb, who gave such a fine exhibition of sculling on Saturday, may be cordially congratulated on his victory. Now that the championship has been won by New Zealand a powerful stimulant will, doubtless, he given to sculling in that country, which is well provided with suitable rivers and which, in its climate and in the physique of its people, is well adapted to produce men capable of excelling in this splendid sport. Sydney, Yesterday. It is estimated 15,000 people witnessed the boat race. There was very little wagering and what there was was 2 to 1 on Towns.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19070806.2.9
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 6 August 1907, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
976SCULLING. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 6 August 1907, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Manawatu Herald. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.