HANNAN DEFEATS MASON

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 130, 29 November 1926, Page 4

HANNAN DEFEATS MASON

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

fßy Telegraph.—Press Association.) '-*■: WHANGAREI, 27th Nov.

Thp race for, the sculling championship of New Zealand between J. P. Hannan (holder) and James Mason, of Whangarei (challenger) was rowed on the Whangarei River this afternoon, Hannan winning by fourJlengths in 21min 40 3-ssec. Mason had tho option of the positions at the start, from which Hannan spurted and'gained three-quarters of a length lead. AVithin a few hundred yards Mason,, by strenuous effort, drew level, then forged ahe_d, being lengths in advance at -the first*.'mile. Soon afterwards a foul occurred, the claim being made by the bolder, who immediately resumed rowing. Maiion was then- two lengths in front. Theywater became somewhat choppy, the wind and tide being against the contestants*. This was to Hannan's advantage, his;, extra stamina telling, and" he soon established a lead which at one time extended to six lengths. The challenger obvioijply tiring half a mile from home, Hannan had the race won, and though MaSbn by a last effort reduced the gap by f.wqVlengths he had no chance of victory. Tho^- winner was loudly acclaimed by a large concourse of the public.