SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 101, 22 January 1908, Page 9

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

TRAINING NOTES.

DAILY TASKS OF WEBB . AND / TI! ESS IDE It. (UV TKI.ECin.U'JI—SI'tXI.VL CORIiESrONUENT.)

W.anganul, January 21. . ' Webb .ami Tressider aro. assiduously training for tho groat sculling race for the world's championship, which will bo decided here on b'cbvuary 25. Tho operations of the contestants aro causing keen interest locally, 1 tho morning and afternoon rows being watched by many. . Enthusiasts find it easier to keep an eye on Tressider, as his quarters are in town, and tho first and last miles of his spins are in the lower reach. Webb, ,on tho other hand, has his shod at Aramoho, anil generally rows on the amateur championship course, which is not so handy l'or 'critics. , The daily task of both men is practically the same, so far as water work is concerned, each putting in two rows daily, about six miles i eneb time. The land work of one, however, has for its object the revcrso re; suit to what is aimed at by the other. Thus, while the Australian aims at keeping weight down,, tho holder of tho titlo docs work calculated to build up. Tressider does good solid walking exercise four times daily. Webb does less walking, his land exercise largely consisting of deep breathing exercises, work on Roman rings, and extension movements. lloth moil,are looking fit and woll, and .in good health and spirits. . It should not be a matter of wonder if the Australian races a pound or two overweight (12st. /lb. is his racing weight), as he linds it harder to get superfluous weight- off than in-tho hotter ■climate of the island continent. Webb, on the other hand, is steadily piling on muscle, and is now lOst. 10lb., and probably will tip tho beam at list, when tho convincing day arrives. 1 Tho .daily rows of both men arc usually at a good solid pace. Sprinting is rarely indulged in, and good steady 22 to 26 strokes per minute is the usual rule. Both show strength and power in their strokes, and push tho boats along, though W_ebb strikes the eye as getting'more out of bis shell, beside which bis style finds more favour with critics. i This opiuion may, of course, ho duo to tho rose-tinted spectacles of local pride m the world's champion, but to your correspondent's eye the New Zealander, on presentform, is more likely to get tho'judgo's verdict than his rival. Ho has been putting into practice some hints ho got from Stanbury and others in Australia, and, besides, makes it a habit to study his work and put theories into practico. That his theories aro sound is shown by tho great improvement in him sinco ho first made his entry into tho professional ■ ranks, and ho will prove a pretty tough man . for the Australian to'tackle a month hence. At tho same time, it would ho a mistake to anticipate anything in the nature of a "cake- • walk,'' for Tresidder is an old and -wary hand, and may bo depended on to travel from ; " g-:; "- to, gunfire. ' ■ /. Tho Australian' lias with him his old i trainer Joo llain, who may ho relied on to , send his chargo to, the post fit and well. [ Fred Ford, a promising young sculler with a very nice style, who not- long ago defeated ' SyiJ. Kemp (soil of tho e:;-ohampion Peter Hemp), is tho Australian champion's paco- ' maker. Tho visiting party have made tliemj solves quite at homo bore, and are very well , liked, being threo thoroughly decent fellows. * Webb's companion in his daily rows is .1. ' Green, of tho Union. Boat Club, an aspirant for the amateur championship of Now Zea--1 land in March next-, while Barnot-t (wellknown in Wellington), who looked after Webb in two previous professional races, continues as trainer.