SCULLING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 307, 21 September 1908, Page 9

SCULLING.

WHELCH',S PERFORMANCES. . A member of tlio Taranaki "Daily News'* staff has received a full list of the performances of fieorge Whelch, champion amateur sculler' of tho Dominion, who is matched against Ben Thoroughgood, champion of Australia, for'a stake of £200 a-side. Whelch is. twenty-niuo or thirty years of age, and not by any moans a big man, though he has an exceptionally long reach, a fine constitution, and any amount of pluck.- Ho first developed his rowing powers in the pursuit of his calling as a fisherman, and upon entering the Akaroa Boating Club proved his grit by.winning the club's single and'rowing in the bow seat of the winning bpat in the club pairs and double sculls. That was a promising opening of what has proved ito be a brilliant rowing career. He was, taken in hand by Mr. A. E. M'Gregor, under whose coaching the. little seasido club was brought so prominently into the list of winners for three years. '" Whelch's name appeared first in the results of all the youths' races at Christchiirch, Lyttelton, Little lliver, and Akaroa regattas. With the exception of the Youths' Pairs at Akaroa* in 1899 (lost by about four feet) his'youth's record (under 21 years) included no less than 22 wins out of 23 starts, no mean performance. Li 1900' and 1901 be was not: racing, as'will be seen from the list of his performances. Whelch on three occasions won the amateur single-sculling championship of Now Zealand, beating Webb :'n 1905. Webb made' the honours even at. tho next championship regatta ; but the Akaroa man's - supporters then claimed -that ! ho. was, badly interfered wjth by a passing steamer. In double sculling events for years past Whelch rowed "bow" for J. Woodill, and these two have twice annexed tho colony's double-sculling championship. Ho has also "stroked"' the junior fours crew to victory. . Altogether, Whelch started in 56 regatta races, ..including singlo and ' double sculls, pair and four oars, and has secured 46' firsts and 7 seconds, and was three times unplaced. 1 ' , t , Tho. following is a list of Wheldh's performances:— . , , 1896: Won youths' double sculls and pairs both at Akaroa and Little River. 1897: Youths' double and pairs at Lyttelton, Akaroa,' and Little lliver, and youths' siiigles at Akaroa. ' . 1898: Youths' double. sculls and pairs at Lyttelton and Akaroa, arid youths' singles at Akaroa. '" | 1899: Youths' double sculls and pairs at Lyttelton, Christ-church, and Akaroa; youths' siiiglesuit Lyttelton; maiden pairs at Akaroa. 1900 and 1901: Did no racing. • 1902: Stroked tho junior fours at Akaroa won tho maiden double sculls at Akaroa.' , 1903: Junior doublo sculls, Christchurch. 1904: Senior double sculls, Lyttelton and Akaroa; senior singles, Akaroa. 1905: Junior fours at Akatoa; senior double sculls,, Lyttelton and Akaroa; championship singles, Wellington. - 1906: Senior double sculls, Akaroa, Lyttelton and Christchurch; senior ' singles, Akaroa and Lyttelton. 1907: Senior doublo sculls, Lyttelton and Akaroa; champion double sculls and champion single sculls, Christchurch. 1908: Senior doublo sculls, Lyttelton and Christchurch; champion singles and doublo sculls, Napier. .