WEBB'S CAREER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 46, 24 February 1908, Page 2

WEBB'S CAREER.

Aboi't thirty yens ngo William Webb v, .'.ft bo v n ,at Lytlelton, but foi t!"> past (!'j/on \.'.u3 l'c h.ii Iv >:i uioiiLifictl with \\ •".'•ij.i'.iui vrliu'u h;i'i ab,.>lr.t *ly ■idopleil l>:m. li. s.oulil net ho v.i.v for niiy •Pu 1 :!. viilpt, t l.ul ia lu\i\y aiiiioiii, to say iv Wnng'uuu to-J.iy th.it Webb is <i Lyttelfoiuan. For o\iu tweho v?ars h«

has been prominent in aquatics ; out of twenty-eight starts he has won t-venty laces. Here i 3 his history in brief: — 1896.— First, .Maiden Pairs, at Akaroa; second, Double Scullsj at Akaroa; first, Maiden Pairs, at Little River; unplaced, Youth Pairs and Double Sculls, at Chriskh\uvh Regatta. ] 097.— First, Junior Fours, at Wungiimu. "1398.— Second, Junior Four, at Wellington; second Junior Fours, at PicIon; second, Senior Fours, at Picton. 1900— First, Maiden Double Sculls, at W.mganui ; second, Junior Fours, at Wangunui ; unplaced, Senior Fours, at Wanganui, 1902.— First Championship Single Sculls, at Wanganui ; first, Senior Single Kculls, at Wellington.. 1904.— First, Senior Single Sculls, at Wellington; first, Senior (Fours, at Wellington; Senior Fours (best boats), at Wanganui. 1905.— Second, Championship Sculls, ao Wellington; first, Championship Double Sculls, at Wellington; first, Senior Singles, at Wanganui; first, Senior Clinker Fours, at Wanganui ; first, Senior Fours (best boats), at Wanganui. 1906.— First, Champion Singles, at Pic(on ; first Champion Doubles', at Picton; first, Senior Fours, nt Waitara , first, Senior Singles, at Wanganui ; second, Senior Fours, at Wanganui; and "defeated James Stanbury for'tho Championship of New Zealand. 1907 —Defeated Charles Towns for the Championship of the World. / AGAINST STANBUHY. After the veteran Slanbury, WeoO s senior by ten years, had been boaten by George Towns for tho r.-oi'ld's supremacy, he agreed to a m.ttch wuh Webb for £200 aside, on the Wanganui River, Boxing Dajy 1906. Tho "course was three miles, starting neir tho Kaiwhaiki Pa, about nine miles from Wanganui town, the beautiful strip on which tomorrow's doubts will be settled. Stanbury went off in tho lead, and was not overhauled till he was half a mile from home, and then ho collapsed. He stopped for a moment, and then paddled. Webb finished in lßmin sDsec. Stanbnry's first, last, and only word to his trainer was "Done." SEEKING THE PREMIERSHIP. Webb was now naturally in quest of still higher game. It is ancient history how Georgo Towns relinquished his title to his brother Charles, and how the New Zealander secured it en the Parramatta- River on 3rd August last year, in tho presence of 15,000 persons. Towns led for over 1 a mile, but the challenger was all tho time creeping upon him. Just when the Australian was altering his course to clear Putney Point, after about 1 1-3 milo had been covered, the New Zealander drew upon him, and the boats touched. Towns claimed a foul as soon as Webb had won by . five lengths, but the protest was not upheld by the referee. "Those who had followed ths race right through, had watched closely the splendid rowing of the challenger, felt that, foul or no foul, the better man had passed the post first," commented the Sydney -Morning Herald, and that was the general opinion. Next came, Webb's -triumphal return home in tho middle of August, the Mayoral reception in Wellington, tho wild "Webbing" at Wanganui (which was dubbed Webbanui tifl the excitement cooled down). An effort was made to secure funds for a national "token of esteem," and ultimately "V\\v" nganui piesented the champion with a house. What will "the town give him if he wins to-morrow?