WORLD'S CHAMPION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 57, 26 February 1908, Page 3

WORLD'S CHAMPION

WEBB RETAINS THE TITLE. | XRESIDDER DEFEATED BY OVR i TWO LENGTHS.

JDfcAL Ui)\\L\\; tUMMTIO.NS A M'LKXUID HAIL. MANUAM'I DELIiIIoL,< WITH JOY. iVr Press Association. l.a>t N<u Zfalaud still retain- tin* nulling championship. and inu- r?h>ri tinlayv prmi't lhat thv honor i- in worthy liaml>. H»' rowvil hi- ra.i' throughout. lii> display in tii" early Map-# of the nuv faming hin*> tin' wal'nn'-t prai-e* fr»m both Australian : and NVw Zrahilhl export-. I Although In* only won l»y two length* ! mi.l ilim- ipum* 1 !-. it i> * W!ie\e<l h<> ' void,l easily Inn,, impioved this if no- | v-saiy, Against t'li-. 11. i\\c\cr. mere | i- thi. opinion that lie had enough. Tinfaet, however, is that lie won. an,l won ! comfortably. j Wanganui |, a s Wi-i, with ex I citeiiient for day* )w,t ami thi, | culminated to-(lav in one of the most delicious I SC'KXES OF EXTIiOUSM I

cm witnessed in the Dominion, not ,'\ ceptuig the victory ol the .New /.t.iland loot Italics over the Uriu-h team. 'l'!ie interest that \\ angauui has 11 ■J t iur great aquatic struggle would not ik cheeked by a rainstorm., and, ijuoiitly, iroin mid-day the people u t Wanganui aud THOUSANDS or VISITOU*

from all part.? ot the Dominion I" r ',ui pouring forward l.y steamer, canoe (u.i cient and modem), dng-out>, and sailing boats by uliter; and on motor cvcles horse nud every av.iilal.K- »,-;iid!- on

land, to the pii-tiirexjuc stretch ol wai.-r j between the point above Kaiwjiaikai I pah, and the point below where tb c trial was to take place. ltiiin *as falling when tin- thronged umpire's steamer iVaioue left \Van"anui, but it ceased before the course was reached. IDEAL, CONDITIONS.

The conditions were then ideal. Tin water was like glass and a li»i,i wind blowing down tli e river. It wa- tin general opinion ihit the uuidiiioDtould not l« fairer, and the Australian, were delighted at the prospects. Webb set an example in punctuality, as he reached the starting point just about 4 o'clock. As he approached the steamer it was observed tnat ie looked jmle aud anxious, but a closer view showed that he »ai neither one n->» tuc (other. To the cheer- in both KnglMi and Maori, he notlded acknowbdginent. "*lty -Jove. Denny has got him :t |r*riect picture!" was the entnusiastic comm"iit of one spectator. Webb wore a light blue jer-ey with all engraved fern leaf and "New Zealand" across the centre. It was some minutes later liefoie Treidder was seen paddling up the -tI ' [ill. The Australian looketl in fine trim. He ii much bigger than Webb. lie m>re a white jersev with blue crosses and an engraved kangaroo on-the front. Tresidder looketl a lot more anxious than his rival, and there were all the indications in his movements that lie was nervous. The appearance of the men iud ,-■( light to commercial instincts, aad the offer to lay odds on Webb in fairiv large sum# wag easily snapped up bv Visitors. As showing the keenm 1 !,.-, of the men. there was some trouble over THE TOSS FOlt POSITIONS. Finally it was left to Mr. Tuck., representing the champion, and Mr. llarkin-. chairman of the Tresidder conEnir.ee. Tuck tosr/?d and Harkhi- called and lost- Webb therefore liad the choice, and he took up the position 011 the inside. Tliere was. however, little advantage, as the conditions were >0 i.imt able. It was arranged that the men ' should start by mutual consent, but if they failed after 20 minutes the official starter was to send them off by gunfire.

