SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 120, 22 May 1890, Page 5

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

KEMP V. McLEAN.

DECISIVE VICTORY FOR KEMP

Sydney papers to hand by the s.s. Waihora contain full particulars of the match between Peter Kemp and John McLean for bhe sculling championship of the world. As we were informed by cable, Kemp won, the race for the firsb mile being the hardest ever rowed on the Parramatta. The betting ab the sbarb was faster than has been seen for some years, and bhe amount of money that changed hands was very large. The public wenb for McLean, and the books who fielded for the champion laid McLean ab 7 bo 4 almosb as tasb as they could write.

McLean won the choice of positions and took up his station on the southern side. The principal advantage of this was that it gave him tho slack water as far as Uhr's Point, bub after that it made libtlo or no difference. As they drew up level for the start, both men looked in the pink of condition. Kemp rowed in his new Donelly boat, and McLean in bhe Ivy, which he won from Matterson. The champion rowed at list 21b, and McLean ab llsb 101b. Tho betting was now brisk, 2 to 1 being freely offered against McLean. For a minuto or so the contestants wore almost motionless at the starcing point, and then suddenly, amid oxcited shouts of " they're off," dashed away at 41 to the minute. Tho excitement ran high, and as the men appeared to be keeping level, it grew in intensity. Tho steamer was some distance astern, and for nearly a minute neither man appeared to be gaining any advantage. Some thought thatMcLean was holding bhe dashing Peter, and the cry was raised, "McLean wins." This, however, was of short duration, as Kemp began to go ahead before reaching Uhr's Point, and passed there in 1 minute 45 seconds, leading by a quarter of a length. On the stretch across to Blaxland's the difference gradually increased, Kemp rowing at 30 to the minute in beautiful style, whilo McLean's rowing became jerky. It was evident that ho was pushed and was rowing all he knew how. On nearing the milo point ho spurted, bub was unable bo materially decrease the distance between the boats. The mile was covered in 6 minutes 16 seconds, Kemp leading by two lengths and a quarter. At this point Kemp was going 29 to the minute, and McLean 30. Considering that the men had the full force of the tide against them, the race for the milo was one of the best ever seen. After this the botting was any odds on the champion, who was rowing a long, sweeping stroke, with plenty left in him, whereas McLean was rowing short sbrokes and was evidently beginning to be in difficulties. He stuck gamely to his work, however, but showed want of judgment in rowing down mid-stream where bhe currenb was strongest, whilo Kemp kept well inshore. When close to Putney McLean again put on a spurt, but it was ineffectual, and when Kemp shot past Putney in 9 minutes 43 seconds, he led him by over three lengths. He still continued to go away, and McLean, who was labouring at his work, was fully four lengths astern at the Gasworks. Cabarita was reached in 15 minutes 28 seconds, McLean being 18 seconds later. A great gathering of people at Gladesville cheered loudly as Kemp passed there in 16 minutes 40 seconds, with the race well in hand. At One Man Wharf there was another large crowd, and Kemp was enthusiastically cheered as he approached with a lead of seven or eight lengths. The time at that point was 19 minutes 14 seconds for Kemp, with McLean 21 seconds later, and Kemp shot past the post in 21 minutes 46J seconds, leading by about six lengths. After bhe race the men shook hands, aud as they did so were loudly cheered.

Kemp states that the race was, he supposed, the hardest he has rowed. He expected that McLean wou'd keep level with him "for the first 400 yards and then he would leave him, and he did. He was better boated than he had ever been before, and was in first-rate condition.