SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 124, 18 February 1908, Page 8

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

. WEBB'S MARKED IMPROVEMENT. TRAINING NOTES. : (by telegram—special correspondent.) ' • -Wanganul, February ,17. Webb's final deposit of £200 was handed to the'stakeholder!on Saturday, and £500 is now up on both sides. The two scullcrs havo now entered the final week of thoir training, and interest in the forthcoming struggle is growing keener every, day.' "Who's going to win?" "What do you think of Trosiddcr?"

"Don't you think Webb too good?" and . othor .similar-, questions are meeting one at overy turn'. Accommodation is at a. premium and already the 'capacity of the oarly-morn-ing steamers is booked almost full.:up. Ad- . vices'tp hand from ail parts of the Dominion indicate that large numbers aro coming from ■other •placesj-and -it seeriis probable that ■February 25 will seo the biggest crowd that ever ' witnessed , ; a' contest in Wang&nui. Tresidder continues his two rows a day, and put's-in good, solid'work every time. He is' very bright and well, and in splendid physical condition. He 1 and his mates are still as confident' as' ever, and though the Australian's ageis 'lidw'. 38, they reckon that will be'no bar to his' "winning tho championship.' There "is nothing new to report regarding his work. He just goes through his dally-spins in Ins usual grafting style, though [ a little more dash' is' perhaps noticeable.- . Webb still continues' to please his friends by the form lie is showing. Owing, to the extreme heat now prevailing he is now doing a morning spin at six o'clock. He did- a' good row over, the courso with Green yesterday, starting at 38 : and dropping to 24. He rowed r at : practically the same rate in the ■morning to-day, when he did a serviceable two miles. His afternoon task' to-day consisted of another row over the full courso. The power iiv'tho champion's stroko is moro-and more evident,., and, with, the elimination 'of ■ certain'faults of style which formerly characterised him, he is now rowing better .than ho ever did before. There is no halt in'.his work, siich as is noticeable, at tho end of every one of Tresidder's strokes.. Webb's* style is marked'by beautiful continuity of'work, which'"keeps the boat running sweetly all.'the time." :His supporters are 6'qually "with .Tresidder's, and, bar accidents'or" sicknoss,' I can't see that the latter' can.' beat tho 'New Zealandcr, good man as tho Australian undoubtedly is.

A very largo number of people patronised an excursion to Webb's can\p at Kaiwhaiki yesterday, and wAtchod his and tho Australian's afternoon. ,rows-;with keen interest: Among a'private, party.-which, went up were, -several iAustralian, visitors,, who; -oppressed 4mazomonC,f.t the - wonderful improvement in .Webb sinco ho beat Towns. Though local •critics have noticed points of -improveincnt in him from' time,,to,,time, tho process 'lias been to our eyes a gradual one, consequently tho difference r-doe's not striko; us,, so mar-

kedly, but .visitors, .from across the Tasman,, - who Vnbt : seen :.:the New Zealander-for six months, ■ see tho. contrast between-, now and.then,-in_a:.strpnger .licht, and-tho champion's' present "form -has decidedly impressed them. Tlieir.f opinion:;may practically be givon in a remark; of Fogwell, the N.S.AV. •sculler, who was'of tho party. . "If, ! saw that inai rowing, 'and;.was-not told it was Wobb," said' Fogwell, "I would never pick him for -the who beat : ,'Gharlio Towns." ■ rr -:..

V: Tho return race between M'Don'ald and Marshall .was rowed ; <oii.- Saturday afternoon, but resulted in rather, a fiasco.': .Marshall took a strange pair of sculls, which kept jamming in tho and M'Donald won oasily- By the way, Webb is now.practising with a pair'of sculls made, by Mr. Norris, of AVcllington, which he lilies very well, and ho may-usoithoinin.-tho.faco.

" A WELLINGTON'MAN'S OPINION. : A -Wellington, rowing..enthusiast who,_is at present,,in Wariganui writes as. follows in re-, feronco to the forthcoming Wobb-Tresiddcr. contest: — : ■ ■ ;• '' I went,:up to Webb's camp on Sunday morning , arid ,saw his, Jbacker, ■Tuck, and sov:eral Australians,', including'.tho sculler .'Fogwell., ;Wo had >a: look' atYbpth Webb , and ;Tresidcler ; at .work..,. Tte. latter went out at

11 a.in;.;;and'rowed,,over 'about, eight miles. He did, notn'como: ;out '.on tho river in' tho afternoon. Webb, rowed over tho course at 6 a.m. went. out, again at 4 p.m.,. and, as he:- said, himself, put. in the best row'ho has done yet. Ho returned to his camp 'sweating frqoly,.-got-.out of his boat, ana plunged into the river, .staying in the water aboiit two minutes.,-Ho then went; into'his tonf'and "had a rub down.; Web]) is a per : fectVpicturo,, and, is in",excellent condition. ".A, .number; of ...Australians who _ visited the'camp on' Sunday!, wero surprised .at Webb's -form, and say ho has improved wonderfully.' since ho .rowod'Towns. They tip the New Zoalander.to win' easily. Fogwefl is .'not 'looking for' a, match with Webb. They. all agree, that the. most lilsely man to lower v his.l colours Vis,.,Arnst, and tho next' 'raccLjor." .the championship .'will probably be between, ;' Webb. and,; Arnst." When I''" left "Wellington I was " inclined to favour Tresidtler's chance, .but after, what I have seen I have .no-hesitation .in saying that I .-hard been converted-to Webb,, and I feel certain he' -will 'batch.■'the.-judge's .eye- first, on tho day of-tho race, -i W t . .... • . " The;, course is i. a . splendid 'stretch, of. .wator/i'.the-. starting point being-just past tho Maori pah at- Kaiwaike, and 9} miles from Wanganui. A capital view can. be. obtained-- of- tho ■ whole course.. There wero 'about 200 people at Webb's camp when .I .wii3,'there',and.:exceptionally keen - interest is being .taken in the-training of both competitors. .On the day'of the raco' the first boat will, leave Wanganui for the sceno of .'the;raco:'as..early.as,.7 a.m.. The.race.itself, is not. timed to start until 4 p.m."

Though the -. matter has not yet .been definitely. decided, .it- seems unlikely that -a spocial'night train will bo run to Wanganui in- connection with the Wobb-Trosidder row-, "ing: match.., . The .Manawatu -,Railway Company, require a guarantee from the Government of 150 passengers, and the officials con-' sidor. it improbable, that, this number would undergo ..the. fatigue , of the journey for the '.'short' :stay"in; Wanganui. .A- special train, however, has , been arranged for, from. Pal■morstonjNo'rthiito be run on tho morning of :the; race,;and, another, special from. Napier will 'connect with this. The;matter, as far ■as Wellington is concerned, will bo definitely decided in,-the next .few, days. . . -