SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7190, 29 October 1888, Page 5

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

SEARLE v KEMP. EXCITING RACE. VICTORY FOR SSARLIE. fPEB PBES3 ASSOCIATION.] Received October £Sth, 10.W a.n». SYDNEY, October 27. The sculling race between H. Searle and Peter Kemp (champion), for 500 soys aside, and the championship of the world, wa» rowed on the Parramatta River this afternoon, and created the greatest interest, eren more so than on the occasion of the second match between Hanlan and Beach. Immediately articles binding the match were it was thought that one of the most interesting struggles e~er seen on the Parramatta river would result, and, in consequence, speculation was briskSearle, by his brilliant defeats of Wulf, Stansbury. and Neilson, had earned such a reputation that he was at once made a favorite, and his bacKers were willing to lay almost ten to one that he was able to lower the colors of the champion. On the other hand, there were not a few who thought that Kemp, after emphasising his right to the championship by twice defeating Hanlan, would again assert his superiority. During the week Searle had been made a strong favorite, and as much as 7 to 4 was laid on his winning; but this morning he receded to even money, and that was the best pric c obtainable. When they started a fresh breeze was blowing down the river, but not strong enough to ailect the water. As the cry " They're off" arose both men struck the water together, Searle dashing away at forty-one, while Kemp struck forty. After 200 yds had been rowed, Searle, who was rowing splendidly, assumed a lead of a length, and from that time until the finish of the race he never allowed Kemp to get nearhira. From thisout the race may be said to have been virtually over, as at the halfmile post Searle had increased his lead to two lengths, and was rowing without exertion, while Kemp was exerting himself to the utmost to get on terms with his junior competitor. At the mile beacon Searle spurted and quickly put six lengths between him and the champion, and ac he rowed over the Putney stretch he showed hrilliant sculling. Nearing the gasworks Kemp spurted and slightly gained, but Searle was only paddling, and seeing Kemp coming upon him increased his pace, and passing Cahorita he had regained his lead of six lengths. At Gladesville there was a Jargo crowd collected, and in response to a mighty cheer Searle spurted aud rowed in the easiest of winners by quite twenty lengths. Time, 22min 44J|.sec. Both men were very fit, but Searle's superiority of physique was apparent early in the race. Searle was accorded a most hearty reception on stepping out of his boat. The crowd witnessing the contest was one of the largest ever seen on the Parramatta. Beach has accepted a challenge from Hanlan to row for £500 aside. The race will take place on December Ist. The centennial year will certainly be long remembered as one of the most remarkable as regards professional rowing in Australia. For some time past hardly a mouth has passed without one or more exciting matches being witnessed on the championship course. On May sth last Peter Kemp surprised the world by his brilliant performance in defeating Edward Hanlan. after the latter had obtained a four lengths' advantage at the mile point. A few weeks later those two etrapping colts, H. E. Searle and James Stansbury made their appearance, and each in turn defeated Julius Wulf. The great struggle he- ; tween these two in July last was without a doubt, the finest race ever rowed, and those who were fortunate enough to witness the gallant, though futile, efforts oi Stansbury to catch his speedy opponent will never forget the sight. This event lowered the official record down to 19min 54sec. Later on again came further surprises in the defeat of Chris Nielson by both Searle and N. Matterson, the latter rowing with hie old wonted dash and finish. More recently Peter Kemp repeated his performance of last May and again easily defeated the Canadian, proving beyond a doubt that in Beach, Kemp, and Searle we possess three men who can more than hold their own against anything in either England or: America. The last notable event was the brilliant win scored by Harry Searle on Friday at the Hunter, when, after quite a, chapter of accidents, he defeated W. Hughes, of Newcastle, to whom he conceded a start of lOsec It appears that Searle succeeded in catching Hughes before the first mile was covered but almost immediately got into difficulties through the splash-board of hie boat carrying away. The small wooden deck behind the stretcher also became loose. With marvellous coolness Searle ceased rowing and endeavoured to stop up the hole with his cap. After a delay of over a minute, during which Hughes had obtained a long lead. Searle started again, and rowing into smooth water, easily defeated hie opponent, in spite of having to carry a boatful of water. An eye-witness relates that even money was offered at one portion of the race that Searle c craft would eink from under him. Such a performance as this at once stamps the Clarence sculler as one of the pluckiest and coolest oarsmen the | rowing world has possessed. The contest for the world's championship created general interest, and from present i indications an immense amount of money will change hands over the result Searle's career as an oarsman is unprecedented, and as he has added to his laurels by wresting the muchcoveted title from Kemp. His record, indeed, is remarkable. For an unknown sculler on the Ist January to win the world's championship in the following October appeared almost an impossibility, but there were many who looked confidently forward to this being the case. THE NEW CHAMPION. The following brief record of the champion's previous performances will doubtless be perused with considerable interest at this juncture:—Henry Searle Iβ a native of the Clarence • River district. He was born at Graf ton on the 14th July, 1888. When he was. only a few years old his parents removed to Ghatsworth, lower down the Clarence. Searle followed the occupation of £ farmer for some time. His first experience in Towing was gained when a lad thirteen years of ace, as at that time he had to row himself daily for a distance of three miles in order to ftp to school. He pulled his first race at Chatsworth when eighteen years of' age. This was in equal boats, and he wcored a win. In the year 18S1, at the Harwood regatta, he won a hand icap(carrying feather weigh t) beating Mark Wallace and Driscqll; Dut on the same day he suffered a defeat at the hands of Wallace. On Easter Monday, 1887, at Maclean, on the Clarence River, he won the Time Handicap Skiff Race, with a start of 20eec; Donald McDonald (scratch) being second, Wallace (4oeec) third, and A. Baser (263 ec) fourth. At the Grafcon regatta, held on the Clarence on January 2ud, 1888, he astonished everyone by winning the Outi rigger Race —a distance of two mile , *— • receiving only three and a half lengths' start from Chris. Neiteen, of Sydney, and two and a half lengths from William Hearn, the New Zealand sculler. He defeated Julius Wolf on toe Parramatta oaito recency, and on July 13th of this year be beat James Stanebury in a racefor £100 a side on the Parra i.atta, the time, i9min 53eec, being the fastest on record. Subsequently he rowed against and defeated W. Hughes, of Newcastle, to whom he conceded lOsec start. Searle has rowed in nine'aen races and matches up to date, of which he has won fifteen— certainly a good record for a young man. He is sft luin in height, and measures 41£ in round the chest, and weighs about list 61b, HIS ANTAGONIST. Peter Kemp was born near the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, on November loth, 185 a He is sft 9in in height, and scales about 12st 121b. Hie first race of iiote was in a skiff race at the Sackviile Beach Regatta in 1881. This race he won for three years in succession. He rowed several unimportant races before he was met and defeated by Neil Matterson in beet and beet boats in October, 1884. At the Morpeth regatta, with 10»ec start from Messenger, he won £50. In an all-comers' akjff race (handicap by weight), he beat Messenger and C. Matterson. On Annjyersary Day, 1885, in Sydney b*rhojr, la |ke ehjunDiooehip r#pe, the

