ROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2710, 14 January 1910, Page 6

ROWING.

THE WANGANUI HANDICAP

The special correspondent of the “Dominion” thus describes Saturday’s race:— Webb delayed the start for about ten minutes, but, when he did come out, the inside position fell to him, with Arnst in the centre, and Hagney outside. The competitors presented three stri kin gly- d iff event types of well-devel-oped manhood as they sat in their boats at the start. Arnst, a young, sun-tanned Hercules, appeared as calm and cool as though he had no nerves; Webb, strong and lithe, but marked by time and greying much abut the head ; Hagnev. a young giant, keen and alert oarsman, spare and sinewy. As soon as the word was given 'Hagney set off, and made good use of his ten seconds’ start, which gave him a clear six lengths to the good, while Webb got a length and a-half break on to Arnst before the scratch, man was given the word. Then began a solid two-mile plug. Webb started out at 32 strokes to the minute,- as against Arnst’s 30. It- was plain that the pace was -a trying one, each of the men laying every pound into his work. Webb at this stage was going exceptionally well, his sculling being almost perfect, while Hagney was rowing Immeasurably better than (he had done oil Th ursday. With halfra-mile covered, Hagney’s lead was about five lengths, and Webb and Arnst, both of whom were steering well were in much the same position as -at the start. At the three-quarter-mile nost, Webb -was rowing 27 strokes to the minute, and Arnst had slowed down to a steady 26, and later 20, as he began to improve his position, and the backmarkers were making a decided impression on -Hagney s lead, which, had been clipped by about three lengths at the mile post. . At the same time Arnst, who ivas being set a great pace by Webb, bad managed to draw Sp a little on the ex-champion The time for the mile was 6mm BJsec, pnd, a little further on the ]Ourney Webb, who was still going in his best style, was racing almost stroke for stroke wKi -Trust, and both were hearing '■■■ ■, I . . '

down on Hagney, when suddenly Webb spurted, dashed away from Arnst. and came (within a canvas length of Hagney. The effort, however, appeared to take the final pound out of the Wanganui man, who stopped immediately/. and dropped his sculls as the leader drew away. It seemed at the time as though the muscles of Webb’s legs bad failed him in the strenuous going, and he lost three or lour strokes before lie recovered. By that time, however, Hagney and Arnst were lengths ahead. Webb continued on again, and got into a good swing in a stroke or two, but again faded away alter a while, having apparently lost all his sting in that first strenuous mile.

In the .meantime Arnst had set out in hot pursuit of Hagney, who was laboring a little at a mil© and a half, and he overtook him. Hagney, however, .plugged on in a determined way, and a fine race ensued over the final stretch. Arnst was rowing superbly, but Hagney still had a good deal left in him, ana hung on to the champion right to the death, weak manipulation of his left scull being' the only very obvious defect in his work. It was clearly Arnst’s race, but the Australian made a fight to the finish. When the champion crossed the line a length and two feet ahead of Hagney, he “looked as though he had been sculling,” as tlie Australian had predicted that the winner would have to do to beat- him. Webb was something like fifteen lengths away last. Arnst’s time was 13min 33se'c. and the gross time was 13min 43sec.