Can Mason Beat Hannan?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 577, 1 February 1929, Page 11

Can Mason Beat Hannan?

SCULLING RACE TO-MORROW Keen Interest at Whangarei (Special to THE SUN) WHANGAREI, To-day. AFTER a long spell of inactivity, professional sculling will be revived on the Whangarei Harbour to-morrow, when J. Mason (challenger) will meet P. Hannan, holder of the New Zealand title. Both men are fit and a great contest seems assured.

Old hands in the sculling game who have watched both men in their practice spins say that both are going well, but think that Mason on his home course will prove the fitter of the two. As against this, Hannan has had more experience, and although he may be a bit short of a thorough preparation, his previous victory over Mason cannot be overlooked. Below is a short outline of the careers of the two men. Hannan’s career in the sliding seat is a remarkable one. He commenced sculling 19 years ago, when he was a member of the Wellington and Petone Rowing Clubs, and gingerly tried himself out in the club tubs, which took a bit of shoving through the water compared with the slim racing craft now used in the big sculling races. Models have improved, in wager-boats in 20 years, as they have in motor-cars, but the old tubs called for mus6le and brawn, and Hannan always had plenty of that. By 1913 he had improved to such an extent that he dreamed of sculling glory. Such was his belief in his star that in that year he entered for the big Parramatta Handicap in Sy'dney, and so automatically deserted the amateur for the professional ranks. This race he won. Hannan at once came into the public eye, and almost immediately was matched against Archie Priddle. the ex-amateur champion of New South Wales. Hannan won tlie race pulling up. Then came the war. and a hiatus in all sport. In 1920 he met William Fogweli on the Wairau River (Blenheim), in a race for the championship of New Zealand, and beat him. Fogweli was not satisfied and another match was arranged for next year (also on the Wairau). when Hannan won again easily, and put up the New Zealand record time of 18 min oOsec over a course of three miles 100 yards. Hannan Beats Felton The next challenger was F. Wells, whom Hannan defeated twice in 1921. once on the Wairau and once on Picton Harbour. Then came Alf. Felton, of Sydney (who had won the Manawatu Handicap years before). This raec was rowed at Nelson, and created great interest, as Felton was the Australian and Hannan the New Zealand champion. This made the race one for the Australasian title. It was a neck-and-neck struggle the whole way, Hannan managing to win by three feet only. That was in 1922. The following year Hannan was challenged by W. Mcßevitt. the Tasmanian champion. The race took place on the Riverhead course (Auckland), and again, the New Zealander won. The following year (1924) Bick Arnst endeavoured to stage a “come-back,” but the once world champion could not make it. Hannan defeated him easily on the Waikato River. The next race was in 1925 at Tauranga, when Hannan defeated Barcy Hadfield by 12 lengths. Hannan first met Mas.on at Whangarei in November. 1926, and beat him by four lengths, and on the strength of that race says emphatically that he (Mason) is the fastest miler he has ever met. “I have been told,” said Hannan,

“that I have won more races than any other professional sculler in the world; also that I am the oldest sculling champion that ever was. I was 45 last August.” MASON’S CAREER James Mason, who will contest the title against J. Hannan, is a man of vigorous constitution and long years of rowing experience. He has lived nearly all his life in North Auckland where, on the Whangarei Harbour, he has been a familiar rowing figure on the upper reaches of the river and estuary and the guide and inspiration to a generation of young rowers. Mason first joined the Grahamtown

Club when it was in the early stages of formation, and as an amateur won several races. His first big race as a professional was rowed on the Wairoa River, when Mcßevitt, Ceruti and Hadfield were invited, with Mason and Hannan, to race for the Australasian title. McBevitt secured the title, and Mason rowed third. His next contest was in 1927, with Ceruti, at Whangarei, when he beat the Australian lightheavyweight champion by nearly fifty lengths. Mason challenged J. J. Hannan the New Zealand title, but the champion won in heavy weather, after Mason had led to the half-way mark. On his present excellent condition, however, Mason should make the race on Saturday a keen tussle. He has chosen a very suitable boat and expects to row at 12st 71b.