SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2574, 1 May 1923, Page 3

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

AWARDED TO HANNAN. Nelson, Yesterday. The sculling race between Felton and Hannan for the Australasian championship was rowed on Saturday afternoon in Nelson Harbour in perfect weather. There was not a ripple on the water. The distance was three miles. Felton passed the finishing post about 3ft. in front but Hannan claimed a foul and got the verdict. Felton rowing a slower but stronger stroke than his opponent, assumed the lead after the first. 200 yards, and led all the way. He started with 81 strokes to the minute, against Hannan’s 34, and at the end of the first mile, was rowing 23 to his opponent’s 25. At the end of a mile and a-half, Felton crossed into Hannan’s water and the latter signalled for a foul, but continued the race. Doth men kept close together and there was never more than a length between them. At the two-mile post, both were doing .about the same number of strokes to the minute. In the last mile, Hannan gradually made up leeway rowing a quicker stroke and appearing to be the fresher man. Within 20 yards of the finish he made a great effort, and got within a few feet of Felton, when the post was reached. -Felton, who rowed against medical advice, finished very tired, but Hannan was quite fresh again when he reached his quarters. In speaking to a. Press representative after the race, Felton said no doubt there was a foul, but he would sooner not discuss it. The time was 23min. 57sec., and the race was rowed against a slight current. POSTPONEMENT NOT AGREED TO. Acting under medical advice, Felton approached the committee, with a view to having the race postponed for a week, but the committee decided it had not control over the matter, and referred it to the competitors themselves. After a conference between the scullers, conditions as to postponement could not be agreed to, and it was resolved to originally intended.