ROWING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13835, 23 February 1907, Page 4

ROWING.

P. C. Ivans lias a rowing record which will take some beating, as he lias now annexed the sculling championship of Victoria oil six eonsecutivo occasions, his latest victory taking place on January 28. On his return from New Zealand StanImry had an interview with Din-nan, and as a result of such interview Stanbury will assist the Canadian sculler in his windingup preparation for the match with Towns. When questioned as to his future intcntuntions, Slanbury would not give any definite answers. Evidently lie lias not. retired, as was rumoured some little time ago. The race between 10. Durnan (Canada) and C. Towns (New South Wales) for the sculling championship of the world will be rowed on the Ncpean course, Sydney, next Saturday week. Towns (present champion) is just 38 years of age awl Durnan is five years his junior. AV. Beach was past his thirty-eighth yciir when lie last beat Iv Ilanlan. The Sydney Morning Herald, referring to the coming race, says: "So far tile best race, or at atijrato the best against a sculler of another country, that Durnan has rowed was when lie easily defeated T. Sulli van, the ex-New Zcalander, about 18.months ago. The stakes were £200 aside, and the eour?e three miles, on Toronto Bay. Durnan started at 36 strokes per minute, and tcolc the lead, but. Sullivan 600u reduccd the length Durnan had gained, and eventually took the lead. It was a good race, for more than a mile and a-quartcr, and at the turn the Canadian was first round, gaining a length. Tho half-distance settled Sullivan, and half a, mile from home Durnan rested on his sculls,_ winning easily. It. was slated at tho time that Sullivan hod lost about, £2000 on tlio race, but that is hardly credited here. It is generally believed that tho defeat of Sullivan led to Dnrnaii issuing a, challenge to tJie winner of the StanhuryTowns race of last year. Tho Canadian lias a very confident following, and as there appears to be a good deal of money behind him, the coming race should find him favourite. Durnan several times challenged W. A. Berry, tile Kmrlish sculler, who rowed Towns some very good races, but they never got so far as to sign articles. A great deal depends upon tho race fixed for March 2, for tho defeated man will most probably be put out of iirst-clnss •lowing."