ROWING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 226, 17 September 1908, Page 4

ROWING.

«■■ Til ii WJJELUI—TUOROUiUC-OCl) MATCH. THE NEW ZEALANDKK'S RECORJ. Tin. latent of New Zealand's scullers to enter the arena of professionalism is Ceorge Wholch, for years past the pillar o* the Akaroa Boating Club, and at present the holder of the New Zealand amateur sculling championship, who has accepted a challenge to row Ben Thoioughgood, champion sculler of Australia. | on°the Hunter River, for .C2OO a-sile. | The date of the match is not yet lixcl. I Whelch is 20 or 30 yoar s of age, and is not by niiv means a big man, thougii hi" lias mi exceptionally long reach, a lime constitution, and any amount of pluck. Ho first developed his rowing powers in the pursuit of his calling as ,i fisherman, and upon entering the Aliar la Boating flub proved his grit bv winning the club's singles ami rowing in the bow seat of the winning boat in tin' club pairs and double sculls. That was a promising opening of what has pruv.j.l to be a brilliant rowing earner. He wis taken in hand by Ur. A. >'.. McUregor, under "hose coaching the lilt.e seaside club was brought so prominently nuo the list of winners, tor three years Whelcli's name appeared lust m the results oi all youths' races at the Chrutchurch, LytleltOti, Little River, an Akaroa regattas, with the exception o the youths* pairs at Akaroa m ISO!) (lost by ahout four feet), when his mate -cracked up" uuder the strain ol three mile races in a short afternoon. His vouths' record (under 21 years) included no less than 22 wins out of 23 st a r s -no mean performance. In 1000 ant 1901 he was not racing. ' Whelch o-n three occasions won the amateur single-sculling championship of New Zealand, beating Webb in 1!)0.-). Webb made the honours even at the next championship regatta, but the Akaroa man's supporters then claimed that he was badly interfered fvith by a passing steamer. In dou biosculling events lor years past \ l.ck'h has rowed "bow" for .1. WooiUll, and these two have twice annexed Ue colony's double-sculling championship. „ c has also -stroked" a junior on ; ;s crew to victory. Altogether \\ . h Ins started in 50 regatta races, me tilling single and doable, sculls pair and four oais, and has secured 40 firsts and 7 seconds, ami was three times unulncod. It will thus be seen tic t *«« . Zealand is sending no •• chicken oim the Australian sculler, though lie ma) «■- lacking in the' finesse of rowing as rehired in the "shells" used for.cluiiu-; piouship contests.