SCULLING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9417, 13 April 1909, Page 5

SCULLING.

FOG WELL DEFEATED. Per Press Association. Christchurch, April 12. The race between Wnelch of Akaroa, and Pogwell, of Australia, for the sculling championship of New Zealand, and £2OO aside was rowed on Akaroa harbour this afternoon. There was brilliant weather and a calm sea, a making tide, and a light breeze behind the competitors. There was a great crowd of spectators. Fogwell won the toss aud chose the inside course, which was geneially considered the better. The men got away at the first essay, starting themselves. Whelch settled down with a fast, powerful stroke, Fogwell holding him with a longer and more graceful stroke. For the first few minutes Whelch kept up 36 to the minute, while Pogwell could hardly have exceeded 30. The competitors slowed down considerably after doing half a mile. At threequarters of a mile from the start Fogwell was leading by a lengh. Whelch, however sprinted and onca more drew level. Both men were (hen going, strongly. About miles from the start, Whelch put on a marvellous spurt and seemed almost to leave Fogwell standing. Amid great cheering, he pulled to the front aud speedily placed a gap of two lengths from his opponent. Fogwell made a game effort but- could not diminish the distance, while Whelch was going as strongly as ever. Suddenly Fogwell sat np, apparently rowed out, and indicated that so far as ha was concerned, the race was over. The denouement was wholly unexpected, the break up of the Australian being so dramatically sudden, Whelch streaking away to the front, every strobe making an ever-incieasing gap, followed by the cheers of the crowds on the steamers aud launches. Fogwell started again with the intention of covering the course, with absolutely no hope of getting to the front, Two miles from the start Whelch was twenty lengths from Pogwell, and he rowed easily up the harbour to the winning posf'amid a roar of cheers, hooting syrens, and screaming whistles. By some omission no official timekeeper was appointed, bat the time, according to Dick Arust, was a little under six minutes for the first mile, while the whole distance was covered in 20miu 27seo.

Wheloh rowed in the boat ussd by Webb when Afnsfe for the World’s Championship on the Wanganui River. The passengers on s.s. Cygnet (124 tons) bad an alarming experience on the trip from the Akaroa wharf to the Mararoa, which was lying in the stream.. There were fully 60uou board, when the boat, some distance, from the wharf, began to roll in a terrifying manner. A, number of passengers were prepared to jump overboard, 'fearing a capsize. The sea was calm and there was no wind. The Cygnet reached the larger boat without mishap.