THE GREAT SCULLING RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2296, 14 July 1877, Page 2

THE GREAT SCULLING RACE.

TRICKETT AND RUSH FOR £400.

THIS interesting boat race came off on the Parramatta river on Saturday, the 30th June. The following is the account given in the Sydney " Morning Her Ad-* :—At a quarter past 3, Rush was seen to embark in a six pair from the wharf below Drury's, and with his boat, avus carried to the other side of the river, Avhere he completed his preliminary arrangements, and then rowed cojthe start. Trickett got into his boat above Bowden's wharf, and after pulling slowly down past the umpire's steamej, he gave a short spurt, and turned. In appearance, Rush had everything in his favour, every muscle developed, and seemingly confident of success. Trickett was alsoiin good form, but apparently less powerful, and looking a trifle neivous, their style of palling also presented a marked difference, Rush's stroke not being cleanly rowed out, while his opponent's wa. as finished and regular as a machine. If ever a doubt existed"! our minds as to the supeiioritv of a sliding seat over a fixed one, it was dispelled when we saw the ease with which Trickett sent his boat along on Saturday. After a short delay occasioned by Trickett having to pull dowii to his cutter for something, the pair took up their positions. Trickett next to the Ryde shore, Rush on the outside. Not more than a minute was 10-t in getting level, and simultaneously they caught the Avater at 3 hours 41 minutes 30 seconds. Rush Avent off at 42 stroks per minute; Trickett at 39. For about fifty yards they Avere level, then Rush Avent ahead foot by foot, and passing Uhr's point he avus a clear length in front. Half a mile :rnu the start he was directly ahead of Trickets, gi\~ing him his Avash, and not p-_Ujn_.' in ore than forty a minute. The champion seemed to quicken as they neared Blaxland's point, until it became stroke ier stroke, and the boats got into dangerous proximity. Rush, responding to his rivals efforts, again left a clear gap between them, and the Clarence man shot the mile niarK in 5 minutes 5S seconds, leading by a lengtn and a half. They were now coming into the straight pull, down the long re-<-h, ana Trickett was seen to look round over his

'left shoulder as if to gauge his opponent, s position. He had as it Avere felt him in the preA-ious spurt, and putting on a little more steam, clrew alongside. There Avas an effort to keep the other boat ahead, but it was only for a moment, Trickett Avas not to be shaken off, and ere a mile ami a half had been roAved the contest Avas virtually over, as Trickett Avas a clear length in front, rowing with apparent ease, Avhilst Rush Avas already labouring greatly. _ Before the Hen-and-Chickens Avere reached?! he Australian AA-as at least six lengths ahead, when suddenly he Avas seen to cease pulling, much to the consternation of his friends. The cause was, hoAvever, speedily apparent—he A\-as merely waving an acknoAvledgement of the first hearty sound of cheers he had received. ' As ho passed One-man wharf he was simply paddlin?, and again stopped to wave his hands to friends ashore. This Avas repeated -Avice before he reached Bedlam Point. Avhere at least 10,000 pairs of lungs gave vent to a perfect tempest of cheers as the champion .lOAved leisurely by, AA'ith Rush some five or six lengths astern pulling a game stern chase. In the last feAV hundred yards Trickett showed the best piece of roAving he did during the match, and, increasing his lead a length or two, finally shot by the ITagboat at 4 hours 4 minutes 56 3-10 seconds. Rush, aa*lio avus very much exhausted, at the finish, and had 'to contend with broken water, came in 22 seconds later. The affair Avas so completely one-sided for the last two miles that it can hardly be termed a race. Time from -start to finish, taken by achionograph lent by Messrs. Allerding and Son, 23 minutes 26 3-10 seconds. The winner avus piloted by William from a four-pair, and Green did a similar service for the loser from a six-pair. The stakes will be paid over at Punch's Hotel, this evei-dng.

CHALLENGE TO BE SENT TO ENG-

LAND

The -* Herald" in the comments on the race says :—Tavo things have been satisfactorily demonstrated by the result of the race. In'the first place, it has proved that the sliding-seat, if properly used, is an immense advantage over the old stele ; and, secmdly, that the English trainers impart to their pupils a finish worthy the imitation of colonial mentors. Henry Kelly deserves all that Trickett has acknoAvledged he OAvedtohis tution and training. Rush, a type of physical force, and traditional notions, met a less powerful man, representing the scientific result of modern experience, and, as usually happens, strength waged an unequal 'contest AA'ith science. The English sporting papers will be spared the necessity of making further appeals for subscriptions to pay the expens'S of sending Boyd or any representative rower of equal prowess to endeavour to win back old ■England's lost laurels. If what we were informed on Saturday evening is correct— and avc believe it to be so —it is that a cablegram will go to London to-day, challenging Boyd, or any othe__ person, now holding the championship of the'mother country, to come here and row Trickett over the Parramatta River course for the sum of £1000 a side. In the event of this challenge being accepted, £?>OO Avill be paid to defray the Englishman's expenses. If an offer oi this character does not resultjin a contest, no reasonable inducement -will bring it about.