THE SCULLING RACE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 221, 30 December 1910, Page 8

THE SCULLING RACE

WEBB INTERVIEWED. " 'Every dog has his day,' and this one has had his," said ex-champion Billy Webb, to a Wanganui Herald reporter, as, after rowing down from the course with Joe Green, he stepped wearily from his boat, and carried it into his shed. "I've lost my dash, and my legs have lost their power, somehow. One time, when they felt tired, I could just set my teeth and drive them through, but that day's gone by." The popular oarsman, as cheerful and friendly in defeat as he had been modest in victory, talked about the race without the least trace of bitterness, and only seemed disappointed for the sake of his friends and his backers, whom lie described as the "best sports in the world."

He told the story of the race steadily. Pearce led from the jump, but his lead did not worry v Billy, who was able, after about three-quarters of a mile had been traversed, to reverse the positions and obtain a slight advantage. "I was feeling well and confident when a deadly weariness came over my legs, and after that every drive became a burden. Pearce commenced to draw away, ana for a mile and a half I got no pace out of my boat. I couldn't make my legs work."

But what about that final spurt? "Well, when a man's been doing nothing for that distance, he's just got, to show something, and I did nit somehow."

"I'm quite satisfied with my boat, my sculls, and my condition. I could not wish for anything better. Harry PeaTce is all right. I know he was rowing well, and he has my congratulations and best wishes."

Questioned as to how Pearce would shape alongside "the big fellow," Webb sais: Dick Arnst is a phenomenal man, a stayer, and fast, and when I was hall a length ahead of Pearce, Dick would have been two, and lie would never have come back. I don't think Dick need worry about Pearce" Will you race agin?

"Not I," said Webb, "I can't go oil being beaten. A man must win sometimes. I'm awfully sorry to disappoint everybody." When the reporter suggested that "everybody"' was not going to worry about him losing, and that his backers were not the men to regret their action, and that Webb's own connection with professional sculling had been an honorable one and a credit to himself as a sportsman, Webb said he "hoped so, anyway."