THE FOXTON HANDICAP

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12941, 4 December 1909, Page 6

THE FOXTON HANDICAP

FINAL HEAT

A SPLENDID RACE

WON BY A. D. FELTON

BY "VICTOR."

The Foxton Sculling Handicap, tlie fiist big professional race oi its kind over held in the Dominion, is now a thing of the p;;st, the final heat having been rowed yesterday. The weather was delightfully tine, and there was a slightly better attendance Hum on the first day. There was a laiiiy strong breeze blowing against the sculkis, but the tide was with them and the water was very smooth. After the first day's sculling it was generally expected lhat Bob Green, A. D. Felton, and S. Kemp would fight out tlie finish. Green was the favourite, although after seeing tho way Felton rowed in lii-^ heat tho Wanganui contingent looked to him to win. A lew pinned their faith to Lawson, the big Nelson man, but it was generally thought thai lack of expciienco would militate against his success, and it is probably safe to say that this alone accounted lor his defeat. Ho \\di tho only New Zea'ander loft in the fin. 1 1, hence many hoped to see him score, but be got too close in under the bank in 1 Ik* early st.igos of the race, and inn into the weeping willows. Ho got through tho branches saloly, but lost considerably, and had to stop to clear away some stun which had got caught in his boat. This allowed tlie other mon to get very close to him before ho got going again, and then later on he appeared flurried and crossed over Green's bows, interioring with that sculler and losing more ground himself. He dropped back into second place, but then hung on tenaciously, and it was only when Hearing the finish that Hagnoy headed him. His showing made a big impression on Mr W. Beach, who told the writer that he is a man who only needs proper tuition to get very near the- top of the ladder. Bob Green was unlucky, as lie was going along well when accidentally interfered with by Lawson, and must have been second or third but for the mishap. However, Felton would unquestionably have won in any case, and lie is a splendid yonnjr senllor, who is sure to make thing., very interesting for tho very host oi thorn shortly. lie is only 20 years of ago, stands about six feet, and strips at close on 14 stone. Ho has a tremendous reach, oiul rows in an oasy, graceful style. He '" ! -'Mf/.*' "catch," with a very powerful ".! ." 'i> Leo drive being exceptionally (i -o-. i\ would be no surprise to sec linn develop into an Australian champion beioie very long, as, with the exception, perhaps, of Hagney, ho was tho visitor from whom most is to be expected in the future.

FINAL HEAT

FOXTON SCULLING HANDICAP; first prize, £1 50 and cup valued lit .£25; .second prize, .£SO ; third prize, .£3O A. D. FKLTON, N.S.W. (24sec) 1 S. KEMP, N.S.W. (24.sec) •>

F. S. IIAGNKY, N.X.W. (K)scc) T. LAWSOX. Nelson (GO«,c-) .

1?. OIiEEN, JNT.S.W. (18scc)

E. LABKEJST, N.S.W. (2()sec)

All the mon got away well,. Lawson setting off in good style and securincr a biobreak on the others. He was a loner way on Ins journey when the Lack mark man (Hagnoy) got Ihe word, and there is no telling what might have happened had the -Neboman not got tangled up in the trees inside the first half mile, which enabled 1-eltou and Kemp to get on even terms with him at the first bend, with Green clo^e up Larson was gradually dropping bark , but was still well ahead of Hagney Jhe latter swept round the bends 'very nicely, cutting off the corners very closely and thin gaining some three or four lengths on U,e others. As they rounded the second bond and got into the straight proper K'l!»n was in irout, though Kemp v..,s jmkirg „j, on him, and lor a while '<>">yd like a winner. Lawson had now filled down, and put up a ding-don^ M niggle, and was holding his position as I.i ml m.vi with Laraen and Green pecrainrr «way_ fairly well together, and llagno'v <m-p.ng np by degrees. A mile from home '•elton was still m command, and u.i* lowing confidently and well, while Kc mp appeared to bo tiring, and though still close up jvas slowly but surely droppi, " •••stern of Folton. Green was now jusj u $ 1 1 ■>nd Lawson, with Ilagnoy closing up Ti 'Ins stage Lawson shot across Gte.en'h bow ami accidentally intcrfoicd wltT^m o^ -dorably, thus enabling iow

Of what does a bad taste in the mouth ■vmind you? It indicates that your sW v» th ttn C ? ndlt i"« a »d will remind you that tnere is nothing so good for .mi-], disorders as Chamberlain 's^letT nd y r»SS c /T * nv T rat * the stomach ana legulate the bowels.

.. *'«"* *''<■ night of December 24th 1908 •^tnta, Glaus had just been quietly watch' ■ •? certain boys and g irls. "They've had years real wholesome enjoyment," mus*l ho, sm I hn Sr r"s]mply because I oliosexact y the right thing for them \Ton *nt them those cameras f rom Wilton's harmacy. I know what to do for a lot Hire boys and girls- this year I see \.lton's still have Cameras 7 at EngS 3 3 ",? aCtUally havo them 3.. upwards this year ! '

into thiul place, though still some ton. or five lengths behind 1 Kemp, who wa stiugglnig hard, but very tired, while Felton ua's'iAvof^pi'ng along &tro:igly a length and a hull to the good. Hagney nunle ;. despciatq effort over tho last 200 yards and gained a couple of lengths on Kemp, with F,clton drawing ' still further ahc of the latter and eventually winning by quite two lengths, with Higney (who rowed a big race) three lengths away third, and Lawson fourth some three or four length's further away, with Green and Lar«en just behind the Nelson man. The time was given as 14min 23sec. It was a splendid race, well and fai' won by the best nrin at tho staits. Bead' declared afterwards that it was the finct handicap race he had ever '■eon, and lv added that the handicapper (Mr J. Blackman, of Sydney) was deserving of tlie utmost; credit for bringing the men so welltogether. All who saw the race must endorse this view, as it was a remarkably fine contest,, and one well worth witnessing. t The pther officials are all to be complemented on the able way in which thpv 'carried out their duties. Mr W. Bock' •(.sec ( rqt'a.ry), did all 'that could possibly "be done to make the affair a success, and h" and the promoters of the race (Messrs ''Tony" Mespina.and T. 'Eastern) treated all i^pir visitors* with tlie utmost fcvfidnos;. It is to be regretted that better support was not accorded Me=si's Messina and Enston in their efforts to populaiisc the spurt of sculling, but still, they are not tho sort of men to acknowledge defeat, and intend putting on another handicap next year. Needldss to say Mr W. Beach filled Hie position of umpire to the satisfaction of everyone, and he expressed his pleasure at the clean, sportsmanlike way in whi"l' all tlie contestants rowed. The only foul which occurred was purely an accident, duo to Lawson 's inexperience in a wager b-jat. Messrs N. Galbraith and C. o'Co>inor (tlie , starters) made no mistakes in getting the mon away at their respective times, while the judge (Dr O'Brien) also gave satisfaction. Altogether, the Foxton people are to be heartily congratulated on the great success, from a sporting point ol view, which they made of their handi <- p.

Tlie stake money is to be paid over toP'arht at Fo\tou. The Australian scullers will come, on to Wangnnui next Thursday in order to compete in the handicap to be rowed on tlie Wanganui River on the fith and Bth January. Mr W. Beach left Foxton to-day en route for Auckland, where he catches Monday's boat for Sydney. He says he has thoroughly enjoyed his holiday in New Zealand, ard declares that he will no\er forget the great kindness shown to him by the Wanganui and Foxfon people. Tie intends f . make another tup over here next year, il possible.