ROWING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 111, 3 February 1908, Page 6

ROWING CHAMPIONSHIP.

TRAINING IN ROUGH WATER. BOTH SCULLERS GOOD.; 'WATERMEN. (BT TELEQR.YrE —SPECIAL COEEESPONDENT.) Wanganui, February 1., A very fine display of watermanship was given .by Tressider- on Friday afternoon, when the'river was very rough. The-chal-lenger's pacer, For.d, who was in attcudauce. could not .take the' waves, and before he had gohe half a ,mile:'.his"'boat swamjed.' _ The Australian then went on, alone, and finished his six-mile row by himself. Tressider got ' over the rough water :in grand style, his performance greatly impressing the critics ~ on the river banks. On Saturday morning the .river was again rough. Ford kept his boat afloat; but , was'.evidently; not comfort- < able, while Tressider; as on the previous day, was quite at home in the rough water. The .. pair went- up to Sparrow. Cliff, and back, a good eight' milfcs, : the last half of' the'return journey being accomplished,.at a' great rate, Tressider leaving his pacemaker hopelessly behind. ■ The' result of : these two performances is that .the opinion has,been formed that Webb has a good' chance of striking a " snag " if the water is rough ou the convincing' day.' . ■ - ' v At the samo' time,' Webb is the best of watermen himselfi and when out on:Satur- • day morning shovred himselfno less • proficient than his rival in getting through .the troubled waters. He did a serviceable'fivemile row, moving freely and easily; and getting homo with a fairly dry boat. / Green, his pacer,- also got 'through well, and was less, troubled than, Ford, by the adverse conditions. 'v • ' The reason of Tressider'slong row m the ' morning was' inadb evident on Saturday afternoon when, instead of taking his. usual afternoon spin,- he set but on a fourteen- - milo foot slog to Upokongaro and back. The Australian revels in ; work,- and as hp. wanted to go up to the river township to make arrangements for the accommodation of himself and party for the . final fortnight -lie. chose tho walk in preference to driving. A commercial man, whose business takes him all over this island, informs your correspondent. that,. great;, interest is being 3IIOWII everywhere in the forthcoming struggle. Hawko's Bay, Waikato, and Auckland City are said to be sure to send-their, quota of enthusiasts, but, naturally, the . greatest intorcst is shown along tnis coast from.New Plymouth to Foxton, and inland along the Main Trunk. "In . Wanganui," ho says, " you hear plenty of talk about" the race, but you can hear other talk as well; but wherever I Ro in the country they can talk to me of nothing else " ; from which it would appear likely that if tho' New Zcalander gets the judge's eve 'first on February 25, the name of "Wobbanui " stands a good chance of being transferred from this, town to the whole district of which it- is the centre. Already inquiries are being made for accommodation, and every, hotel-keeper is receiving letters daily asking for rooms, a fact which should be noted by Wellington people who are thinking of coming also they should note the fact that thbsc asking for reserved rooms for two days have a bet- - t'er chance tjhan those only wanting them for one. Another thing it would be well for Wellington enthusiasts to inform themselves about is. the matter of 'trains. \ " It was expoctcd that special night trains' would be run, and : also -possibly an early day train, but, it has been , reported to your correspondent that a hitch has arisen, , and nothing is certain, but that those coming by the' mail train the day before the race wiil be safe. An offer was made by a Wanganui man to charter a night train, but it is said • this was not accepted.. Definite arrangements for transport. may materialise Mater, r but in tho meantime it is suggested that Wellington sports may, perhaps, find/it to their advantage- to combine in the .'matter and approach the railway authorities with a definite request and tho, necessary information to induce the latter to run trains.