SCULLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19034, 11 June 1924, Page 5

SCULLING

AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDED YESTERDAY. McDevitt wins from hadfield DOMINION REP. OUT OF CONDITION. (Per Press Association.) DARGAVILLE, Juno 10. The much-talked-of race for the Australasian championship was rowed on the Northern Wairoa River to-day in beautiful weather and favourable water conditions. The starters were: W. McDevitt, G. Ceruti (Australia), Darcy Hadfield (Auckland), James Mason (Whangarci). It was recognised the race would be a contest between Hadfield and McDevitt. The latter was favourite on the day, and the race result proved the public’s ideas to be right, as after rowing the first two miles he took the lead and won fairly comfortably by three lengths from Hadfield, who was plainly out of condition. The other two starters were outclassed and finished some distance in the rear. The race started at 3.47 p.m., the whole four getting away in line. Hadfield, rowing about 30 to the minute, soon took the lead, and when they had gone half a mile was a good five lengths ahead of McDevitt, who was next, and rowwing 30 to the minute. It was now seen that the only two men in the race were Hadfield and McDevitt, who kept plugging away at 26 to the minute about a dozen lengths in front of the other two men. At the two miles McDevitt crossed over closer to the bank, and rowing vigorously drew level, and keeping his effort going had drawn ahead at the 2i miles, where Hadfield SEEMED TO TIRE BADLY. At the three miles McDevitt was still well ahead, and although Hadfield put in a last effort over the last bit, he failed to sustain it and left the Australian the winner by a little over three lengths. It was a great race for third place. Mason, urged on by his admirers, finished very strongly and beat Ceruti, who had been in the rear the whole way, by half a length. The time was 20 minutes 59 3-5 secs. The winner rowed a good race, and his better condition enabled him to keep Hadfield going at top for the first two miles. These tactics eventually had a good effect, as the latter, who had only been on the river seven days, was undoubtedly not in condition to row the strong pace that McDevitt set him after passing him. Still, however, Hadfield rowed a wonderful race, and fit and well and with a better boat (the one he rowed in to-day being old and heavy), would have given McDevitt something to think about. A POPULAR WIN. McDevitt’s win was very popular, as he had trained consistently and made many friends on the river. Mason, who was making his debut as a professional, pulled a good strike but he has to learn a lot about the game, as he steered very erratically at times. Ceruti did not give the impression that he was a long distance rower, ana seemed content to just row along in behind the other until the finish, when he spurted and just failed to reach the third man, Mason.