THE WORLD’S SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2124, 25 February 1908, Page 3

THE WORLD’S SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Tu-DAY’S CHEAT RACE. SOME FACTS ABOUT THE CON. TESTANTS. R. ARNST TO ROW THE WINNER. To-day New Zealand’s Rhino will, weather permitting, present a very animated appearance. For days past visitors have been pouring into Wanganui, and to-day a large number of people will arrive in the town bytrains from both north and south. Wanganui was elated (some say unduly) some months ago, when "William Webb defeated Charles Towns for the sculling championship of tho world, and the rest ot tho Dominion shared to a large degree that fooliug of pride that the world’s championship was held by a Now Zealander. For weeks past every township in tho Dominion has been discussing tho race, and it is safe to say that no athletic event in the Dominion of recent years has awakened such widespread interest.

WILLIAM WEBB. William Webb, the present world’s champion, acquired the title by beating Charles Towns on the Parramatta river last year. Webb has a creditable record, also, in the amateur field. .Recently Webb beat J. Stanbury, who has held the championship on many occasions over tho championship course (3 miles) on tho Wanganui river; but it is well known that Stanbury is best over two miles. Beforo the race Webb is said to have received *a letter from an Australian sculler, who stated that if Webb kept two or three boat lengths behind r>tanburv over the first, two miles he would surely win ; and reports of tho race show that Webb followed these tactics and won.' In connection with tbo ebb-Stanbury race, it mus also be remembered that Stanbury trained in a very erratic manner—lie was too fond of indulgences voted “tabu” by trainers. Webb makes a study of the finer points of the rowing art, and uses great care and deliberation in each stroke. He is said to allow nothing to hurry or fluster him, and bis greatest asset is said to be his ability to exert his force on tho sculls at precisely the right moment. correspondent of a contemporary thus describes Webb and his style;— Webb is in tho pink, of condition—tho muscles of his shoulders stand out like the guarls of an old English oak, while tho sinews of his forearms are taut as fiddle strings. There is a remarkable difference in the style of handling tho sculls, Webb catching the water clean and crisply, bis craft running evenly and smoothly, with no appreciable difference between the strokes. His shoulders ire low set, and seem more naturally uited to the work than Tresidder’s, which are decidedly square and high. In fact, one can scarcely imagine a more perfect picture* than Webb and bis boat present when moving up the river.

It is expected that Webb will start n the race at list 31b.

RICHARD TRESIDDER. Tresiclder is chiefly known by the act that in 1904 he tried unsuccessully to wrest the championship from jhc then holder—G. Towns. Since lien lie has been rowing better, and n July last beat Ben. Thoroughgood, i clever and fearless rower. In a recent handicap over 3 miles he beat both C. Towns and Stanbury by more than his time allowance.

The following remarks by a man on the spot are interesting:—Through the courtesy of the Wanganui Boating Club’s officials, I had the privilege of a close view of Tresidder as h(T made his last trip_ from the town jheds, prior to his shifting his training quarters up the river. During the next ten days he will take his daily exercise on the course, which has'been already marked off for the race. As he passed up the.river one •xnild not help being struck with his heavy, almost clumsy style, as compared with that of his rival. His pacer, Ford, has much the more taking style, but we must not forget that first-class sculler as Ford undoubtedly is, be cannot live with Tresidder either in a sprint or for a distance. I was quite close _to dh'G,iilder when ho came back into the died to dress, and was completely taken aback by his haggard and careworn appearance. I went down to clip sheds with a bias in his favor, but after seeing him I think Webb will, bar accident, retain the championship. Tresidder is thirty-five years of age, but he looks fully ten years older. He gives one the impression that he has had to work too hard in his younger days. He looks an extremely powerful man all the same, especially from the back view, but does not seem so well developed in the chest and arm muscles as Webb. Still, there is no doubt about it that Webb will have to row a great race to beat him. Tresidder, unlike Stanbury, will stay every inch of the •curse. One peculiarity about him is that he seems to row with less exertion, and most certainly in better style, the further he goes, and.it is thought probable by some good judges that he will, depending on his great staying powers, make the pace. He is a bold man, however, if he does this, as there is no doubt about the staying power of his opponent, Tresidder’s training consisted largely of walking, both on the flat and over hills. To an interviewer, he said: “I know the time I can do the distance ip, and being satisfied on that point' a well-covered mile or a short sprint at a clipping pace is good enough for me in th.e windmg--ip process.” For the last few days before the race Tresidder confined himself to short sprints. . Tresidder stands oft 101 in high, is 12in round the chest, and can stretch oft 3Jin from tip to tip of his fingers. Out of training lie is liable to weigh I6st 41b, but is expected to row at about 12st 81b. Writing to Australia recently, rresidder’ said that be was in oven betor form tlnm when he beat ThoroiygMood. Commenting .on this statement, an Australian writer says: “'flic race against Thoroughgood was tho best ever rowed by Tresidder and if he- bad been in the form he was m ...pen he beat Thoroughgood when ho *et G. Towns lie would have been be world’s champion years ago A If is worthy of note that both Webb u,d Tresidder have beaten C. Towns and Stanbury, so that their past performances in “big” rowing give no “leader” as to the probable result of to-dav’s race.

THE COURSE

The course over which the race is to be rowed starts with a two-mile straight. Then conies h slight bend, wtli a straight mile to dm, fmisu. The scenery along the course is magnificent ami it the weather be fine it is expected that the water will be smooth as glass.

THE NEXT RACE

It is usually not long after the championship is won Indore a tresli aspirant to the honor appears in the field, and in the present instance, the preliminaries for a race lot the championship have been begun beloit race is decided. Dick Arnst, who is well known throughout h<ew Zealand and Australia as a 'crack »- clist ami who recently left the cycle trade to seek honor in the rowing world, is the challenger and he has neule his challenge good with a pie ninarv deposit. The race is to he for f*soo aside and the championship oT the world. If AVebl, beats l«*id(ler, Arnst will row as an Australian, with the idea that more backing will be available. Should Tr.es.ddcr win he might still row as an Australian, as owing to the strong tooling in favor of Webb in New Zealand he m gi f not be able to get the neccsfavy backing in the Dommmy,