THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8882, 6 August 1907, Page 2

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

. Tiie Foul Discussed. Press A ssociation—Copy right. Sttjkev, August 5. The stakes were paid over to V- ebb tonight.

Mr Coomb*, in handing the money ~vcsaid t lie race wa. contested in tho i 1. possible spirit and teat no unworthy motive prompted Webb when tho mishap occurred. Webb, tho amateur of yesterday, was tho. wo rials champion to-day. Ho had achieved his object in two races. Bush, tho referee, said ho was satisfied that both men acted honorably. Webb might have deviated a little _ out of ids course bub ho was quits suro it was done unintentionally. M. Field, an English backer of tho Towns brothers, said that all knew Kush was an honorable man, but ho believed a mistake had boon made and therefore ho

would give Webb £IOO out of his own pocket and £250 if ho would ei ve Towns another race in a month s

time. MT Tuck, Webb's backer, considered Field’s remarks an insult to Kush. (Applause.) If, continued Tuck, you have got a man send him to Av anganui. Webb thanked all for the kind treatment accorded him, and regretted taat there had boon auv argument about the decision. With regard to Field’s offer ho had come over to win tho championshiu, and having done so thought he should be allowed to take it back to Now Zealand. (Applause.) IE ho was challenged. Towns would not bo kept waiting, provided Towns’challenge was first in. _ Towns, in responding to the toast ol his health, said ho would bko to explain lus position was not that he reckoned lie was defeated on lus merits. Ho did noo sav Wobb took bis water intentionally, but from tho moment he claimed tho foul ho did not persevere further as ho regarded the race as his own on the foul. Ho contended that Kush, in saying the foul made no difference, had no right to speculate on tho ultimate result. He fait tho matter keenly, but now _ that Wobb held tho championship ho wished him all sorts of luck.

Two challenges luwo already been received by IV ebb, one troui K. ’iressidcr, champion of Australia, who is willing to row on the 'Wanganui, and one from Wheleh, who rowed a close race with Webb at the 190 G Piclon regatta. Webb and his party leave Sydney next Saturday, and will arrive in iVclliugtou on the following Wednesday. Webb is very popular with the Wanganui Maoris, who tool: a great interest hr his training operations up river when ho was getting ready for Stanbury. When they hoard the nows of Webb’s victory a number of those in town wont “porangi” with delight. One band of stalwarts 1 tiled up in fronr or lucks Hotel, and went through a stirring war danoo in the real olu-mno style, a performance which they repeated time and again in other positions. WANGANUI, August G.

The statement of a Canterbury critic that a throe mile course for the sculling championship cannot be obtained in the Wanganui Hirer is naturally ridiculed hero and it is considered that if a course could bo scoured good Stanbury |lt should bo good enough for anybody else. As a matter of fact several three mile courses can be obtained, each with but one slight bond. Webb cables thanking all Now Zealanders for their kind congratulations. Ho leaves Sydney on Saturday.