SCULLING

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 193, 10 May 1924, Page 16

SCULLING

HANNAN AND THE NORTHERN WAIROA RACE

McDEVITT’S STATEMENT Bt Telegraph—Press Association. Dargaville, May 9. Interviewed tc-d'ay in connection with Hannan’s refusal to meet him in the Australasian rowing championship on the Northern Wairoa River, McDevitt said that Hannan’s statement was too ridiculous for him to find words to reply. McDevitt still persists that he beat Hannan in the first match at Riverhead, and that Hannan never completed the course. With reference to tho second race on the Waitemata, which Hannan won, McDevitt says he was so disgusted with the result of the first race _ that he took no interest in it. He is, however, prepared to stand. Hannan up 10 seconds and race him over any distance for any sum he likes to name. With regard to Hannan saying that he is anxious to beat Arnst and Webb, who previously beat him, before he definitely retires from rowing, McDevitt says that both the latter have retired from rowing, and arc nearly old enough to bo Hannan’s father. George Ceruiti, assistant-secretary to the" New South Wales League of Scullers, who is training at Dargaville with McDevitt, says in reference to Hannan’s statement about being the Australasian champion 'oy virtue of his defeat of Felton at Nelson, that as far as Australia is concerned, there is no such title as Australasian champion. “To create a title, he saps, “there must be a race open to all-comers, and not two men deciding that they will make one, such as Hannan and Felton did nt Nelson. The Australian oarsmen protested then, through the ‘Referee,’ and have done so on several other occasions, until tho race on the Wairoa was proposed. This race complies in ©very way with the idea of the New South Wales League of Scullers, representing well over 300 oarsmen, excluding supporters, and which has given its sanction to the race for the title being rowed for on the Northern Wairoa River. He concluded by saying that he saw no reason why Hannan should not race, because the money was up, ana there were other scullers in the field Qfe waII as McDevitt, who could be relied upon to keep him (Hannan) very busy. 'Die proposed race would be the first time that the Australasian championship had been competed for under proper regulations.

FIVE STARTERS EXPECTED

Dargaville, May 9. Matters in connection with the Australasian rowing championship have received quite a fillip since Hannah s statement appeared from Blenheim. The local committee has been busy, and has received an assurance from the New South Wales League of Oarsmen that notwithstanding Hannan s statement, the title oi Australasian champion lias never been. competed for, and tno proposed race will be the first for the title under proper regulations. Money for the purse is coming in freely. . D’Arcy Hadfield to-day signified his intention of competing, and with the addition of McDevitt and Ceruiti, who are already training here, it is expected that at least five will go to tho post on the day of the race, on or about June 7. McDevitt to-day cabled to Jim Paddon, asking on what terms he would row a race on the Northern Wairoa River for the world’s championship.