FOXTON SCULLING CONTEST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 680, 3 December 1909, Page 8

FOXTON SCULLING CONTEST.

V■■: FINE (EXHIBITION OF ROWING. v RESULTS'OF FIRST THREE HEATS./ : WEBB FAILS TO QUALIFY FOR THE -•;;■;' :-.,'.. '.'.. * •"■ FINAL./ '.;.■'■■ ".•.•■.■■.. 1 .'.';■: ,(By Toleßraph-i-Speoial Beporter.) ',-:.'. •'■.• Foxton, December 2. The first three heats of the Manawatu professional sculling handicap,- .organised by Messrs Messena and Eastori, took place this afternoon..' The events were rowed in fine weather, though marred slightly by half an hour's smart rain, which'had a rather discomforting effect while it lasted. ' .' ../' .'■■ '■ ■/.'. rl indicated .yesterday that Foxton, which, boasts a population of 2000 odd, did not seem very keenly concerned in the event, though it must be accounted one of the biggest profes-' sional sculling ..handicaps, held in Australasia, 'for. years., proved my.;view; , to..be perfectly correct.' Though .special, train arrangements had.been made, and cabs and drags ■had come from Levin and' Shannon and Pal-, nierston North, arid/seated flnx punts were ready to take the crowds, up the river, there xould not: have-.been at an outside compntation, more than 400 peopleion the bank at the finish. iThese, with' a few in the rowing boats •arid/'flatties" (a type.of;bpat;.peculiar.to ttie Manawatu),.:" made up_ a .total of,'some: 500 people. The special train from Wellington this ;niorning, guaranteed' by Messrs. Messena. and Easton.-ohly brought half 'a dozen people, and ;the, train from Palrherston North did not: bring many .more. A good deal of sympathy is being expressed', for the promoters, who really' deserved a more, hearty'response on the part : ot the public. ' .They, however,• beliove 'that the

attendance will '.-be.; much betterv afternoon, when' the; final"will be" - rpwed. v "One' would have thought^,that,. an 'ev.ont ''which carried a first prizelof ,£l5O and asolid silver cup,and tm> other prizes: of £50jand;;£25, : would, have* appealed vto , sporting:people, especially .with'.'half- a dozen 'skilled. .oarsmen .from: Aus-; . traliaV/and lan f ei-ehampion' V of'.--.' the.' world (Webb)' in the. field. Mr. Williamvßeach- was. very disgusted-:at: the poor.:patronage accord-: ed the handicap, and said, laconically, "Whatfs the good of rowing-hero if you.can't.get tho •public?",. ."'■.'. .;■' . : ■:': ■', ■'-.:■'■-'•■,■ • .The racing'officials: and. the press were accommodated in a. little i steam launch whose particular.,vocation ,'is '■ towing .flat: punts \up and down the river.' 1 Among those onboard were Mr. Wm; : Beach; (umpire), Mr. Neil-Gal-braith (starter). M.essrs.-.'W. Tuck, Geo., Swan, D., Barnett: (Wangantri), and Mr.. Messctaa.(About a quarter, of a ; mile" from the-start the launch-dug a hole in the bank,.. and Mr. Gaibraitu'walked to the start where already, the men could be seen; getting ! their boats into the water. .... . .'!-.;.: . '''. ".■■,': ..■:'; ;■.'/. .^'-. - ;:;FijRSTv|+EAT.- v -- : " ; ;':-/^.'.;- : -' : ' • There first 'heat, 'namely:/ V^'-y^; 1 '---, •'■':-/ „; ; -;.V .';.•;-.■. '■■■•■■':■'•■■■:.:'■.: ' ■::-.■ ■.-■•-.- :,■: ■■"■Up. :, ,-:■. J. Mitchell ;ii.___.™._-..~.~'. Msec.; S. Kemp ..._—.:_^_^__:._- ±.J..-. 2iseal ■■': ,'■ A. S; Green' «U.'_4~11~i....™."--';' : .'3osec.'' ' .W. T. Ogilvie 55seo. I. Lawson .':_.. - .;i_; :....'. 60sec,

