THE CHAMPION INTERVIEWED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 36

THE CHAMPION INTERVIEWED.

Interviewed after the race by a Wanganui Herald reported, Webb said : — " I-felt very well after the race, but from the start of the training I knew that I had a hard race to row. Txesidder is indeed a good fellow, and he made a big bid for the race. I was afloat some time before Tresidder a^rrived^on the scene, and after coming together we fiddled about at ike starting- point for about 10 minutes before getting a-way together. Tresidder did not appear to be rowing a hard race during the first mile, but further on I wondered what he had in store for me. At about the one mile and three-quarters distance I found myself drawing away, and by the time* two miles had been travelled I had a lead of about two lengths and a-half, and I gained still further as we rounded the bend. The bend I knew well, and bad no difficulty, in turning. I had up to this point not been overtaxed, though I was well extended. From the bend I felt that I held Tresidder safely. However, ho put in a great effort about three -quarters of a miie fFom home, and pushed much hardar. lessening the, gap . considerably. From 'then 'On I kept him in hand." Asked as to how he felt at the conclusion, the champion said that he could not wish to feel better. "Comparing the race with that which he rowed with Charles Towns, Webb considered that he was pushed equally by Tresidder, and that, so far as having to extend himself was odnoemecl, - the iwo ' races were very much alike. * - "^ ' Regarding his contest with Stanbury, Webb he was harder pressed then, although he might not have been rowing faster. As to the future, he was reticent, and <teclared himself as wishing +0 get over this last event before eonsiaering hi 6 future intentions. TRESIDDER'S STATEMENT. " Well, I did my bbesst s any way, 1 * 'was Aresidders remark to those who crowded round him in the shed when the Australian came up from the staging. "He's A jolly sight better than I thought he was!" At .this point Mr Tuck put in an appearance, and aesared Jiim toat .Australia had every reason to feel proud 1 of their representative "Well, I can only say again that^ I did my beßt," was the Wallsend mans reply, while Bain said that his man\ had rowed quite up to expectations. Before having his rub down, Tresidder went to the front door and met his wife His appeamnee was the signal fox tremendous cheering, which was continued all the tune he was being rubbed down inside the shed. WEBB'S TRAINER'S STATEMENT.I>enny Burnett. Webb's trainer, said: — I had no fear from thz very start. This open camp life suited Webb well for his training. I noticed a change for the better as soon as he got to Kaiwhaiki. Being a mechanio by trade, he was able to make some minor improvements to Jus boat fend then again lie altered his style of rowing to much advantage. Ye»rterday rooming the champion had an 'off day, although he was up as usual in the morning before 5 oclook and bad a snack- (a biscuit and orange). We did a very early walk over the hills, and afterwards had the usual rub *>™ in -camp. The rest of i>lie day I kept him moving so as to make him tired, and he slept very soundly at night. This morning I found him awake early and singing ■ as merrily as a cricket, being more concerned that we wern't flooded out than ; about the race. I Uien . cooked him a ] breakfast of two flounders and as much "sundries" as he cared for. I ieft him and a few friends playing cards, which they kept going till about 10 o'clock. I then called him for a rub down, and found it a pleasure to give him' his' preparations, as I realised that he was feeling and looking in such fine fettle. After that I left him reading, and then went and cooked his dinner, which, consisted of fried' steak, rice, and potatoes, and a cup of tea. I noticed he did justice to. it, too. This was about 1.30. About 2.30 he went to his bunk, lay down, and slept till 3.15, when I called him for his final preparation. He was then very quiet and slow in his movements, which is characteristic of him, jxisfc before a race. We then eet him afloat, and amidst all sorts of good wishes from the friends who happened to be on the spot. You know the rest." THE COirPETITORS. William Webb is 29 years of age, and was born at Lyttelton. He rowed first at the Picton regatta, and then at Wellington in the Junior Fours, obtaining one- first and two seconds. His record since then reads thus:— l9oo-01: First Maiden Single Sculls. second Junior Fours, and unplaced Junior Clinker Fours, at Wangatiui. 1901-2: First Senior Single Soulls and first Junior Single Soulls, at Wanganui. 1902-3: First Senior Single Sculls- and first Champion Single Scolls, at Wanganui. 1903-4: First Senior Fours and -first Ssnior Single Sculls, at Wellington. ' 1964-5 : Second Champion Single Sculls and first Champion Double Sculls, at Wellington ; first Senior Clinker Fours; firs^ Senior Clinker Fours in best boats, and first Senior Single Sculls, at Wanganui. 190&6: I First Champion ' Single Sculls and first Champion Double Sculls, at Picton : first Senior Fours, at Waitarar seoond Senior Fours at Wanganui ; first Senior Single Sculls at Wanganui. 1906 (26th December) • Beat JaniAfi Stanbury at Wanganui for £200^ 1

