SCULLING CHAMPION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16032, 25 September 1915, Page 5

SCULLING CHAMPION.

SHABPE BEATS HADFIELD.

WEBB DEFEATS HANNAN. RACE ON THE WANGANTTL WON BY 18 LENGTHS. [BT telegraph.—own CORRESPOrCDZXT.] Wangastti, Friday. ,W. Webb had no difficulty in defeating J. C. Hannaa in the sculling match, rowed to-day, for £200 a-side and the New Zealand championship. Owing to heavy rain ,not a great number went up the river to i see the race. ! Webb was a firm favourite, fair -ids being given by his supporters. Webb's friends were very confident that their man had regained form, but some were doubtful whether ho would be equal to the test when pitted against a young, strong sculler like Hannan. Both men were evidently very fit. Webb was bigger than ever, as ho scaled list 71b. Hannan looked the lighter man, but was really a pound heavier. Hannan won the toss and chose the left hand side, Webb being on the town side, The water was as smooth as a millpond, a strong current running with the men. j There was a little delay in manoeuvring I for position, but after a few minutes they I both hit the water together and the race started. In the first mimiteCs rowing HanI nan pot in 44 strokes, Webb striking just lon 40. The styles of the two men were I very different. Hannan jerked a good deal, ! and his boat dipped, but ho drove it along ,at a rare oace. He quickly gained a slight lead. Webb from the jump rowed with I his old skill and gracefulness, his boat | running nicely between the strokes.. He I soon lengthened out and dropped to 29, 1 Hannan striking 54. I At the half mile Webb had drawn ahead I and, putting great power into his long, i clean strokes, was getting further away all the time. At three-quarters of a mile Webb was over a length to the good, Hannan already appearing to be in difficulties : with his right scull and splashing consid- ' erably. When the mile had been covered Webb must have been three lengths in front, I rowing easily and confidently, while Hannan was plugging in bard behind. No time was taken for the mile. Going in his best style, Webb gradually drew further ahead, and at the mile and a-half had a six lengths lead. He was now -doing only 24 to the minute, while Hannan was strid--1 ing 26. • li e *JS? mile P o * sl was Passed by Webb ; in 11m 20s, and nine or ten lengths ahead of Hannan, who reached tins point in ; llm 455, los after the Wanganui man. Entering the straight Webb slowed down to 22, his opponent still striking 26 but even then the latter was falling further behind. He quickened up again, and ; momentarily appeared to bo reducing the i gap. However, Webb was going easily and , keeping a good look-out for driftvood. He was etfll sculling as neatly as when ho started. Hannan kept going pluckily but was quite outclassed, Webb eventually winning comfortably by 18 lengths, his time being 19m 15 4-5s Hannan kept going to the end, and reached the post in 19m 555, or nearly 40s after Webb. * The win was a popular one, Webb being given ,an ovation. Hannan was also cheered Webb paddled over the last mile and a-quarter, and good judges declare be is right back to his best form. CONTESTANTS' VIEWS. HANNAN'S KNEE GIVES WAY. [by TELEGRAPH.— correspondent.} Waxgaxdi, Friday. Seen after the race, Hannan, who did not look at all distressed, said he felt in the pink of condition. They went off to a good start, he striking 33 strokes per minute, and he thought Webb was doing about the same. He expected Webb to take the lead at the start, but after they had gone a few lengths he thought he was leading Webb by about half a-length After they had gone a quarter of a mil© his right leg "went" on him, the result of a loose cartilage caused some years ago by a tramway accident in Sydney. From then on he finished the course with his arms, and was only able to drive his slide along with one leg. Webb was a better man than he thought, and had evidently got right back to his old form Hannan further stated that before the I race he felt very sanguine, from the fact that he had covered the course in a trial in 19min ssec.

Asked as to how he would have fared if his leg had not given way, he stated that he could not say, as he did not know what Webb had "up his sleeve" at the finish. Hannan took his beating in the best of spirits. , Webb stated that after going 500 yds he thought Hannan was going to row "a fast race, and he settled down to about 26 strokes to the minute, with a slight advantage over his opponent. In the next half-mile he was well in front, and at the mile a-half he felt assured that he had the race well in hand, barring accidents. Webb added that several launches on the side of the course caused a ripple which interfered with him slightly

TWO LENGTHS WIN.

IBY TELEGRAPH.—OWN' CORRESPONDED.] Waxgaxtt, Friday. The amateur match between D. Hadfield, of Auckland, amatenr sculling champion of New Zealand, and A. Sharpe, of Wanganui, was rowed late in the afternoon, the local man winning by two lengths. This was a splendid race. Sharpe, who was about a stone lighter tihan Hadfield, got away smartest, and was in front all the way. Hadfield kept at it gamely, using his weight to advantage. Both men rowed in first-class style. At the half distance Sharpe was two lengths ahead, then Hadfield, by a determined effort drew up to within a lencth, but Sharpe came away in tlhe last bit! The time for the mile and a-half was 9in 21s.