SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12381, 4 February 1908, Page 7

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

SCULLING

THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP.

TRESIDDER v. WEBB.

BY "VICTOR."

Next Saturday week, the 15th inst., the final deposit of =£200 per man has to be ma-do by the backers of Treeidder and Webb with the stakeholder, Mr F. Webb Jbnes, editor of the "Herald," who already holds .£3OO from each side. The race takes place three weeks from to-morrow, and gives every indication of being a close and exciting one. Both thd champion and the challenger have been doing excellent work recently, and they are in splendid fettlo. During the last week or so the conviction has been forcing itself upon many of the critics ,who at first were inclined to discount Trcsidder's chance, that the Australian is going to be a much' harder man for Webb to beat than they thought. The visitor's rowing lately has shown marked improvement, and there is no gainsaying the fact that he promises to strip in the pink of condition. It may be that he will be a few pounds heavier than in his previous races, but, this is only to be expected, as with increasing years it becomes move difficult to get the weight off. On tlie o-fcljoir Jx«M*-cl TVeei<lder*s ttrain-ar is confident that his man will be as fit as ever he was, and moreover declares that Dick is rowing in as good style, as ever be did. This is satisfactory from the Australian's point of view, and it is also gratifying to all true sports in the Dominion, as it is the wish of all such that both men should br at their best on the day and that the better man should prevail. The weather was fine jeetcrtay, and the water suitable for good rowing. There must have been some hundreds of people on the banks of the river to watch the scullers at work, and what a, number of rowing craft of all descriptions there were out. There must have been over a dozen i single scullers on the river, apart from the big guns, several fours, some pairs, and a few double scullers. Altogether the river presented a very animated appearance, and the opinion was freely expressed that with the number of likely-looking young oarsmen coming on, Wanganui should not be long in producing another Webb or two. Tresidder, accompanied, by Ford, as usual, did his customary solid row up to Sparrow Cliff and back, some seven miles or so. His rowing was clean and there was evidence of plenty of power being in the strokes, as his boat glided alonff in nice style, without any apparent effort. Treeidder's work this morning was much of the same order. It is characteristic of the challenger that his style always looks better at the finish of .a long row than at the start, fie fairly revels in his work, and it is apparent from his free and confident manner that he has high hopes of proving what those who know him best have always claimed for him, viz., that he is a much better sculler than he has ever been given credit for, even by the critics in Australia. Webb, with Green as his companion, sculled in his customary neat, clean style down to the bridge and back to his shed yesterday morning. McDonald, the Wanganui Club man. had a bit of a spin with the champion at one stage of the journey, but Webb bad no trouble in holding him. By the way, McDonald is a much improved sculler, and his club mates are hopeful that he will give Joe Green a biff race when the pair meet, which they are expected to do at the Wanganui Regatta on the 12th of March, and probably again at Napier in the championship event. This morning Webb had another very solid row over about two miles, from the town bridge down to the green light and back again. Green took a fairly long start;' and then paced the champion at a fine swinging pace to within a short distance of the turning point. Here Green stopped, Webb going on alone, and turning rowed back at an average of between 26 and 27, his rate goinsr down being from 30 at the start to 26. There was a very strong wind against the scullers going down, but avery good pace was maintained, the row beinga satisfactory one, and proving that Webb only wants two or three more solid, rows to be at the top of his form. Green showed improved form this morning, and hung on to the champion very well for some part of the journey. If he continues to show the asme rate of progress in his form he may be depended upon to give the best of' the amateurs a great race it Napier next month. It is Webb's intention to take up his quarters at his old camping ground opposite Kaiwhaiki to-day week. He will have as companions his trainer (J. D. Barnett) and Joe Green, as heretofore. Trcsidder and his assistants (Bain and Fqrd) have made arrangements to be accommodated at he hotel at Upokongaro, and will proceed up there to-morrow week. Some wagering has already ' taken place on the race. The biggest bet I have heard of was one made to-day, when a supporter of Tresidder's accepted J6O to M 0 from one of the champion's admirers.