' a side. 1907 : "defeated Chas. Towns for the World's Championship. RICHARD TRESIDDER. Very few people seem to know what Tresidder has done during his rowing career. He was born in the Newcastle district on January 28, 1870, and is, therefore, over 37 years of age. He is about 6ft in height, and a massively-built man of 12£ stone weight. For some years he was i a great man in heavy boats, and won | many races before he took to racing craft. i His first match of any consequence was on December 5, 1896, when he easily defeated James Ford on the Raymond Terrace course. In handicaps Tresidder won several events, and then on February 2, 1899. he beat Alfred Worboys in light skiffs, allowing him 301b handicap, Tor £100 stakes. A second race between them took place on May 5. 1900, this time in best boats, and Tresidder, who allowed 15 seconds start in three miles, had his man beaten at the half distance. At this time i G. Towns was in England, and Tresidder was waiting for his return, so that he might give him a race. So good was 'Tresidder considered at this 'time that j Towns was not too anxious to race him — a fact that may now be made known. Whatever Tresidder may be now, it is beyond doubt that at the "end of last century he was a really good sculler. The anniversary regatta of 1901 put on the programme "Champion Sculls, prize £100. entrance fee £5, course one mile and a-half on the Paramatta River." The entries were C. Neilsen. H. Pearoe, A. Wo'rboys, and R. Tresidder. The. regatta, had to be postponed owing- to the death' of" Queen Victoria, and when it did take place Tresidder could not compete. Pearce won * fine race in very good' time, and dubbed himself the chamipon of Australia. The new champion then visited England and Canada, and on his return ' & match was «oon arranged between Pearce and Tresidder, on the P&rramatta, for .£2OO stakes, and whatever title the former held. Neilsen trained the Newcastle man, but had a dead of trouble to get him well. Indeed four days before the race (which ! was held on March 7, 1903) It looked long odds on Pearoe. When the race started j Pearoe dashed away in great style, and led • past the mile with two lengths to tepare. . A quarter of a mile further on the coats ', were level, and after that Treeidder was able to row .at his own pace. So pleased was he with his^/suoeess that he sought a match with G. Towns for the championship of the world. Some time 'was spent in I negotiations, but at last a match was fixed lup for £1000 and the -title. Tresidder became ill, and was operated on for -gall stones,, so Towns readily_ -agreed to any , postponement the challenger considered necessary. It xan into several months in all, but on July 50, 1904, they raced. Neilsen trained Tresidder, ' and -came to theconclusion that he could not get fit. He strongly advised a forfeit, but the New- , castle supporters would not hear' of it, nor • would they ask for a" postponement. "If ; Dick can sit in his boat he can beat all the George Towpses ever born." was ' the answer. There were tons of' money for i Tresidder, and aa he did not win a great t deal of money changed hands. Towns got j his rival's measure before the mile point 1 was reached, but 'did not ' pass him for j nearly a mile and three-quarters. Treeidj der failed quite suddenly, and was badly done-up at two miles. Tresidder did nothing for three years, when he easily defeated" B. Thorougherood last June for £200 stakes and the cham-pionship-'of Australia, over the Raymond Terrace course l . | THE WINNER CONGRATULATED. KAW.AKAWA, February 25. j' The Prime Minister wired as follows, to j Webb : — *' Heartily .congratulate you " on your splendid victory. It is a great achievement." ARNST'S CHALLENGE. WANGANUI, February £6. The oeremony. of paying over the stakes in connection with the sculling championship took place to-night during an interval at Montgomery's picture entertainment. Tresidder's trainer and pacemaker leave to-morrow. Tresidder is staying here 1 for a few days. During 1 the paying-over ceremony the stakeholder said that he had received £100 deposit from Arnst, and that the champion and the challenger would meet in the course of a few days and arrange for a match. Gt. TOtFNg INTERVrEWJED- ! SYDNEY, February 27. George Town*, on being interviewed, said that, though he hoped Tresidder would be