AFTER THE RACE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 131, 26 February 1908, Page 8

AFTER THE RACE.

W,EBB INTERVIEWED. ' . ' Interviewed after tho conclusion of the raco, Webb said;;;■.. - " I feel very well after the race, but from the start of the training I know that .I had a hahi race to row. Tresidder is indeed a good fellow, and he made a big bid for the race. " I was afloat .some time before Tressidder arrived on the scene, and alter . .coming, together we fiddled about at the • starting-point for about ten minutes be-, fore getting , away together. , " Tresidder did not appear to me to bo rolvlng a hard race during the first mile, but further on I wondered what he had In store for mo. ' '

i "At about ; .lJ miles I found myself drawing away, and by the tlmo two miles had been travelled I had a lead of about 2£ lengths/ and galned still further as we rounded the bend; The bend I knew well, and had no difficulty In turning. " I had up to this point not been overtaxed, though I was well extended from the bend. I felt that I held Tresldder safely. He, however, put in a ■ great effort about,three-quarters of a mile from home, and pushed much harder, lessening the gap considerably. From then on I Kept him In hand."

Asked as to how he felt at tho conclusion, the champion- said that ho could not wish to feel better. Comparing tho race with tho raco he rowed with Charlio Towns, Webb considered that ho was pushed as much by Tresidder, alid that, so far as having to extend himself was concerned, tho two races wero very much- tho same. ' Regarding tho contest with Stanbury,- Webb considered ho was harder pressed then, although ho might not have been rowing faster.

TRESIDDER'S STATEMENT. " Well, I did my best any way," was Tresidder's remark to those who crowded round him at tho W.11.C. shed when the Australian camo up from the staging. "He's a Jolly sight better than I thought,." was a further remark which fell from his lips as-Bain, with vigorous hands, brought a still - darker hue to the darkey-tanned skin of his charge. At this point Mr. Tuck' put ill an appearand and assured him that Australia 1 had every reason to feel proud of their representative. ' " Well, I can only say again that I did my best," was' the Wallsend man's reply, and Bain said that his man had rowed quit 4 up to expectations. 1 Tresidder, before having his rub down, went to tho front door and met his wife. His appearance was . tho signal for tremendous.cheering, which was continued all tho time he was being rubbed down inside the shed. ■ \ REMARK 3 BY WEBB'S TRAINER. Denny Barnett, Webb's popular trainer, said:— ■ 1 "I had no fear from the very start. This open camp life suited Webb so well for his training. I noticed a change for the better as soon as he got to Kaiwhaiki. Being a mechanic by trade, he was able to make some minor improvements to his boat, and then again ;Be filtered his style of rowing to such advantage. Yesterday morning -the champibn;had an 'off''day, although, mind you, he was .up: as usual in the morning before five o'clock, and had a snack—a biscuit and; oTan£o. .Wo did a very early walk over the hills, and afterwards had the usual rubbing down in camp. J kept him moving all (lay,/ so as/to : make him tired, and lie 1 slept' very souiully at night; ' This .morning I found him awake early, and-sing-ing. as merrily* as a. cricket, more concerned that we weren't flooded out thaiw about tho raco. I then cooked him a breakfast of two flounders,' and as much 'sundries' an ho cared, for. ' I, left him and .a few .friends playing cards,' which they kept going till about ton. o'clock. I then, c.illed him for a rub downj- and found it a pleasuro to givo him- his ■ preparation; as I relinked. that lie was feeling' arid looking in such fine fettle. After that I i left hin> reading, and then wont"-and . cooked Bis dinner, which ; ,consisted of! ifried fish, rice, and potatoes, and a cup, of tea.:-' Iv noticed ho aw jiistice ; to it, too. This was about 1.30. About 2.30 ho wont to . his', bunk, lay down, and. slept! till 3.15, 'when-1-;called- him for his -final preparation; -He .was then; very;, quiet.'and slow-in-his'movements, which is characteristic of ■ him; just, before .a : race. We then set him a'float, and amidst all sorts of good wishes from tho friends who happened to bo on tho spot—you lmow tho rest."