TUK STAIITIXiJ. After Tresidder had warmed him-'ll up with a few spurts, the men lined up. Each made a break. Then they eyed each other, and, as if shot simultaneous ly out of guns, they dipped, and another race for the sculling championship had begun.

THE HACK. Webb rowed 28 >troke<s and Tr-idder 30 for the lirst minute, Both men weie Towing excellently, ami in a bu-ine-v like fashion. The sculls were water cleanly and the rowers were get* tiug weight into tbeir stroke*. Webb, however, was doing the lietter work, and pulling a long, swinging stroke. He gained A JSLH.iHT ADYANTA'iK

ai the first bend of the river. AVnH a quarter of a mile from the -Urt saw liim with his no.-,- in front, and as tiiey swept pa?t Kaiwh.ikai pail the Wanganui man, to the huge delight of the Maori wahines, who lined the fence of the [Kill (the braves, of course, were on tile river). TREtfIDDKK WOIiiILED .M.ICHTI.Y

as they reached the half-mile po>t. while tWebb inshore and under the shade of the willows kept on the even tenor of UU way as steady a* a rock. From thu point the spectator* ashore took a band in the game, Hundred of horseman on each side keeping pace with the rowers.

FROM THE UMPIRE'S BOAT it appeared that Webb was slowly getting a good lead, but the scullers were 100 far off for this to lie reduced to a tertainty. Presently, however, the Australian turned his head and looked for Us opponent. That was the lirat distinct evidence to the crowds on the steamer that the New Zealander was getting away. The news was received like the fall of Mafeking. WEBB WAS WINNIXfi. Ashore und alitr.it the excitement wad intense, but the Sydney contingent ingot at all satisfied, and one of them called out "Don't crow vet!'' and they encouraged their own galhnt ,>ar-man with cries of "Good boy, Dick!'' Here again Tresidder seemed to !c«en the gap, but it wa- only momentarily, ami os they passed the mile in limin 1-cr.. iWebh was a length ahead. Up t" tliipoint the rowing of both men had been excellent. Tresidder especially, lint Webli VeciiH'tl to lie getting close to t?ie willows, and alarmed hi- supporter*. Forests of bands waved liim to the centre of the river, but he seemed to know where l>e was. and his keeping out in the stream again put the crowd on the steamer m good spirits again. Kroin this stage THE HACK WAS KK.U.I.Y <>\ I.K

a* Webb still imrea-e.l iii- lra«! ir;Ml therv were about three lmgth- i.etw .-m tb- 1 s< uller-. a f.n-t which wa- not p.-i UjWu the t!if>it-and- who wal'h'd the struggle from the oveihanging liili-. irout the deck of the steamer, and the road-. The two-mile post w.i- piis-eil iu 12min (bee.

WEBB WAS KOWIN't; fUSAXDLY. never at any jart of the race did lie do finer work than when he rounded the hend, which put him on to tin- la-t etretch far home, nor did he at any point of the nice m inspire hi- supporters. They yelled with HiAXTII' EMiit SIAS.M a-» he across the river and t<«ok water. then ijHUe pmr length* to the <:ood. Then for the tir-t jnd only time in the race there wuA I'KKIOJ) OF ANXIKTV

lor the New Zealand champion. The i Newcastle miner knew thai hi- <a-e - \vaa now dcs[K'iate. The winning po-t ' war. in >ifjht. and the roar of thousand- i <if \oice- down the river told hiin that j it ua- <Mtin„' ii'-uvr every minute. ITe \ made ! A TKEMKVnors EKFOKT. ! ami when it was neen that Weld) had J failed to respond, as the excited crowd | wanted him to. there was } i -pa-m of ! keen anxiety, and men looked at ••"•h other on the steamer and dared not < j prem their thought*. hut it wa- nnlv ! a flash. The jjlooni di-ap|w*are«| in a few ' seconds, a- it wa- -een that Wehh ' meant to Ot* the way. The Au-tralian had ;:ained on him certainly. ITe ha.l reduced ?ji- . lead from four lengths to two and a-half, hut hevond that he wa- not with ' out William Wehh. proving that whih' 'Australia eould attack. \ew Zeahnm could defend. So it proved. Tie-id-der had mad" hi- «-|T..r' :»•-,! i-.!:■*..,! \h.trap to ahonf fi tif -liL'th-. Imf that t\ a- th» near--! ih.tt tietdiifkc Vwr-astle | )!tn could iref to the chn'uj.imi. ho s-,.,1 *}>,. j M : »Omin 2S-cr . two -ed tlnee (jiiaiirr lei ::th- to ,l "' I Til- fin.,.. „• (l„. ~1,1,1, aiinoitr>rp.i tf> : »< •,...rin -m* in I,„i,n„. 0,.. ,-Ti.iiiii:Tr»7i^?i■ |, for ' '■<■■■- tipiignil f.jr

