THE WHELCH-FOGWELL RACE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12195, 13 April 1909, Page 4

THE WHELCH-FOGWELL RACE.

AN UNEXPECiEU ENDING.

FOGWELL ROWED TO A STAND-

STILL

WHELCH WINS WITH GREAT

EA£E

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, April 12. The race between Whelch or Akaroa, and fogwell, of Australia, for the scuiling championship ot New Zealand, auu £200 aside was rowed on Akaroa harbour this afternoon. Th<:ro was brilliant weatiier a caun sea, a making tide and a light breeze behind the competitors. Tliere was a great crowd of spectators. Fogwell won the toss and chose the inside course, which was generally, considered the better. The men

GOT AWAY AT THE FIRST ESSAY, starting themselves. Whelch settled down withja fast, powerful stroke, Fogwell holding him with a longer and more graceful pulling stroke. For the first few minutes Whelch kept up 36 to the minute, while Fogwell could hardly have exceeded 30. The competitors slowed 'down considerably after doing half a mile. At three-quarters of a mile from the start Fogwell was leading by a length. W Thelch, however sprinted and once more drew level. Both men were then going strongly. About 1£ miles from the start, Whelch put on

A MARVELLOUS SPURT . and seemed almost to leave Fogwell standing. Amid great cheering, he pulled to the, front and speedily placed a gap of two lengths from his opponent. Fogwell made a game effort could not diminish the distance, while Whelch was going as strongly as ever. Suddenly FOGWELL SAT UP, apparently -rowed out, and indicated that so far as he was concerned, the race was over. The denouement was wholly unexpected, the break up of the Australian being so dramatically sudden, Whelch streaking away to the frontj every stroke making an ever-in-creasing gap, followed by the cheers of the crowds on the steamers and launches, Fogwell started again with the intention of covering the course, with absolutely no hope of getting to the front. Two miles from the start Whelch was TWENTY LENGTHS FROM FOGWELL, and he rowed easily up the harbour to the winning point amid a roar of cheers, hooting syrens, and screaming whistles. By some omission no official timekeeper was appointed, but the tima, according: to Dick Arnst, was a little under six minutes for the first mile, while the whole distance was covered in 20min. 27«23. Whelch rowed in the boat used by Webb when he mot Arnst for the World's Championship on tho Wanganui -River. , The on s.s. Qrgiiefc (124 tons) had an alarming experience on the trin from the Akaroa wharf to tho Mararoa, which was lying in the stream.. There wore fully 600 on board, when the boat some distance from the wharf, began to Toll in a terrifying manner. A number of. passengers were prepared1 to jump overboard, fearing a capsize. The sea was calm arid there was no wind. The Cygnet reached the larger boat without mishap.