WORLDS SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 4 March 1907, Page 3

WORLDS SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE CANADIAN DEFEATED. > TOWNS GAINS FOUR-LENGTH i , .VICTORY.

Received 2, 8.55 pan. Sydney, March 2.

Not since Beach met llanlon twenty years ago has a jehajinp.onship been decided oa the JSeapean river Like the historic struggle of ISS7, the Juternational character of the event. greatly to the and.. like it, too, the result added laurels to Australian sculling. Reach won the great race from Hnn'.on, and Towns to-day demonstrated h's right to retain the championship of the world after a hard-fought struggle. Notwithstanding that th|t weather was dull with occasional showers, large numbers journeyed by special trains from both the city and inland towns. Towns won the toss, and chose the Penrith Bide of the river. Owing to the ram, the start was delayed till 4.30. From a good start, Towns got going at a strong pace, .Which quickly took h'm ahead of Durnan, the Canadian's stroke appearing

BUort. By the time the half-miie was reached, Towns had a length and a half advantage, and at the mile, which \ra« reach in 6min l'Jsec, he was leading by two and a half lengths. The Australian was rowing easily With a longer stroke and appeared to greater advantage than Durnan. Towns had increased the gap to four lengths at the mile and a half mark. The Canadian then began to close up a little, and passing the two miie post was three lengths in the rear, Towns' time being 13min 45sec. These positions were maintained for i another half mile, and then Durnan, rowing in earnest, began to overtake the champion.

For the last half miie there was a ding-dong go, great excitement preyaihng. Durnan, however, found the task too great, and was tiring towards the finish.

Towns passed the post with an advantage variously estimated at from pne to three lengths, in 22inin 27scc. Towns, who started favorite, received an ovation, and Durnan was greatly cheered for his game struggle. The length of the course was three miles 320 yards. Received 3, 5.3 p.m. Sydney, March 3.

No sculler could have tried harder than Durnanj He sbojwejd he) hail/ made a wonderful preparation, but succumbed to a cleverer and faster scuito an oarsman who, competent judges declared, is the best man n the world.

AU the crack oarsmen tipped Towns when they saw the Canad an afloat, but Durnan'a friends stuck to him in the belief he was going to effect a huge surprise. Ten spectators witnessed the race, though as a spectacle it fell far short of the great contests on the Parramatta course. There were so few boats available that there was no difficulty in keeping the course clear. Durnan rowed the faster stroke, but j Towns' machine-like stokes were more efficacious.

It is officially announced that Towns won by four lengths.

CONTESTANTS INTERVIEWED. ; A HARD RACE. "' . DURNAN'S RESOLVE. ' Received 3, 5.3 p.m. Sydney .March 3. Towns, interviewed after the race, said: It was as hard as 1 want. It was a good race till within three-quar-ters of a mile from home, and then 1 Was satisfied I could win.

Durnan looked quite pumped at the finish. He says it was a hard race for for hm, but was a fair one. He declares his racing days are finished. He will never row again. Kecsived 4, 1.7 a.m. • -■■ Svdnev .March 3.

Shortly after the start". Durnan led Towns liy half a length, but only for a hundred yards.