WHELCH WINS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 480, 13 April 1909, Page 6

WHELCH WINS.

N.Z. SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. FOCWELL ROWED OUT. (BI TKLEGUArE— TRESS ASSOCIATION.) Chrlstchurch, April 12. The race between Wheleh, of Akaroa (coached by W. Webb, cx-chanipion of tlio world), and Fogwell, of Australia (coached by R. Arnst, champion of tho world, and R. Floyd), for the sculling championship of New Zealand and £200 aside, was rowed at Akaroa Harbour this afternoon, in brilliant weather. There was a calm sea, with a making tide and a light breezo behind tho competitors, and tho interest aroused by the contest waa demonstrated by the presenco of a great orowd of spectators. Fogwell won the toss, and chose the inside

course, which is generally considered the bettor. ' ■ ■. The men got away at the first essay, starting themselves. 'Whelch at onoo settled down with a fast, powerful stroke, Fogwell contenting himself with- holding him with a longer and more graceful stroke. For the first few minutes Whelch kept up 36 to the minute, while Fogwell could hardly have exceeded 30. Both men slowed down considerably after doing half a mile. When they bad covered three-quarters of a mile, Fogwell was leading by a length, but the Akaroa man was still rowing strongly, and making a sprint onco more drew lovel, and both men continued going strongly. About a mile and a half from the starting point Whelch put on a marvellous spurt, and seemed almost to leavo Fogwell standing. Amid great cheering ho pulled to the front and speedily placed a gap of two lengths between himself and his opponent. Fogwell responded with a game effort, but could not diminish the distance, while Wholch was going as strongly as. over. Suddenly Fogwell sat up, apparently rowed out, • and indicated that so far as he was concerned the race was over. ' This donouement was wholly unexpected, the break-up of the Australian being so dramatically sudden. Whelch, meanwhile, was streaking away to tho front, every stroke, staking an over-increasing gap. He was followed by tho cheers of tho crowds on the steamers and launches. Fogwell started again, with the intention of covering tho course, but with absolutely no hope of getting to the front. Two miles from tho start Whelch was 20 lengths in front, and he rowed easjly up the harbour to the winning point, amid a roar of cheers, the tooting of sirens, and screaming of whistles. : By some omission no official timekeeper was appointed, but the time for tho race was given by Dick Arnst as follows:—First milo little under 6min., whole distance covered in 20min. 27sec. Whelch rowed in the boat used by Webb, ex-champion of the world, when he met

Arnst for the world's championship on tho 'Wanganui. . Tho passongers on tho s.s'. Cygnet, 124 tons, had an alarming experience on tho trip from Akaroa Wharf to tho steamer Mararoa, lying in tho stream. There were fully 600 people on board, and when the boat was somo distance from tho wharf she began to roll :'n a terrifying manner. A number of the passengors prepared to jump overboard, fearing a capsize, although tho sea was calm, and thero was no wind. The Cygnet, however, eventually reached tho larger boat without mishap. CEORCE WHELCH. SOMETHING ABOUT THE WINNER. Georgo AVhclch, who has won tho professional rowing championship of New Zealand, is thirty 3'cars of ago, and not by any means a big man, though ho has an exceptionally long roach, a lino constitution, and any amount of pluck, Hβ first doveloned his row-' /"

ing powers in the pursuit of his calling ns a fisherman, and upon entering tbo Akaroii Boating Club proved his grit by winning tho club's single, and rowing in tho bow scat of the winning boat in tho club pairs and double- sculls. That was a promising opening of what has proved to bo a brilliant rowing career. He was taken in hand by Mr. A. E. U'Gregor, under whoso coaching tho little seaside club was brought so prominently into the list of winners for three years. Whelch's name appeared first in tho results of all the youths' races at Christchurch, LyttcHoii, Little Kiv-er, r.nd Akaroa regattas. With.the exception of the Youths' Pairs at Akaroa in 1899 (lost by about four feet) his youths' record (under 21 years) included no fower than 22 wins out of 23 starts, no mean performance. In 1900 and 1901 he was not racing. Wlielch on three occasions won the amateur single-sculling championship of New Zealand, beating Webb in 1905. Webb made tho' honours even at tho next championship regatta, but the' Akaroa man's supporters then claimed that he was badly interfered with by a possing steamer. in double-sculling events for years past Whelch