They' were;'started :by : word of .mouth;, from, the bank,' arid'.'there was , no difficulty in'.picking the men:;, as ..they,..br6ke; ..away from ,the mark." -V :" V : - ■■■.'■■■■■ /.' ' ''"./■■ : '.': ':{:■ ■ Lawson"-.tiam'e. 1 -swinging;, down' .stream clumsily, looking over his shoulder,:and with his, boat wobbling/noticeably;-; Hβ ,was looking out, for the;two : : sharp /bends in' tho course which occur.-- inV.tho. first half mile. While, noting his many faults, one could not but observe' his good points—his power and big log. drive. -Following him well out in mid-stream was Ogilvie, - a -white-haired-youth, and'the hope of the West Coast.. He rowed'very short and- rather' stiffly, while' steering a good course. Closo on his 'stern camOj Kemp, the prettiest sculler of -the lot, rowing'with finish and a good,deal,,of .'dash. At the.'quarter.-mile he nad already v'overhauled A. S.' Green, New Zealand. •' Last, 7 came -.Mitchell, : a., sturdy oarsi.man with an attractive, swing and a goodreach. Hβ did not/appear tOfbea.t : home > .Bteeringf a decidedly erratic course. -This may have been; accounted; for' by the fact thathe wasusing Larson's'boat.' ; ; '.". ■ . T-, : , When the big straight opened ■ out Lawson,; stilf in the Jead, was digging into it,in; great .style, and -apparently holding Kemp safe, though the-latter had gained a; few .lengths on him; In roending the double bend, Green dropped behind; and gave up before tho twomile' flag , .was 'reached,' -while- Kemp.-over-. hanled and.-passed Ogilvie at the mile, and then made after ;Livreon,. 'who ..was surprising everyoheVby 'the 'lead..he' «i gallantly,"held; Mitcheir,;pulled'.up ' on,;the-back.'men,,. but the zig-zagVicourse- 'he:. steered -.; precluded'- him .from; an^ancVofvaiplace.;;;,.^;:■■;,-. ■ .v^.;.v^.;. When ■ Lawson 'was about • IM/yards; from- the finish,'and'.'half'.a" dozen lengths: ahead.,\of Kemp,..he:suddenly ': stopped".pulling, evidently. rowed put,', and,'Kemp;, prilling a '.etrbng;.' even; etroke,':iqve.rtpbk /and; passed'■ him,'.'oat;' which. Lawson set, to'-work 'again, and'row€d.?across ; .tho line' a' length'-and. ahalf,' to hvo lengths.:'behind 1 Kenip. 'Mitchell was ten to fifteen longths: away,-and Offilyie was somewhere_up^thb^river.. The time'was, 1 -as , ' near .as, could, be judged from,the,umpire's'.boat, 13min. 51sec., theorder at the'finish,, being 11-.-.I 1 -.-. ;J:.'" ' v •'•■■ ; ';. '■'■'■)_ :',■'.'■ /;;'-:

Komp - - I Mitchell - 3 SECOND HEAT. In fho second Boat the compofitors were — H'p. W. Wobb I —— soiatchr B. Gram "sec. V A. G. Mtori _ Ztecc. P., L. Qrcon - 35sec, With Webb on tho scratch lino this boat promieoj to bo particularly interesting. At the word "go" tho limit man Groen, Rave two orratio etrokes, and promptly disappoaicd from viow in tho willows, to omorgo later mth his rifiKere festooned with branches. ' ielton got oft smartly on timp and, pnlling a long, steady etroko that g&vo liim tho nght momentum between tho strokes, ho oreatad a very good, impression ' R Green, who pursued him, lost a good deal n'wlde AWMD iound the