victorious, he thought Webb would win. No doubt Webb must have improved considerably. If backers- oouid be , found. Towns said, he might think of rowing for the cham- i I pionship. . His brother Charlie had no j thought of trying his luck again. He v was too much disgusted with the last race. There wera plenty of £ccd young scullers, but not equal to championship form. He thought, however, that Arnst ought to stand a very good chance. NOTES AND COMMENTS.. (Fso if Oub Own CoHBESPONDENr ) WELLINGTON, February 27. Looking 1 hack now after all the rush and worry in which the pressmen were involved through the almost entire want of arrangements made on their behalf, the thinjr most impressed on one's mind is the splendid style of the champion. He is certainly a master of the craft. One who saw Hanlan row when he was in his prime remarked that Webb, in style, reminded him very much of that oarsman. Certainly never before has such a beautiful exhibition of sculling been witnessed in New Zealand. As a well-known Wellington critic, who was specially engaged by the Dominion to report on the race, says, Wabb seems to have taken hia old-time system to pieces and remodelled it entirely, and the result makes as finished an exhibition as the most confirmed stylist could wish fo*. In this he is comparing- WeSb the amateur with Webb the professional, as he now is. It seemed to me that Webb had been trained on a better system than Tresidder — in other words, that more brains had been used in connection with his preparation. As he came -down ' to the starting point he certainly looked a perfect picture. Indeed* I have never seen ah athlete who seemed to be trained to each perfection. Tresidder, on the other hand, appeared to - have been trained a shade too "fine," *nd I fancy he would hare shown a little more dash and brilliancy

at the critical moment had he not done quite so much hard, slogging work over long- distances. -» THE ARNST CHALLENGE. Webb's admirers are not at all cftsmayed about Arnst's challenge, and, personally, I am inclined to think that it will take a better man than the ex-cyclist to wrest the championship from him. Arnst is no doubt physically a very strong fellow, but ! he is on the heavy side in the short, feather-weight modern sculling boats. Every pound above % certain weight must tell adversely; but, above all, the art of sculling, developed as it is by Webb to a fine art, cannot be learnt in a day, or even a year or two. WANGANUI, February 27. Most of the Australian visitors to the sculling championship, including Tifesidder's trainer, pacemaker, arid backers, left by the midday train, and w«re accorded a hearty send-off. ~~ | The > party, together with Webb, visited 1 Putiki pa at the" invitation of the Natives, and were welcomed in true Maori fashion, the Natives dancing hakas. Webb and Tresidder were the recipients of • several presents from the Natives. . - Treetdder remains here a few days. STATEMENT BY FOGWELL. PALMERSTON N., February 27. „. Wm. Fogwell passed through •Palmerston ] to^ay en route for. Wellington, where he j joins the Moeraki ior v his return voyage j to Australia. I Interviewed by a representative of the i Manawatu Times, Mr Fogwell stated that he would probably return to New Zealand in about a month* time and" take up- his residence at Wanffanui. He will train Arnst for his match with Webo, but will 1 not decide on challenging the 1 winner until later on. . Fogwell states poei- \ tively ihat Arnst will row as » New Zea- | lander, and not. as has been stated, as an t Australian. The match will probably not ■ take place till November, as the Wanganui Biver will he too subject to flooding before that time. Mr Fogwell thinks that the Tace , will be the hardest Webb has yet had to row. THE TELEGBAPHH3 WQRK. WELLINGTON. February 27. . The total amount of telegraph traffic • handled at the Wanganui office on Tuesday j was 1261 messages, while the total amount j of press work in connection with the race j amounted to 23,990 words, including cable I prose mesasges totalling 335+ words. In I addition to this the telephone office at ! Malcirikiri, distant about half a mile from ! the winning post, and where special facilities were installed to meet emergencies, forwarded 142 messages, the majority of which were handed in between 4.48 p.m. and 5.10 p.m. . AUSTRALIAN, PRESS- COMMENT. - SYDNEY, February ?6. The Dally Telegraph says: "Webb's victory confirms tbe form he showed m ■ beating Towns oa the Paxrama&ta,. It* ' makes "New Zealand a jkind of sculling Mecca, whither aspirants for tie championship must go pilgrim-like. Those with ' Ambition in this direction imjsi be' made I of pretty stem stuff, lor the New ZeaI lander has stamina -as " well as pa«e. • Treeidder perhaps ranked . amongst the ! l>esfc of our estimated first-nighters." ■