I ai-tku Tin-; hack. i \\YU». after hand* wiia i'lc.--idder. ua- a--i;>le<| out of hi- limt. .md lir-t r'm<satidati"n- U iremu \\Hili , mviwd urn* from a canoe juM uf .Ma -i. I muidvn-. Thru an old ualiine elhni.-.i i on to tin- deck 01 one of tin 1 >ieamer* ; and a Series of grimace- ;niii an- ' tirf-, which, wliilf no d**ulit expre«:«in;» L'tx'at delight. were -4aicely iikidy to lead t«» an increa-i- of her aeijiiaintancc-. and all thi* human e\pre>sion ui jnv ua- carried out to ill.- imi-ic of tin- : -hrill \\hi>tliu>r of the steamer-. j Then the tension ua* over and William Wrhl) was -till champion. ! Tli•» pell-mell ru-sh for \\*an»aniii then :

| Tlie road «as like that leading ; lo Paris after Waterloo. On the river the trowd nil the steamers had an opportunity of seeing what stamina means. Tresi,lder.«when the rave was over, headed hi- lioat for Wan/anui. Ili.it is. after . linitliiiij; a hard raee of :{y, miles lie ! rowed another 7'i miles. Kvery piiss- j in« steamer eheered him. and when lie finally landed there was a jrreal storm ! ■if a|i|ilai|se for ],is splendid p"rf,irin-

I anve. As the elaled passengers left the I iNVaione. one of tliejn was heard (o remark: "I'm jrlad the rave was not ten miles.'' THE CONTESTANTS INTERVIEWEDSeen alter Hie law, n em, sw: • , leel \ely well alter t,,e rave, out troin the start ol training 1 Knew Uiai 1 tiau a hard lave to row. iresidilvr is indeed a good lellow, and ii u made a my hid for tlie raw. XreSidiler to me did not appear to be rowing a hard rave during tlie lirst mile, but nirther on 1 wondered what he had in stole for me. At j about the I V. mile distanve I found my- J self drawing away, and by the time two I miles had been travelled I had a lead |

I of about two lengths ami a-half. aml | gained -till further us we rounded the j bend. The bend I knew well, ami liad J no difficulty ill turning. I had up to tliii point not been overtasked, tliougn I was well extended from the bend.' I Iflt that 1 held Xresidder sitlely. He, however, put in a great effort about three-quarters of a mile from home, and pursued me inueli harder, lessening the i gap considerably. l-iom then on 1 kept ! him in hand." | A-kcil how he felt at the conclusion, the champion said thaL he could not wi-li to feel better. Comparing the race with that he rowed with Towns, Webb considered that he was pushed eipially by Tre.-idder. and that so far as hiving to extend himself was concerned, the two races were very much alike. Regarding hi- contest with Stanbury, Webb considered he was harder pressed then, although he might not have been roiving faster. A- to the future he wa- reticent, and declared him-elt as wishing to get over this la-t ev?at before considering his | future intentions. |

"Well. I iii'l my lic-l anyway.'' \vas Tre-idder'- remark to those who crowded round him in the Wli.C. shed when tile Australian came ii|i from the stag- ! ing. "He's a jolly ~i«;Ut better than I j thought/' was a "further remark which fell from hi* lip? as Bain, with vigoiotis hand-, brought a -til! darker due lo the j darkly lanned skin of his charge. ' At ibis point Mr. Tuck. Webb's train- i