Webb' was given a cheer as he slid gracefully past, pulling stylishly' and gracefully,, but it eeemed without any "devil.": Green, from the willow grove, followed last. ■ pulling very amateurishly, but taking the ■'barrack' from those on the steamer in : the best of-good humour. Away in the front, the specks representing Felton and El-Green could be seen receding, whilst Webb appeared'-' to -be- closing up at about the mile and a.half peg. Then the idol of Wanganui took it into his-head to row in an oblique, lino . across the until : there was a wide space of .water, between him and the two black specks away ahead.. Somebody said , that Webb - was closing, up, at- which Beach remarked, "I don't think Webb will get up." ■■■".- '•■ .. : At the two-mile flag it was ■ difficult. from behind to tell who was ahead out, of Green and Felton, but Webb, it was seen! had lost half a dozen lengths- by crossing the river. On" gettine upjt was found that Felton and Green had''' ding-donged " right to the finish, the former 'winning by a length and a half,' with Wibb. between three and four lengths away third.' ! Pelton ;.„...„_„.... 1 I R. Green -J..!.............................. 2 . Webb ......; 3 : :,'■ ■ THIRD HEAT. f The,rain had come on during the last heat, and' still continued to fall" as the men put .their boats into tho : water for the last heat. All glasses were turned on. them when Beach sang, out; "Hullo, there's a man in the' water." A black head and, an upturned boat gave : endorsement. It was Beweti (Lu Davis), of Takapuna, formerly, a member, of the Union Rowing Club, Wanganui. His seat had come away from the side, and before he knew where lie was he tvas in tho water.' Larsen towed him and his boat to the bank. 'Tho accident put Rewetioutof the face, fonvhicb.' everyone ,felt sorry,'.as he had been rowing very well; This left.in'the heat- ■ . ' ' .-.'-■ .•.■'.■' H'p. • S. Hagney lOsec. , E. Larsen ..-. ..'....;....... 20sec. , : J. Ellis ......;......■ ..............W« ...' 45sec.

The limit man came along very .nicely, jand surprised- everyone.".by.7 the ...way .ia] took.;the, bends, .and, 'swinging*,.down' the straighti at,,a line pace,'he was followed some half-dozen, lengths- by-Larsaniiwho, , -rowing with fine'grit and' determination, , ' fully..extended the-.leader. For every stroke he takes such ' a long_reach' that- he seems to crohch at 'the catch. Hagney did not row very evenly, and had- a slight roll as he. passed ..the , press boat, but there islno-gain-saying- his 'powers.' Hb l had -the! misfqrtune,' too; to tako. the second bond too., closely, > and twice, his blades..felt the -mild.!,: It-, was, a "ding-dong" go down the. straight, Larsen gradually .pulling up to Ellis,; and, Hagney. to ■ them both, and at the finish Xarsen, who had rowed: a fine dogged race, was two lengths ahead of: Hagney. and Ellis, rowed out, 10 lengths away. Larsen ..........:. 1 Hagnoy .„..' '..„. ......'.. ;.'..'; .....'2 ■ .■.■Kllis.:-;.;.;.:..,..:;..,.-...:..;.,..; ;.,:..;.......'.....™. 3 ; Time, 13min;. iOsec. • ■-' ..■•■"'.-. ■ ■■'.". •- L-; : ,' :■ THE/FINAL." .'"' '. The'result-of; the. three heats leave's the following in the final':— ':'■■ • •■;■ , ~'■■- ;;-.• ::'/■:■■■■■:■'■■> ■'<:■■■■ : ,-.'■:■■■" " ; H'p/ : '■ S. Hagney ......._...„ :.....-...'..'..•: lOsec.' ' VIL "Green ■ ....„..:.. .'l3sec. ' ■B. '.larsen ..„'.';.;...;„....;.-.;.........;„....'....' 20sec.'5.vKemp!.'....i......:...;...;...;.:...:.-;.......... 245ec...'. ;A.,G. Eelton ....„..;.....;. ......'.„...... 245ec... T. Lawson! GOsec. Viewing their performances , in- the- heats; 1 should' Bay that to-morrow's' final will be well worth seeing.' Even boiled down to six.-men, the; winner is not: easy to pick,, but if. asked ;to! name .those .1' fancy ' most; I would , 6ay that Kenip or Felton cannot be far'out at the! finish. Felton, who is, not; yet-21. years of. age, rowed-splendidly, arid I have: little doubt that in a-lew years no i ono will be nblo ;to : 'row-him'.without ■ taking .'off his sweater. Lawsori,. of Nelson, was , , a" but, hard pressed,! do not think ho would see it-out. :■.:'■.:• .'■ .-.■■.' : . "■■;■ '. . li....--.■., ■•■ ■