THE BOAT RACE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1908, Page 6

THE BOAT RACE.

"It was a good race, and the 1 -><t man won." That, is tho happiest .mment that can be made upou any athletic contest. Many such struggles end in doubt and discontent : this or that went wrong ; this or that obstacle was placed in. tho way of a clear issue. There is no such unpleasant aftertaste to the sweets of victory in the Webb-Tresidder ! race for the sculling championship of the world. Mr. Tresidder is satisfied : he is a good loser ; Mr. Webb is satisfied : and as the victor, with better reason ; tho public are satisfied, oven if a little money has changed pockets. A good sportsman docs not regret lost money if he gets what he calls "a fair run" for it : once his mind is at ease he can meet the bad fortune of war ; and glum, faces soon begin to brighten with anticipations of the next struggle and the . next risk. New Zealanders are a cautious community : they do not gamble in the real gambler's sense of the word, and rarely venture more than spare cash in "backing their fancy." Australians possibly are more reckless ; but luckily sculling is a sport in which usually the chances of antagonists are fairly even all the time, and there is no "sure thing" to attract the "plunger," no suspicion of foul play to mako tho rivalry degenerate into a wrangle. Mr. Tresidder shares the honours if Mr. Webb takes the laurels : he has made a good fight, with a heavy handicap of years against him ; and he goes back to his own country with credit and without humiliation. Australia undertook a bigrct task than she imagined, when she set out to regain the championship which her scullers have held so long ; and "we look forward to many a hearty struggle in the future. Nevertheless we aro glad New Zealand has won, for Mr. Webb's victory is something more than a nominal victory for New Zealand. His thews and courage cannot be dissociated from the soil that bred him. Modern sport, it is true, seems tending to some extent to becomo a spectacle, with one heroic figure striving and a thousand unheroically looking on. But it does not follow that these havo always been or will always be spectators. The spirit of emulation ' is stirred by the sight of struggle, and we do not doubt that scores of lads in Wanganui and elsewhere in New Zealand have forsworn luzy delights und have set themselves definitely to the task

of becoming the Webb of the future. Nor is the athletic Mr. Webb unrepresentative — a lonely gladiator in the name of New Zealand. He is the flower of our oarsmen ; but there are others, there will be many more. And in other snorting field/ than that of sculling New Zealand is holding hei own, with here and there a trifle over. A good thing too. It shows the sound heart of ihe country, the tough muscles ; and these are the things needed for the country's work, it may be for the country's defence. Mr. Webb has exhibited skill and talent too : he is no mere lump of brawn, but an intelligent man who uses his head as well as his loins when he takes his place on the sliding-seat. Critics who saw him race in Australia say he has improved out of all knowledge : which shows that, though he returned victor, he was still able to learn from the vanquished ; and proves that he has tho dissatisfaction with himself which is essential to every man who wants to make his best still better. A sculler's life as champion is comparatively short : Youth will be served, and every year welcomes new aspirants to fame. Wo hope that Mr. Webb will long bear the honours that he has won so worthily, and we are proud of New Zealand's share in then;. And though Mr. Tresiddcr will leave these shores a, loser, we have for him also appreciation and esteem, and a, hearty 'utia Ora !"