< r. |>ut in an appearance, and a-sitred him that Australia had every reason to | fel proud of their representative. j I "Well. 1 can only say again I did my I Ix-st/' was the Wall-end man's reply. ! while liain said that his man had rowed ; i|iiite lip to expectation-. I .Mr. Charles \V. Harkin-. chairman of tiie Tresidder fund, said the race was as good a sculling contest as lie had ever witnessed. It was bard from start to finish, and the better man had won.

fresidder was always what he thought lie war-a game and good sculler. Imt there was too much youth on the side ot Webb. Ho had seen Webb row in Australia, but had been given to understand that iiis style had considerably improved, and certainly he was a finished sculler. Webb's style appeared to him to be unlike George Towns' There was probably something in Webb's style of training which was wortli inqnirin<r into by other oarsmen. The river was a very fine one. and the course all that oiuld lie desired-

Mr. Harkins explained that the stake j had been found by 200 or 300 subscrib- ! er«. One thoroughly good "-port" who had promised £25, sent along u cheque for t'3o. although, he said, he had not the slightest doubt that Webb would win. THE I'UKMIKR'S CuXfIUATI'LATIOXS.

Kawaknwa. Insist Xight. Tin- Premier wired to Webb as f.»!low^:—"Heartily <-«<n«rratnl;i 1<• you o\\ your -pleudid virt-.ry. h i- a ureat s\f-hii»vcjni»n*." BEFORE THE RACE.

» By Our Special Ueporter). Wangauui, 1 pie Tuc>««.'». , Wanganui is the Mecca uf to-day. Trains from Paimer-t<»n mid ' Taihape brought in larg»» crtiwd-. .a-d about 200 Taranaki-ites cam« down !>y this morning's "special." Heavy tain is falling, and will seriously all'eet the attendance. With line neither tlie j .sculling championship would have drawn a record crowd. A large number uf Palmerston people were una lib- to procure seats in their special train, and were left behind. Wangauui lias gone mad. Blue U the color everywhere, and very few dare show the Idm* and white of Tresidder. Webb i-> a li"t favorite. The race k considered a moral for th»» New Zealander. Crowds are b-aving for th- -cene of the contest by coach and , by steamer. The rush un the later boats is so great that lares have ru>hed from two shilling* to six -hilling-, ami ' numbers arc paying £2 for a >eat in the umpire's boat and til for standing room in "follow-the-race" J boats. 'Hitrace timed to *tart at 4 p.m.. and i»high, tide h timed for 2.00 the course nhoubl be practically -till water at the time of starting. Mr. T. 11. .James wili ollieiatf as -tarter, ami Mr. 1). ('umnii;i> j will act a- judge. An old -euliing ,'u- j tbu-iast. Mr. -J. Wray. has been se- ! cured as referee, and with the-e oiieiou-po-iliou-! filled -o ably, everything may ' i>e depende«| to go -moothly. j The course i? thrv< and a-ijuarter I mi!"- in length, the >t,niing-jioint Ix'ing a -uort di-tanic ai»ove the Kaiwhaiki ! pan. ihen then- is a -ligbl bend up j . to half .i mii«-. Tlu- mile peg. with a ' -ph'iidiil reach ol water, i- nearly op-} po-ite and tlii- cntimu-- ;i|nio-t j in a Airtight line up to luo milcs : an- j othiT slight bend, round and the finUh over the la?<t mile and a ({ uar- | ter i- a run rleir and straight, without , tin- -lightest HijggeSt ; on of a ciir\e. the finishing !>eing in a line from hank to bank as between Me-sr* j Kmrle'a and D'Anver's pmpertic- on i 'itlu r >ide "f the -treain. ] 'IK I! * HA Ml'l« »\ i HAU.KM.KI> MY ' | ni' k AI;N>I. 1 i ; ■' AN' -AN « i "M AI ill M\i._ ; < Mir -pv, i.il lepurie; w ir. .{ I, t it- i,t-i ; I nigiM ! i Ihe (lu't'e ititi a-i|ii,ilier mile- w: 1 . .- j leit bebinJ in -Omin ii.S>e t . and Webb , I miiM have done very mm h better had | | 111- b'-eii pushed, of the vieloiy ! j "t t ;»e Sew Zealander wa- immens'-Iy ! j popular, and de-ervodly -o. but troni a 1 | -pHtamlar |n>int of view the race it>clf ] I w.i- .i wretelied all'air. Webli hail t!ie I ia r- uon fr«>m the word "<Jo." and never 1 | leit the i— ue in duiibt. Diek Arn-f lia> j j eri;!ih'iiged the winner, and a match Ws'l | . pi«•'»,!b|y Ix- arrange.l al an early da.e. ,Ar ii—t iu- iuad- I'apirl -tri'le- in th - j

