SCULLING DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18703, 8 May 1924, Page 8

SCULLING DISPUTE.

THE RAGE AT DARGAVILLg H ANNAN NOT COMPETING : M^

" IMPUDENT BLUFF " ALLEGED

["Br TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRE3 »ONBa\ T 1 BLENHEIM, Wednesday. ~ When the attention of J. P. Hannan the sculling champion of Australasia drawn to a press telegram from Darija* ville . regarding the proposed race there for the championship of Australasia ha stated that he received a telegram yesterday from the Mayor of Dargaville asking him if he intended to compete, and stating that the proposed date for the race was June 7. Hannan stated that he had no intention of competing in any race in which McDevitt took part, but even if he had he would have been unable to "et fit by the beginning of June. He added that he had already beaten McDevitt fairly and decisively twice, and ho did not see what was to be gained by meeting him again. In addition, McDevitt had refused to shake hands with him after their first meeting at Auckland, and in the second race he had forced Hannan to row outside a buoy, thus making his distance longer.

"I still hold the Australasian title," Hannan went on, "and I don't see how anyone can race for it unless I am a consenting party. The rules under which I won the title from Felton at Nelson in April last year, when he was champion of Australia, and I was champion of New Zealand, were drawn up by a committee of prominent business men interested in sculling, and both these Nelson citizens and Felton must regard as little short of an insult the statement emanating from Dargaville that the race there will ba the first time the race for the Austral, asian championship has been rowed under proper control." -C

Coming back to the subject of McDevitt, Hannan asked, "How can McDeviti conscientiously pretend to be rowing at Dargaville for a title which ho lost to me? Prior to oar meeting at Auckland he signed articles of agreement that the winner should bo the champion of Australasia, and afterwards he recognised me as the champion. By all means let them hold a sculling race in Dargaville, and good luck to the keen sports there ' who have interested themselves in it, but it is nothing more than impudent bluff to claim that it is for the championship of Australasia." v i

Hannan pointed out that in his last eight races he had beaten the champions of New Zealand (Fogwell), Australia (Felton), and Tasmania (McDevitt), so there was not much doubt about his title, which was recognised by every sporting writer ho had heard of, with the exception of two. Hannan concluded by stating that he was prepared to defend his title against all-comers, and Arnst had already challenged him. He indicated that it was probable he would be retiring from sculling early next?yoar, but before then he would like to meet again Arnst and Webb, the only two men who had ever defeated him. {i * s