SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13575, 5 December 1907, Page 7

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

WEBB V. TRESSIDER. THE COURSE ON THE W.INCA* ; The match for the sculling championship of the world between W. Webb (of Wanganui) and R. Tressider will' take place on the Wanganui River within a few days on either side of February 20th. The race will be rowed in dead water, the start taking place just before the tide gets to the full, at between 3 and 4in the afternoon. One of the conditions of the World's sculling championship is that the course must not be 'ess than three miles nor more than four and a-quarter in length. The Wanganui course will be about three miles and aquarter, slightly longer than the course over which Webb rowed and defeated Stanbury on Boxing Bay last year. For the information of those who know tho Wanganui River, it may be mentioned that the course will finish about half a mile above Kennedy's, or Upokongaro, five miles above the. railway bridge at Aramoho, and seven miles above the traffic "bridge at the town. The course selected for the Webb- j Stanbury match had an elbow; within a hundred yards of the start. ~ This, of course, was considered a disadvantage, and in mapping out the river for the big event in February the object has been to try to make the start from a point below this bend. The result will be thau the race will start some little distance down the river. - This will give a 3^mile course, with only One bend, and that a, decided one about half a mila from tfife fortebr. It was at this bend that Webb, in his match with Stanbury, made his phenomenal effort, which completely vanquished his opponent and effectually determined' tjie race. From the bend to the finishing point there will be a half-mile of absolute straight. The course is considered an admirable one from a sculler's point of view, ,being between straight banks. According to Webb, an absolute stranger to the river will v be quite at home on ix after three or four trials. This is in marked contrast to the Parramatta course, which runs past a succession of bays and beaches. From a spectator's point of view it is also a good course. A road funs along either side of the river, and, especially on the town or western side, the sloping hillisde affords an excellent vantage point of the course and finish. During a flying visit to Wanganui at the beginning of this week, an Otago "Daily Times reporter had a few minutes' conversation with the New Zealand . holder .of $he world*s championship. Mr , ;Wel>V/ he" says', looks in the pink of cbn- .' edition. He is back at his regular work . in ihe spiral pipe works, and says that the nature of his employment keeps the' rafcecles of his arms in good training. He is dottg no systematic river work at present, but proposes, about Christmas time, settling dowon to regular training, giving up his present occupation T for J;)}e time, being. The river will then "Deeoine his 1 la.dm&'f &n(cl some time before the date of t&e? race he will take up his quarters at a camp close to the starting point of the course, as was done prior to the previous match." - A new boat, built for the race by Chris NetSdn', l df 'Pjirraniatta, has just been received. With, riggers" cpnrplete, the " craxt' weighs 'a^outf'^lb, practically ibhe same weight as that of the boat in which Towns rowed in the recent champi6nship contest. ~Webb has -not givjen his new boat a fair trial yet. He was out , for, a spin in it on Sunday last, but the riggers, which had only just been fixed in, were set rather low. The chances . are, however, that this boat will be the " one selected by Webb > in^ which to defend his claim to be -world's champion sculler. . In addition to- the championship of the world, the match is for £500 a-side. Of Ahis amount, £300 f^rojn each competitor has been tieposited with the editor of tho Wangantri 'Herald. The final , payment of £200 is not made until a to the Contest. Tressider will leave New South Whales for Wanganuu about New Year time. Questioned as to what he thought of • *-'** prospects of success, the Wanganui iol very modestly replied that he was leaving nothing to chance. Tressider was a foeman with whom one could take no liberties. The race would be a good „ one, and it would be willing. It may be interesting to mention that Webb is one of the first victims of the ■4ieTf Customs tariff as it affects rowers. On- his new boat, which could not have been made in "Ndw Zealand — or at least, if made here, must have been used as great risk — he had to pay the sum of £5 9s in duty. Already considerable interest in the approaching contest is being evinced. . and there is every probability, that thej lodging accommodation of Wanganui will be taxed beyond its limits. Inquiries made on Monday elicited the information that the leading houses had booked rooms for a large number of patrons for the week of the race.