U"T-].|, Imk can have little chance 1 wiili {lie champion, who i- «i lively oar- I ni.'i!. IVudin;: hi?- l>od\ like .» -upple t j.i W'eliii » .I«i\\ it to it in j .tiv : "i •i •. <in<l hi- m;iuipiil.itioii id tlie Willis i- \« i \ .mi-tic. Ttv-idder. on the other Inn. i. ion -in .» -tilf. jerky fa-hion. an i dip- with in- o.,r. Wan^a r.'ii \~ "ni.iili. kin-" to-ni-Jit. .hi.l thc.c v\-'. \»> many aching head- in the town o> Wi-M.uinii to-morrow morning. \ y > .i ni'a rnii Jin- «ot ihe fever very ha-1- )\ .iii«! th- paper- toll the momentous 11* - that "the. < hinipion hail a biscuit at;-! an oranye," on ri-in'jr • ye*terdaV n'"! - »iin^: 'hat he "had a walk over-tho i hill- ah! afteruMr.l- had the u-nal rub- ! 1 liii■•j-ilow n in camp" . . •fhi- mora in.: he hoi two flounder- for }.n;akf;M" . . . "for dinner he had fried -leak. . ru ■■■ and pot a toe. An <\ a >ii}> of tea." ■,i•: I one w ri< er ment ion- tf«al all t ; m',. vji|M- < u<i- until In oMm-k hi- trainer ■M * 1 him tor n nil- down." "Jf I ■m■*a s m!i in ike- all ihi- fu-- each timo : W-V. I- "i uliill-. 1 douii." what will it -hr io-ii h • i» •'iulilm-.I out"?

WILLIAM WEBB. i iiampiov s( rr.i.Ki'tii-" tut; wour.n. I- ;i -na-i->>—fill illl-ri.1111.l ;■ I lII,'I i'. fie 1i- yc;ir> of aire. ;inil < litiins T.vttcltnii ■i- ilir li)\vn of liis iiiilivit.v. Tile fulloHUif lii= record:—

AX OL'TBt'R.ST OF FREXZIFd) KXTHI'MASM, in which Maori and pakelia joined. The white man cheered and yelled frantically and throw his hat and unihnlla into tin* air; the brown man, in a hij; waka loadrti uiih .Maoris, dainvd i Jiaka. li'd \.y Tafcaranaju and .Mete 1 iir . w 'Miian. too. took her shan* in the ier-lhitiv-.

