SCULLING

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1926, Page 4

SCULLING

HANNAN DEFEATS MASON. (Per Press Association.) WHANGAREI, November 28. The race for the sculling championship of New Zealand, between J. P. Hannan (holder) and James Mason (challenger), was rowed on Whangar.ei River on Saturday afternoon, Hannan winning by four lengths in 21inin. 40 3-ssecs. Mason had the option of the positions at the start, from which Hannan spurted, and gained three-quar-ters of a length lead with a few hundred yards. Mason, by a strenuous effort, drew level, then forged ahead being lenghts in advance at the first mile. Soon afterwards a foul occurred, a claim being made by the holder, who immediately resumed rowing. Mason was then two lengths in front. The water became somewhat choppy, the wind and tide being against the contestants. This was to Hanan’s advantage, his extra stamina telling', and he soon established a lead which at one time extended to six lengths, the challenger obviously tiring. Half a mile from home, Hannan had the race won, and though Mason by a last effort, heduced the gap by tw’o lengths, he had no chance of victory. The winner was loudly acclaimed by a large concourse of the public. The paying over of the stakes following, on Hannan’s retention of the championship, was witnessed by a crowded public gathering at the Town Hall on Saturday night. Hannan announced that he had forwarded a challenge to Major Goodsell ■ for the world’s championship.