rowed "bow" for J. Woodill, and these two have twice annexed the colony's double-scul-ling championship. He has also "stroked" the junior fours crew to victory. Altogether, Whelch started in 56 regatta races, including single and doublo sculls, pair and four oars, and has secured 46 firsts and 7 seconds, and was three times unplaced. Last year ho decided to challenge Ben Thoroughgood for the professional championship of Australia, and a race for £200 aside was decided over the Raymond Terrace course on the Hunter River. The cabled report of that race was as follows:— "Whelch won the toss. Thoroughgood got the best of the start and quickly established a lead of half a length, which he increased to two lengths before the quarter mile had been reached. Prior to this point the Australian crossed into Whelch's water, rowing ahead and giving him his wash. The pace was slow. Thoroughgood was dipping 28 to Whelch's 32 strokes. Nearing the mile, which occupied about six minutes, Whelch spurted, and drew almost level. Thoroughgood, responding, went away again, and was leading by two lengths at the mile and a half, tho time being 9min. 50sec. Again tho New Zealandor spurted, and cut the lead down to a length. It was apparent, however, that Thoroughgood, who was still in the New Zealandor's water, both being close inshore, had his measure, for at this point, and again at two miles and a half—where Whelch by a fino effort pulled almost level —Thoroughgood easily rowed ahead again. The New Zealander kept plugging away, and in the last half mile made some fine spurts, but the Australian had too much in hand. Spurting a hundred yards from the finish, ho won by three lengths iu 20min. 3osec." FOCWELL'S RECORD. W. Fogwell is a well-known sculling man, though his actual porformancos do not built very large. On July 16 last ho rowed against R. Thoroughgood on the three mile course on tho Hunter River in a sculling race for the championship of Australia and £100 a-side. The weather was beautifully fine, and only a

gentle breeze was blowing. Thorough good held the title, which was passed on to him I by R. Tresidder, who won it from H. Pearce. 'Hβ weighed 13st., while. .Fogwcll's weight was only list. 81b. Thoroughgood had been rowing for iv number of years, but principally in handicap events. Ho had previously rowed a fino raco against Tresidder, and was reported to have- done a remarkable trial shortly before the final race. Fogwell had had the ndvantago of rowing with the retired champion of tho world, George. Towns, and Cliariio Towns in their preparation for their big races, and tho brothers, in common with , many other judges, anticipated that ho would some day hold tho world's championship. It was said that bo was quito as fast as Charlie Towns when tho latter rowed and lost tho championship to Webb. Just before tho raco started against Thoroughgood, Fogwell was made favourite in tho hotting. Tho race was unsatisfactory, as a foul, to which both men contributed, occurred at tho end of tho first mile Thoroughgood gained several lengths as tho result of it, and this

advantage ho improved, and won by ton lengths, covering tho three miles in 18min. 20 2-ssec. THE WEBB-ARNST RACE. Tho interest in sculling will bo maintained by Webb's challenge to row Arnst for the championship of tho world and £500 a-side. There is little doubt that Arnst will readily accept, now that ho ijot chrouQh his work as pacer for Fogwoll. Tho result of the last Webb-Arnst race, rowed on the Wanganui River in December last, is still fresh in everybody's memory. Arnst jumpod ahead from tho start, rapidly increased his lead, and won as be liked. It was stated that Webb was suffering; from muscular rheumatism at the time, but this was denied by tho ex-chanipion,' but tho fact that ho went to Dunodin for treatment some weeks afterwards seemed to indicato that ho was not as fit as might have been, and that there was a muscular weakness somewhero, supposedly in his left arm. ,Webb's challenge has come as a surprise, even to his warmest admirers.