ROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2676, 4 December 1909, Page 6

ROWING.

FOXTON SCULLING __ HANDICAPWON BY FELTON.

[Pint Press Association.'! ’PALMERSTON N., Dec. 3. Splendid conditions prevailed today for deciding the final of the above event, but the Attendance of the public was again disappointingly small, there being not more than' about- 300 people to witness the completion of the

racing. The starters and their handicaps were: S. Hagney lOsec, It. Green ISsec, E. Larsen 20sec, S. Kemp 24sec, A. D. Felton 24sec, T. Lawson 60sec. Lawson, the limit- man, was the first despatched, followed by the- others in their order. Felton, with the next- largest handicap, rowing a long sweeping stroke not particularly marked by the orthodox sharp catch and finish, overtook Lawson at the bend about three-quar-ters of a mile from the start. Lawson here cut the t-iirn too fine, and grounded ou the sand spit. When getting clear, Lawson slightly fouled Green, who had now drawn up, and, steering rather erratically, troubled the latter for some time. The men were practically all in a bunch at the bond, except Hagney, who had not then caught up, and when this) was negotiated, Felton was seen to be well ahead with Lawson, Keinp, and Green a few lengths behind. Hagney soon after drew up, hut was getting Kemp’s wash for nearly a quarter of a mile, and, as the former had come up from scratch at 38 to 40 strokes to the minute, he- felt the effects of the wash severely. Felton was here rowing 24 to the minute, while Ivemp . was striking 26, both rowing prettily. The enormous long easy swing enabled him to keep his lead with apparently great ease. Half way up the straight Lawson was here lying third, but ap- ' parentlv was not able to stave off Ha.gney, who was pulling up with dogged determination in every stroke. - The position was very little altered from this point to the finish, and Felton maintained his lead to the end. He was still rowing about 24, and holding his head well up, seemed to have plenty of go left in him. Kemp flashed past the post about two lengths behind Felton, with. Hagney, the scratch man, about four lengths off. -Lawson, Green, and Larsen finished in that order, all well up to the first three. Our representative interviewed Felton and Kemp after the race, and the rubbing' down process afforded an excellent opportunity of noticing the magnificent physique of young Felton. Though only 21 years old, he has the development of a much more matured man, standing six feet one, and weighing 13 stone. The figure of this young sculler is a splendid, study of the almost perfect- male' form. Felton is a native of Sydney.'and is a total abstainer and non-smoker. He only started sculling fifteen months ago. and liis phenomenal progress is due largely to Peter Kemp’s tuition. Kemp, the second man to finish to-day, is a son of the ex-cham-pion of the world, is 25 Years old, and weighs list 31b. He started sculling about ,in boats of all kinds from the age of 12, and at 17 started sculling in big races. Most of the competitors in this match are staying in New Zealand to attend the big Wanganui carnival next month. The interval will be spent in a-ctivo training, and the finishing touches put on should result in even better performances than were put up at Foxton.