THE CONTESTANTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6451, 24 February 1908, Page 7

THE CONTESTANTS.

biographies and achtkveMHNTS. WILLIAM WEBB. William Wobb wa a born in 1879 at Lyttelton, wlicro bo waa educated ond Tmit loarnt bow to row, tbo Pago Bros, ix-dng rwponftible for his tuition in tho u.rt of sculling. Ho did eorao bicycle racing and running in his youth and guvo promise of becoming a good cyclist, liat ho had more fancy for rowing, and, i»lU>r taking up bU residence in Wangle nui, devoted his spare time to bin favourite sport. As an amateur and a member of tho Union Boat Club bo had a couple of starts ut Picton and one at Wellington in Uio junior fours, obtaining ouo lirst and two seconds. In 13M )io whs first in tho maiden sculls and junior fours, and who unplaced m tho j ij.ii ior clinker fours at Wanganui. In ho was find in the senior sculls at Wanganui and also first in tho junior h .. u lhi. iNoxt year ho come first in too foomor sculls and first in tho champion liculis at ’Wanganui, defeating McOratfi, 'of Dunedin by a quarter of a imlo. In 1903-4 ho was first iu tho senior fours uiwl lirwt iu tho senior sculls. At Wellio/toji in IiWIrO Wobb came second in tho* champion walls, being beaten by W holch when untrained. The Mine year fw was first in the double sculls at Wellington, first in tho senior clinker fours, tho nonkar beet-and-best fours, and tho senior sculls at Wanganui. In 1905-6 ho was first in tho champion sculls and champion doable sculls at Picton, first in tho senior fours at Waitaxa, second i[i Uk» senior fours, and first in. tho senior sculls at Wanganui. Thou camo his first professional raoo. on December 26th, 1906, when ho mot an<l defeated James Stanbury on tho Wanganui river for tho championship of How Zealand and a £2OO purse. His next engagement was tho match on tho Parramatta river against Charles Towns, whom ho defeated easily at Uio finish for £SOO ssido and tho world's champion* ship. This was on August 3rd, last year, fck) far tho only defeat Wobb has sustained In tangle sculling events woe that | at Wellington at tho hands of Wbelch, of Akaroa. At that time the champion woe quite unfit bo raoo, haring had only a oouplo of weeks* training. This defeat wan wiped out at Picton the following year, and since then Webb has improved out of knowledge. Ho stands 5 foot 10 inches, weighs lift lib, and is 41 inches sound tho chest. Ho is a married man jrxth two children, both girls. EICHAED TBES3IDEE. Richard Treasider was born at Wallsend, Newcastle, New South Wales, on tho sfctb January 1871, so that ho has iust tamed 37 years of ago. Ho made his first public appearance in a doublesculling raoo at 18, h© and his partner finishing third. Othor minor races followed. and in 1892 ho competed in tho single sends (heavy boats) at Hexham, dividing tho stake with a couple of others. His first match of any coneequenoo was an December sth, 1896. when ho defeated Jim Ford, whoso brother is now acting an his (pacemaker. Three years later he defeated Alf. Worboys, allowing him a handicap of SOI be, lor a stake of £IOO. This raoo proved Dick to bo a remarkably powerful rower. At Newcastle on Now Year's Day, 1900, Tressidor finished second in the All-comers Handicap, from 40 seconds behind. Charlie Towns, to whom Dick had to concede SSO seconds start, was first, and Harry Poarco third. Dick than mot Worboys again, defeating him after, allowing 15 seconds start. He put up a good performance at the Wallsend Regatta, winning three events in one day, including tho aU-oomcrs* light boats and allcomers* heavy boats. Ho carried 95lbs. Treesider rowed a remarkable race in IS9O. at Port Hunter, when ho gave such a good sculler as Chapman 38 seconds start in 14 miles and got within a length of him after one of the finest contests over witnessed. Several unimportant races were then rowed by the challenger, lending up to his defeat of Charlie ‘{Towns, to whom he conceded 18 seconds. This woe at Walteand In 1891. Dick finished second to 0. Messenger (18 seconds). Passing over on© or two unimportant engagements wo oamo* to his match with Harry Pearce for tho championship of Australia, Dick proving successful. At tills time Trecssder was in great form and anxiously awaiting George Towns's return from England to challenge him for the world's championship. His chance did not come until 1904, when ho mot and was defeated by Towns. Dick led for half the distance, but then Towns went ahead and won easily. Tressider was not well then, otherwise tho result might have boon different. He then wont into retirement for some time, and did not race again until ho met and defeated Bon Thoroughgood on the Hunter idrer last Juno mi a race for tho championship of Australia and £IOO aside. The three miles on that occasion is supposed to have boon rowed in Ifhnin 9scc, the best record for the course. Dick stands sft 14>£m, weighed IGst before Jje started training, and now 12?>t 51b. Ho i» 4Q' inches round tho ohest. Ho is a married man and has two children, a boy and a girl.