THE CHAMPION SCULLING MATCH.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XVII, Issue 835, 14 April 1885, Page 3

THE CHAMPION SCULLING MATCH.

[Abridged from the Melbourne Papers.] The good effect of prohibiting steamers other than the umpire’s from following the race was very marked. At the starting-post the liver was completely deserted, but one s' eamer and the Government launch being observable, and even this soon disappeared on its way to the neighborhood of the winning-post, and the umpire’s boat was left to follow the race. Hanlan being, according to his own assertion the nitdit before the race, in the best of fettle, the result of this event must be taken as dejcisive evidence of Beach’s superiority. JNci mistakes were made on either side, and the water and course were all that could be wished, whilst the time against the strong tide proved that the race must have been a hard struggle and a real test of skill and strength from first to last At times Hanlan appeared fagged out. He would then pick up, but the pulling was evidently telling on him, and his constant lookino- round gave the spectators the impression that he did not know what to make of it. As for Beach, as he had the lead from the start, matters were much easier for him, and he rowed a splendid race with excellent judgment, and well deserved the victory for the skill and dogged pluck he displayed in defeating such an adversary An average of 20secs. remained between the men throughout the contest, and tins conveys the idea that the leader intentionally kept that distance ahead and held his opponent, at liis mercy. , r The result of the race caused great excitement throughout New South Wales. On Saturday nmht the evening papers published specia editions, which were eagerly sought after ; ana an immense crowd, numbering several thousands, congregated in King-street, in front of Deeble 3 Hotel “and enthusiastically cheered Beach. A large gathering of sporting men and others took place in the upper room of the hotel. Mr ■ Lee, president of the Balmain Rowing Club, was voted to the chair, and proposed the health of Beach in glowing terms. The toast was enthusiastically honored. Beach responded briefly* and said that in winning the race he had done his best for the colonies. Hanlan was not present. Beach, from the upper window of the hotel, addressed a few words to an assembled crowd of 5,000 or 6,000 persons, which blocked the streets. He said : “ I was rather surprised at getting so far away in the first mile. At first I rowed pretty well, as hard as T could, although I led from the first tip. I have not the slightest idea, of the number of strokes I was doing, but at Uhr’s Point I was about two lengths ahead, Hanlan then turned and had a look at me, and rowed me a very stiff race for a time, but could not get up to me.” A subscription list was opened for Hanlan, and it is probable that he will be the recipient of several hundreds of pounds Mr J. Smith, an enthusiastic supporter of Beach, offered to lay £I,OOO and back Beach to row anybody in the world. A match will probably be arranged between Hanlan and L. A. Messenger, Beach’s trainer. J On being interviewed after the race, Hanlan said : “ I want to tell the world, through you, that 1 have been beaten by a better man. I had a clear course, with smooth water, never felt in better condition, rowed in a splendid boat, but I had an opponent who, from the third stroke*' aot away from me, and afterwards left me hopelessly behind. It is the first race in which my man went away and kept ahead of me during the first mile. In this race I did go away much slower than I generally do ; I rowed well, but I don’t think I was quite so full of life and dash as I have been, and consequently rowed a slower stroke. Very soon, and much too I am sorry to say, I missed Beach * and hard as I would pull, I found he would not allow me to keep company with him. I did not think Beach would win till after we had passed PutneyWharf, about a mile and a-half from the starting point. Here I began to think he was maintaining his big lead of five or six lengths altogether too long, and I let out my very utmost to overcome him—in fact, I think, and my friends agree with me, that I rowed better from there to the finish than in any part of the race. When I discovered that he was still plunging away ahead it dawned upon me that I was being fairly outrowed by a biggerancl a better man. I was not nearly so tireiAffcer the race as when* rowed Clifford or Beach last. It is no use making faults when there are no genuine ones to be° found. I am perfectly satisfied with everything, and, above everything, that Beach to-day is my superior. I now cheerfully admit that he is champion oarsman of the world, and that you will have to travel a long way to meet a man that can beat him. If he goes to America, I don’t mind making a match there for £IOOO, if it is only to see if I have been overtrained by the summer climate of Australia. My own impresion is that 1 have not been overtrained, and that I have been as good an oarsman here as ever I was in America. I am younger than Beach by four or live years. Of course in the consideration of ages we must not overlook the length of one’s rowing career. Beach has only been rowing a little over two years. As an oarsman he should ld,st four or five years. Sooner or later Beach must meet his match. I knew my time must come. The championship is something no man can keep, and I hold that every champion who has sense and grit, as well as strength, will always be prepared to make way for a superior man. I shall never ho sorry for coming to Australia. I knew I should have to lose the championship somewhere, and having lost it in New South Wales—a country that certainly deserves to have the charapipn—l frankly acknowledge that it has been fairly and honorably taken away from me; The champion looked in splendid form when interviewed shortly after the race. Unlike Hanlan, his conversational powers are not equal to his aequatic ability. When he was asked what he thought of the result of the race, he replied straightforwardly, but without conceit, that the best man had won. “On the morning of the race,” he said, “I was in splendid form—never better in my life. I have already stated, what I considered were ray chances in tins contest with Hanlan, and I have nothing more to add now than that the best man in the world has won this race.” Beach made this remark with quiet unassuming confidence, but by no means in a bombastical or egotistical manner. He went on to say that both before the start and at the start he had no apprehension that he would lose, and the first mile, he said, was a very hard struggle. Referring to the positionHanlan now occupies amongst the scullers of the world, Beaoh remarked : —“ He has beaten the best scullers who are at present known. He never pulled a man so strong as I am. I have pulled all the best men in Australia, and I have never rowed a harder race than I rowed to-day.l The public need scarcely question whether we both rowed our best; it was a race in which both men rowed to win. Hanlan worked to sustain a big record, and pulled for reputation, and heart and muscle were in it ; and, as 1 have said before, I believe the best man gained the day.” At the payment of the stakes resolutions were carried for the establishment of a Beach testimonial fund, the proceeds to be invested in trust for the permanent benefit of the champion’s wife and family. Mr A. R. Robertson, the well-known Victorian turf patron, headed the list with a donation of 200 guineas. Mr E. E. Jones, Mr Oterham, Mr Horn, and Mr J. Smith gave 100 guineas each, the total subscriptions collected in the room amounting to £llOO. A testimonial was also initiated on behalf of Hanlan, the sum subscribed being over £250. A similar sum was collected at the Oxford Hotel, and £650 has been raised for the same purpose at one of the Sydney clubs. Probably the Hanlan testimonial will reach about £IOOO.