canva3 of hie shell buret, and «he left him "in the water. On July lfith 1886, he met Per&ins on the Thames for £200 aside, and after making the fastest time on record to Hammersmith Bridge, he was defeated, baring evidently rowed himself out. On July 10th he was beaten by Bubear. Kemp was entered for the International Sculling Sweepstakes, but withdrew- owing to ill-health. On September AJth, he rowed George Bubear on the Thames for £200, and was again defeated. On the defeat of Hanlan an November 26th, 1887, by Beach, the latter handed over the championship to Kemp, who was immediately challenged by Thus. Clifford and Haulan. On Feb. l.th a match ior£-lM aside and the championship was rowed at rfydney between Kemp and Clifford, which "the former won easily. Kemp was then backei against Utuilan for and on May sth the race came oil', aud again the Australian was victorious. PREVIOUS KA.CES.

The folluwinfc are the results of the various races for the Championship of the World :- CHAMPIONSHIP RACES. Yea* Champion, j Loser. 1531 iC &a. Cmupbeil JC. Williams lf>46 'U. Coonioes jC. Campbell lso? Thomas Cole jK. Coombes 1864 !J. Messenger |Taoiu:>sColo 1857 (Henry Kely jJ. AIoss nger 1SA9 |It. Chambers |H. K- lly I860 Henry Kelly jit. Chambers lNlS Jiid. Kenforth iU. Kelly 1874 jJ.H. Sadler 1U. 1 (agnail 1876 .1. 11. iJadliT |lt. W. «oyd 1S7I5 \1£. Trickcit J. H. duller i*77 \K. TricketC <M. Kush liZil ;K. Trickert jK. C. Laycock 18tO Edward HanlamK. Trickoit. 'KdwarJ Hanlan;J5. C. Ijh cock 1S&Z t-dwiirdl V>'. Boyd 1532 [Edward HanianlK. Trickett l.SSJ hdward Haulan J. L. ivonnody 1883 iKdward Hitnl.'in Wallace Roaa l&U jKdward HauianlK. C. laycock 1S81 W iViiam Beach Hmlan lfcSo IWitiiaxB iM-.ich ,Th«M. Clifford 18S5 i William Heach ;I<iiwaru Hanlan 18SJ 'William lk'nch S. INSti William llcach J. Oftudaur 1886 William Beach Wallaoo Koss l?i-7 WLlliaui Utvach (toward Hanlan 18SS l J t.ti?r Kemp iThua. (JliUord | 1888 Peter Kemp Edward Ilanlanj ISiSS lieury E. Kiearleil J etor Ketup Loser. — b 2a 15 b 26.15 b 24.25 b 24.3) b 2i36 b 13.26 b £{.16 b 24.13 b Ai.5 b 24.25 b l>3.23 c 11.25 C 2tt.l2 b io.41 b 21.26 d 15.0 b 19.4 o t 83.45 B 2u.es c 26.1 c 22.51 o Time. £2.46 b aX'i b 23.47$ c 42L2JJ1 c Courses—(a) "Westminster to Hammersmith bridge, Thaines : ib) Putney to Mortlake, Thames, four miles and a. quarter ; (c) t'aramatta, Charity loiin to Thu nruthera, Sydney, turec miles XHi yaide; id) Tyne, Mansion Houso to .-cotswood suspension Iiridgo, three miles 700 yards ; («.■) Point of Pines, Boston, U.S.A., threo miles with u Lurn ; II) C-K<leneburK, St. Lawreuce, Canada, four miles ; (B> Nepcan, New South Wales, throe mites 330 yards.