THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 15 August 1907, Page 3

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

The "Sydney Morning Herald," in a leading article on the sculling championship, remarks: Charles Towns lias not long held tin- sculling championship of tin- world, which came to him by default from his brother, the coveted honor !;oing last Saturday to William Webb, i Xi'W Zeahmder. Webb first became inown when he beat Stanbury, the ex-

champion, hits year; but nobody except ] the beaten mini seems to have taken much notice of the new aspirant. Stanbury, the experts said, was out of condition, or he had passed his prime, or he had lost heart after the elder Towns had wrested the championship from him. It was, of cours'.', a creditable victory, continued the experts, but AVebb could not hope to compete successfully with men of the first rank. Nothing daunted by this. Webb challenged the champion, and the title was defended by the younger Towns. There was never any doubt about the race before it was | rowed. There was a regrettable foul,

on which Towns founded a protest, and claimed (he race, but this protest was I dismissed by the umpire, lliehael Rush who ruled dial "the slight touching ol sculls which took place in no wav interfered with the result." "Rush, "himsell 1 former competitor for the champion ship, knows what he is talking about so we may take it that the. better mar if Uie day won. This is the first occa--ion on which a New Zealander has wnr lii' sculling championship, though Webb ve are reminded, is not the first New Cealaudev who has competed. Fifteer •ears ago, Sullivan, who hailed fron, hat colony, challenged Stanlmry, and it - an instance of irony of fate'that tils', nine Slanbury. when ex-chainpion, was eaten Tiy Webb, who then cmiio across ii New South Wales and beat the. mai ilio succeeded Stanlniry's conqueror. Il s sixteen years since Stanlmry liccami hiinipioii. The umiiire was Rush. wh< va- beaten by Triekelt thirty year: igo. and amongst tlm onlookers' wic ieach. who liccame champion 2.1 year: igo. Webb, who i- getting on for liii ■thirlie.-." will n < '- i, ~-: left in undis urbed pos-es-i- Y- 1 mrcK and al vady lie has Ik-.-u .inllenged by Tres -ider. whom (ieorge Towns defeated il !HU. One result of the victory goin; o a New Zcahmdcr is that the nc\ hampioii may, if he pleases, compel tin halleiigcr to follow him to his colony n time- past the championship whicl a- wrosled from Sadler on the Thame* I ISTIi. has occasionally been contestcii ntside New South Wales, but. it ha'iowh a gratifying tendency to come

lack ai<!\ii\. Happily, w have never Iwon without jirsl-clii-is scullers iii \'nv Sduili Wale.-, mill it will ln> an mldilimvil incentive In men who desire (o | emulate tip I'niiic of Tricki'll. Beach. Kemp mill Scrivlo that they will he required to win tin' honor in \,., v Zealand, iiml Uriti?; it hwk to the Parramattii. jHere i< tin' opportunity of I ho younger Towns mid oilier aspirin;; scullers. Pns--il.ly. viewed in this linht. Saturday's defeat will ivi'.llv "ive a tilip to 'a tine sport. Meanwhile Wcl.l, is to he heartily contra diluted on his victory.