WHELCH V. THOROUGHGOOD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12622, 19 November 1908, Page 6

WHELCH V. THOROUGHGOOD.

Tlie Whelch-Thorongiigood match will In. podded at Eayaiondj.. Terrace, on the Hunter Si«er, N.5..W.,'o t » Saturday next. The raco is for .£2OO aside and the championship of Australia," a' title at present held by Thoroughgood. The latest mail to hand from £vduey brought news that both men were fit" and training along all right. It is evident that %? tjjltics on the "other eide" do not knq^" $nat to make of Whelch, who has surprised them by tho pace he exhibits and ,lhe .fast rate of his strokes. They, however, all appear to think that tho Akav'oa mar. 16 altogether too light for the job on hand. It is quite poeBible, though, that they will get a surprise, aa Whclch's party are confident that he tan stay out,thc distance— three miles. I have it from one or two of the New Zealandcrjrf ahiofJjpupporters that he has proved his^bnll^o stay: they have no misgivings on this head. That being so, Whelch stands an excellent chance of winning; as his pace is undeniable. True, he is exceptionally light, but he is well boated, is a splendid waterman, a very skilful sculler, and a strong wiry man. He is, moreover, of a cool and confident disposition, and there is iu> question as to his gamencss. Many good judges incline to the opinion that he is as fast a miler as. any man ro.wing to-day, but this ia a big order, and until further proof than h*a Vtt been supplied ie forthcoming as to hiaVbrillianc-y that opinion must stand just for what it is worth. In Thoroughgood he will be meeting a man wtose chance of success lies more in his great strength and staying power uj.jjj in brilliancy. The Australian is a ! -L» man, who will, it is sai<L weigh at •". I 13.2 or so when "he steps into his boat. 14-' is about 40 yeans of age, or some 13 ycf-. older than Whelch. He rowed well in L't race against- Diqk Tresidder (who beat him), and he also performed in first-clast. style when he defeated Wm. Fogwell. recently. In this latter contest he is said to have sculled better tjjian ever hflj had previously done, bTit this view may or may not be correct. It is possible that ho has made improvement since he raced Tresidder, but nien do -not generally improve much at his age. It may be that Fogwell was not in the best form possible, and hence perhaps Thoroughgocd's showing looked better than it really was. That he is a good man I have always maintained, ond he is sure to take a lot of beating, as he ia a great stayer. I have hopes, howover, that Whelch will prove' not. onjy too fast over the first mile, but able to keep up the pace in a! manner which will surprise his opponent. If Wheluh can lead tho latter over the first half of the distance his chance of success should be very rosy, particularly if he proves that the distance is not too far for. him, and his iriends are sanguine on this score. Writing to friends in Sydney, Arnst statfis > he feds well, and thinks he ie at leaSr 'five lengths better in a mile than, when he met Pearce. The Professional Sculling Handicap at Bayniond Terrace regatta last week attracted four starters in the final: Theo. Towns (45scc), J. MitcJ^e-U (18aec), B. Thoroughgood (ecrat^C a»d Hancock (35 1 eec). The Newca6fcle~corre^pondent of the Sydney Eefcree describes the race thusly : — Towns got- away, .well at the start, but Hancock was soon.: up, with him, followed by Mitchell and l £jjiaroughgood. Hancock and Mitchell gradually overhauled Towns, while Thoroughgood did not make much impression for the first mile. Hancock passed Towns at a- mile, Mitchell being about six lengths away, aud Thoroughgood a like distance behind, Mitchell. At a milo and a half the back men began to move np, Mitchell pacing .Towns and drawing up to within two lengths of Hancock. A. quarter of a mile from home Mitchell sprinted gamely, and .tried to pass Hancock, but the latter, hugging the bank, put Mitchell on a sandbank, both men touching. Hancock l^ept going, and eventually won comiortaWy, Mitchell rowing leisurely, into secouiL })lfte& Thoroughgood beat Towns by a couple of lengths for third place. Tho raffr^Cj (Mr A. Y. Chapman) disqualified Ha.U£«£k lor fouling, and decided' Mitchell the winner. During the afternoon- ( (Jeorge Whelch, who is to row Thorougjigood for the Australian Championship, gave an exhibition, and shaped well^ H<j started off at a remarkably quick Stroke, and proved himeelf a very fast sprinter. Writing of Thoroujgfcgood and Wheleh the Sydney Eaferee *#s: — Both men report themeelv«B in ffiriipt condition, and the feeling" appear* ttf'TOe gaining ground every day that Whelch will give Thoroughgood a lot of trouble before the end of the journey. The New Zcalander gets a lot of^pflce out of his boat, and there is j no cnwwtion about his staying capabilities. In tU^tt-. 'respect lie. resembles Thoroughgood, 'po lhafc everything -points to a dingdong struggle from start to finfiish. The men will' row up the river, and finish a short distance above the township. Satisfactory steamer arrangements have been made, and it is expected the boats will be well patronised.