THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. Webb's Splendid Achievement.

Free Lance, Volume VIII, Issue 400, 29 February 1908, Page 6

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. Webbs Splendid Achievement.

AND so Webb is stiLl the champion, oarsman of the world. Now that it is all over, and the battle has been fought and won, with victory oc our side, New Zealand doesn't mind saying that she never anticipated any other result. Dick Tresidder is a very fine felow — genial, kind-hearted, a perfect gentleman', and all that sort of thing — but he's not a William Webb. Perhaps even as an oarsman Webb mighrt be willing to paraphrase Alexander the Great in his compliment to Diogenes, and say • "If I could not I. Willain Webb, then I would be Dick Tresidder. ♦ * • But Webb is Webb, and New Zealand to-day is jubilant. Webb won a glorious victory, and the people of Wanganui are justified of all their uttered hopes and published confidences. They declared that Webb could set his boat going with a speed that eclipsed the best efforts of the TJniocn steamship Maori Wei, the Maori could only have beaten I>ick Tresidder, and Webb did as much. "Things which are equal to the same thing are equal to one another." So what more do you want. The thing is one which was to be demoaistrated, and which has been demonstrated. * ♦ * And apart from the fact that New Zealand is glad of retaining the world's greatest sculling honour, the public rejoice in the victory because of the personality of the hero. The champion has already shown himself cv be a man of singularly modest and gentlemanly attributes. His initial championship success in his defeat of Towns was followed immediately by his return to the hard labour of his calling in Wanganui. It is safe to assume, knowing Ms temiperament and disposition, that no one in Wanganui to-day is more cool and unaffected by the great achievement than William Webb. The populace in the township of the Southern Rhine may effervesce over the performance, but next week will probably find Webb at his work as though nothing untoward had occurred. Thus, and his unassuming and manly bearing, lend added charm to tlie glory of his success. Even Dick Tresidder, brave, stalwart, and fine fellow that he is. will have little to regret in having missed the prize by two and a-half lengths after so stem and well-con-tested a struggle. To the true sportsman there is always a certain pleasure in being beaten by a superior man, and Tresidder is just the sportsman to appreciate such a situation.