I l'JOl-2—lst Svnior Hingi t . Scull.-. ;iiul hi | Juiiiov I'ours. aim unplaced Juuitn | Llinkcr I'lmr-j ai \\ ius^.iiun. :i t ISonior ,Sm»k' Im-iiIS, ami hi | ( !i;iinpiun zvmU .il \.,u)g.- . nui. J -l-i Konr-, ai'tl l>t Niiiur s :n-!r SndU ;ii Wt-flin- ( <m. IWJ •' -i"l I iM'.Mj.L n Si .vull . ami 1-t ( Itanijiii'ii j>u!»11! u m i Jmgtun; i»l Sminr Ciiiki-r l-mir-. M Vni<»r (.'linker Kour-. in j; ~i. I»nai'. and I-i Senior SluII!»l N\nni. " I ino.iii j-L l iminpioiMiip ( . Sfu.U. | 'Hid l>i> 1 ( 'iiampion JJouo.r Nviis. { at I'iftun; 1m N-iiiur K<mu > a Wui- j ti'ia; -M Scni'T I'.iurs at \\ an-i- f "in; Ist Senior yin-jlc S-uIK

! at f I l)e,ember 2li. liliili Defeat,.,l ,la.. ManI bury nil (lie Wanganilj river I Au«im ;i. l!H»r - l>- f.at.<| ( . Town, „„ j the I'ariMiiiattu for L | lt . C luuiii.ioii~hi]i ,if the world. February 2.">, 1!»0S—-Defeated It. Ties>i'ler. champion sculler of Australia. On the Wanganni liver, for the C'hiiii)|ii<>iinlij}> of tlie world. Previously had two Marts at I'ieton and oiin at \\ellington. in Junior l-'our- I obtaining one lir~f and two sccoihK stall,ls ;>ft ltli/Jn liif.li, .„„| I -vales all,ait II stone.

RICHARD TRESIDDER. UI.UII'IOX SCI'M.KIt UF .MS THAMA.

U'ils 1,1(111 Hi Wallsend, Neweastle. mi the 2Jtii .lamiary, IS7I, U ii<l i- Ui.-r •- lore j list o\er :!T years oi aye. ||ts lirst jmlilie aiipcaranve w.s in a Douhle Sculling Have at the aye of IS (January gfith, irtS'J) at Lake Jleljuarrie regatta, when he and his partner liuidled third-

O'iiiKH I'KIiKOU.M.'.M/Ks. 18!M)—2ml Double Sculls, J.ake .\lcuu rrie. 1882-lrt .Single Scull, Lit iiesliaui; Ist Double Sculls at Hexham. 18!I2 —iml All Comer.,' Handicap. Now tasllr ri'^alta. la):!—2nd Double at Wallsend iliul I*l*l it?sL)ii rc^.iita. , 1803—2nd All Coiners' Light Skilly *md JJoulile Sculls at Wall-end and i ! I hiti*bitrg regatta. ! j lS!)4--l<t Double Sculls. 2ml sin»lc I Sculls J s t Shovel Kvent, Wailful I i"gaiia. KslM-tU- l-t Double .Null- Wallsend regatta: Ist Double Sculls .Stockton regatta; Ist Double Sculls Wallsend regattalsy.i—lst .Match liace against T. Jordan (distance (|iuirter-inile). HS'Jti— Ist Match liace against j"i, n (3 miles), liavinond Terrace Xeucastle. 18!)!)—1st .Match against Alf Worbovs. I IS,)!)—lst from -cratch All Comers' S-ul- , ling Kvcnt IJ Jest and liest): Ist | All Comers (heavy) carrying j Ist All Comers' Uace at Svdncv. ' I I'-HJO—2nd All Coiner-' Handicap at Xew- 1 castle regatta. This was a t ' performance. Tresidder tinishiii" I cond from 40Sec behind, concedi.i" I Charlie 'iowns (tin- A\iiiji l-< '>o-ec ' start. ~ j

IWO Ist Match liace ieoncedin<* l.»sec starl) against Alt'. Worbovs? '2nd. from scratch, to Me's-cn'rer ni'sec). All Comers' I,'ace, Cooraki regatta. 1!>0:S Ist Match liace against llarrv I'earee for £IOO and Champion-In',, Au-tralia, I'arrainatta river. .flo4—T)cfeated by George Towns f IM . t|„. Championship of the world 7,™ i,frainsl "• Tliormigligftod i„ r £IOO and the Championship of Australia (3 miles). IMS-Defeated by W. Webb for the c hampionship of the world, on the \\ angamii river.

fContinuoil on