WEBB INTERVIEWED. OTHER RACES COMPARED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1908, Page 2

WEBB INTERVIEWED. OTHER RACES COMPARED.

[BT TELEGRAPH. — TRgSS ASSOCIATION.] WANGANUI, This Day. Seen nfter tho race, Webo said :— .l feel very well after the ra^e, but from the start of tho training I knew that I had a hard race io row. Trcsidder is indeed a good fellow, and he made a bin; bid for tho nice. Tresidder to' me did not appear to be rowing a hard race during the first mile, but further on I wondered what he had in store for me. At about th. miio and a quarter distance I found myself drawing away, and by the time two miles had been travelled I had a lead of about two lengths and a half, and gained still further as we rounded the bend, Tho bend I kiifw well, and had no difficulty in turning. I had up to this point net been overtaxed, though I was well extended. From the bend, I felt that I held Tresidder safely. He, however, put in a great effort about three-quaiters of a .»iilo from home, and pushed much harder, lessening tho gap considerably. } T rom then on I kfpt him in hand." Asked as to how he felt at the conclusion, the champion said that ho could not wish to feel better. Comparing the race with that ne rowed with Charlie Towns, Webb considered that he was pushed equally b\ Tresidder, and that so - far as having to extend himself was concerned the two races were very much alike. Regarding his contest with Stanbury, Webb considered ho was harder pressed then, although he might not have boen rowing faster. As to the future, he was reticent, and declared himself as wishing to got over this last, event before considering his future intentions. OTHER VIEWS. "Well, I did my best anyway," was Tresidder's lomark to those who crowded round him in tho Wanganui Rowing Club's shed when the Australian came up from the staging. "He's a jolly' sight better than I thought he was," was a further remark which fell from his lips. Mr. Charles W. Harkins, chairman o! the Tresidder fund, said tho race was as good a Rcullirig contost as ho had over witnessed. It was hard from start to finish, and the best mar had won. Tresidder was always what ho thought ho was— a game and good aculler, but there was too much youth on the side of Webb. Ho had seen Webb roy/ in Australia, but he had been -given to understand that his stylo had considerably improved, and certainly ho was a bnished sculler, and Wobb's stylo appeared to him to bo not unlike Gcorgo Towns'. There was probably something in Webb's stylo of training which was worth enquiring into hy tho other oarsmen. Tho river was a very fine one, rmd the course all that could be desired. Mr. Harkins cxplninod that the stake had been found by 200 or 300 subscribers; one thoroughly good "sport", who had promised £25 sent along n chequo for £50, though he said ho had not the slightest doubt that Webb would win.