SCULLERS MATCH BETWEEN TRICKETT AND KIRBY.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3383, 31 May 1881, Page 2

SCULLERS MATCH BETWEEN TRICKETT AND KIRBY.

On April 19th a skullers' race for £200 was rowed on Southhampton Water between Edward Trickett, of Sydney, and W. Kirby, of Southampton, in eighteen-feet coast racing boats, and after a splendid struggle tor three parts of the course, ended in the success ot the Australian. The distance was four miles iv the flood tide, from off Cadland Beacon, below JVetley Hospital, to the Koyal Pier at Southampton. Upon starting Kirby at once shot m front, and almost immediately headed his boat towards the north shore for shelter, steering in a direction diagonal to bis true course. Trickett, on the contrary.seemed completely at sea in the rough water,and,iustead of rowing as he would bave done in smooth water, began to roll about in the trough of the waves in imminent risk of a capsize, In the lirst half-mile Kirby led by fully six lengths, and looked as it going to row right away from his opponent. By the time Netley Hospital wa9 reached Trickett had begun to hold his own, although it was only by fits and starts that he could get balf-a-dozen strokes thoroughly rowed through. Thin the race, if it may be so called, continued until a couple of miles had been rowed, when it became clear that Trickett, who all the time had been astern at a distance varying from half-a-dozen lengths to a length aud a half, was going as well as Kirby, although incommoded by his long sculls in the surf; but he was unable to get quite level with him, and plodded on a length in the rear. He next caught a bad crab in a sea, and was all but overboard, but managed by a great effort to save himself from tailing out of his boat. When he had recovered his balance he, again set to work to row, being faily three lengths in the rear. By dint of sticking to his t:isk with great resolution and commendable perseverance, he once more begaa to overhaul Kirby as the middle of the third mile was reached, and drew up level with him off the lower end of the village of Woolston, Another crab, as a more severe squall than usual here assailed him, nearly ejected him from his boat for the second time, so that it really seemed as if he was hopelessly struggling to perform an impossible task. Once more righting himself, he set to work and drew level with his opponent off the entrance to the river Itchcn, some three miles having been completed, whereupon the excitement of the match, which had been waning, broki out afresh. It now became apparent to experts that the local sculler was in distress eveu before he forfeited his lead, and as Trickett slowly rowod him down and then drew in front of him, whereby he was enabled toget a good-, view of Kirby for the first time during the race, it was clear the snuth-couutryman was to lose. The novel sight of his adversary astern of him seemed to infuse new life into f rickett, and lengthening out, he exhibited I the best piece of rowing he had done during, the whole race, the more so by a bend in the shore the wind became a trifle less violent and the water smoother. By, the time he had reached the Town Quay, Trickett led by some six or seven lengths^ and, continuing to increase his advantage to the fl;«gboat off the Royal Pier, he won a most gallantly-contested race by a hundred yards or more, easing up towards the finish, as he could not discern the winning post in the crowd of boats by which he was surrounded. The time of the match, wbioh was expected to occupy about twenty-five minutes under ordinary circumstances, was no loss than 42tnin. 52s'ec., so that, despite the favourable tide, some idea may be formed of the conditions ot wind and weather.