SCULLING

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 220, 11 June 1924, Page 10

SCULLING

AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP McDEVITT WINS BY THREE LENGTHS HADFIELD OUT OF CONDITION (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) □argaville, June TO. The much talked of race for the Australasian sculling championship was rowed on the Northern Wairoa River to-day in beautiful weather and water conditions. The starters were: McDevitt and G. Ceruti (Australia), D’Arcy Hadfield (Auckland), James Mason (Whangarei). It was recognised that the race would be a contest between Hadfield and McDevitt. The latter was favourite on the day. and the result of the race proved the public’s ideas to be right, as after the first two miles he took the lead and won fairly comfortably by three lengths from Hadfield, who was plainly out of condition. The other two starters were outclassed and finished some distance in the rear. The race started, at 3.47, the four men getting away in line. Hadfield, rowing about 30 to the minute, soon took the lead, and when he had gone half a mile was a good five lengths ahead of McDevitt, who was next and rowing 30 to the minute. It was now seen that tho only two men . in the race were Hadfield and McDevitt, who kept plugging away at 26 to the minute about a dozen lengths in front of the other two men. At two miles McDevitt crossed over closer to the bank, and, rowing, vigorouslyj drew level. Keeping his effort, going, he had drawn ahead at 2J miles, where Hadfield seemed to tire badly. At 3 miles McDevitt was still well ahead, and although Hadfield put in a last effort he failed to sustain it and left the Australian winner by a little over three lengths. It was a great race for third place. Mason. urged on by his admirers, finished very strongly and beat Ceruti, who had been in the rear the whole way, by half a length. Time, 20min. 59 3-ssec.

The winner rowed a good race, and his better condition enabled him to keep. Hadfield going at top for the first two miles. These tactics evidently had a good effect, as the latter, who had only been on the river for seven days, was undoubtedly not in condition to row the strong pace that McDevitt set him after passing him. However. Hadfield rowed a wonderful race and fit and well, and with a better boat (the one he rowed in today being old and heavy) would have given McDevitt something to think about. McDevitt’s win was very popular, as he had trained consistently and made many friends on the river. Mason, who was making his debut as a professional, pulled a good stroke, but has to learn a lot about the game, as he steered very erratically at times.

Ceruti did not give tho Impression that he was a long distance rower, anil seemed content to just row along in behind the others until the finish, when he spurted and just failed to reach the third man. THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP PADDON AGREES TO ROW FELTON (Rec. June 10, 10.55 p.m.) Brisbane, June 10. Paddon has agreed to race Felton for the world’s title and £5OO a-side, on tlie Brisbane River, in August.— Press Assn.