AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 906, 18 July 1907, Page 9

AQUATICS.

Webb, the New Zealander, fills in his spare time playing golf. He has been suffering from a bad heel for some time, but is reported to be almost well again.

Webb, the New Zealand sculler, was taking matters rather easily last week. Though the strong winds have made the Parramatta River anything but a pleasant bit of water, the visitor’s rowing has generally brightened. At the finish of a stroke he pushes the swing right home vigorously. He is, however, at a disadvantage in having no one to accompany him. There has been no opportunity of gauging his pace. Charlie Towns says he feels well, though his looks do not convey that impression. He is doing a large amount of solid work. His brother (George Towns) and Fogwell are making the pace for him.

In a fortnight from Saturday next the contest for the World’s Sculling Championship will eventuate. Both the contestants are hard at work training for the coming struggle. The “Referee” has the following training notes concerning the two men: — “Webb is looking well and fit, and expresses himself as well satisfied with all conditions except the westerly wind—a bugbear to all scullers and oarsmen on the Parramatta. He has taken over his new boat from George Towns, and likes it. The christening ceremony took place last week. Webb gets undeniable pace out of his boat, the most noticeable thing being an apparent slight overreach. But this is a theory he works on, and it remains to be seen whether it is better than the method we are more used to. As he has been suffering from a bad heel, his true form has hardly been seen yet; at the same time, he is moving a large lot of water with every stroke, and that, after all, is the chief object. Charlie Towns is now at Mortlake, looking and rowing well. He does his two rows daily, and will be a hard nut to crack on the 3rd proximo. * * * *

The Newcastle correspondent of the “Referee” says that Dick Tresidder has placed a sum of £25 in his hands to bind a match with the winner of the Towns-Webb race for a match of £250 a-side and the championship. Dick’s friends held a meeting at Cameron’s Family Hotel the other night and unanimously decided that he should make another bid for the title. The decision has given the utmost satisfaction in local rowing circles, and it is not expected that much difficulty will be experienced in getting the stake-money together, particulariy after the brilliant form the Australian champion showed in his race with Thoroughgood. Dick has not done any active rowing since that race ,and he is congratulating himself that he has only increased his poundage by a little more than half a stone. He will be on hand to see the TownsWebb race, and he is hopeful that the winner will advise him early as to what chance he has of getting a race.