ROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2139, 14 March 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

ROWING.

IS WEBB A WOULD BEATER ? AN AUSTRALIAN VIEW. The AA’chb-Tresidder race is still the general tonic of conversation (save a writer in the (Sydney “Referee”) and the burning question is who is to bring back the blue riband to Australia in this connection. A question is repeatedly asked: “Is Wc-bb a champion of the same calibre as our past heroes —Beach, Seurle. Stanbury and Towns?” Some say “Yes”; others are just as emphatic with a ready “No.” Personally, while I have a great respect for Webb both as a man and as ,:i sculler; and think he will take an enormous amount of beating, I do notr think he is yet entitled to be considered in the first (light of scullers. His races have not yet proved him of the Beach qualities, and I say that without any iirejudiee, for we all know Beach to have been a wonder in a boat.

In tlie first race against Stanbury on the Wanganui, the old Australian champion held the lead a quarter of a mile from home and then cried a go. This goes to prove one of two things—either he was not in thoroughly sound condition, or that he was not the Stanlniry of former years; the latter being the most likely, as Stanbury himself says lie was very fit. The second race —-that against C. Towns—was likewise unsatisfactory, although I admit freely that my opinion is the better man on the day won. Still, I am likewise certain that C. Towns was not himself, having seen him in some of his races, whore he has rowed himself tb a standstill. Want of heart is the last fault that cm be laid to his account, lie was overworked and overtrained, and certainly thought lie had established his claim to the race when he held his hand up at Putney. As to Row far -lie persevered after that point, only one man knows, and that is C. Towns. . The .third and latest race just- decided at Wanganui does not put us in a much better position. Tresidder, in my humble opinion, was never in the first rank of scullers. A straightforward, rattling good sportsman, everv inch a trier, lie lias won races more by indomitable pluck than skill, .and although only 37 years of age, his occupation as a miner tends to stiffen his muscles and joints much quicker than many of the earner-day scullers. ' , The full account of the race by mail is not yet to hand, and we are still in some doubt as to whether the distance was the same as m the race against Stanbury. Still, we do not kiioav tliat the race" day was altered to the Tuesday in order to get a suitable tide, that there liad been heavy rains there and the river was higher than on the previous occasion. All of these facts seem to bear out the idea that the course was fast, and in that ease the time was lamentably slow. The fust mile in 6.1 and the 31 miles m 20.28 does not .look like a very hot go. it it was a hard race, then it ran be said he will not be classed with .those I have already mentioned. Of the two, it is more than likely that the race was not a hard one for Webb, m which case it is rather premature to jud< r e. Of course, Webb has so tai answered every question nut to lnm on the river, and that is immensely to his credit.

It is reported that Tresidder’s supporters dropped over £I6OO ill his recent match against AY dab.