SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 130, 25 February 1908, Page 8

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

TO-DAY'S CONTEST AT : WMSMIII.

HISTORY OF'THE RAGE.

LATEST?! NOTES?. AND - ANTICIPATIONS.

Tho great sculling match between Webb, of Wanganui, : and Tresidder, '"of- New'/ South : Wales;;' for tho: championship of. tho world, will ,tako placo on tho' Wanganui River this afternoon.;,Tlie .course,..of d^miles,.is a magnificent strdt6h ( of. water,',tho starting point being, just: past tho Maori pa.' at Kaiwhaiki, 9} miles from Waiiganui.' Every vessel available is being pressed into service to take visitors to.tho co\irse, and it is ! expected that the crowd will be much the largest- that has ever assembled-to witness a raco'on'the Wanganui river. A-splendid-view can be obtained of tho ,whole:of, tho : cours'o. ; / '- ■'.<* 1 • The race will ,bo commenced: at:4.p.m., ,to. suit the tide.. ;Both /competitors, have', registered --some;very, fast ;times. 'in', recent trials, and; are in- the best 'of' fettle; whilo the sup-' porters of each aro .'equally, .confident of 'their favourite's success'. \-v\

V R.-\-Arnst, ■ the, young Zealaiidor who ,ha's'already- a; cyclisVas' well as,, in sculling, has mado'a deposit to bind.a;matcK,.with' ; tbo winner ofto-day's con,'irato>; ,;.Vy,Q SCULLING • CHAMPIONSHIP CONDITiONS. In races for tlio sculling championship of tho world, -the -following conditions ' shall-.be observed ; (1) The rnles shall be those now adop- " ted and named "The: Championship Boat Raco Laws." ' -- - - ■ (2) . The . course shall be not' less than . three (3), miles/./nor more, than four and . a quarter (4i),.miles.'siraight away.The' ; holder has the right to .name, the course. (3) : The. stakes shall be as follows:— not.less than £500 a side when itVis.an international contest ;' not less' than £200 a side when two scullers of tho 'same place or country, row! - (4) The "gate money" shall be divided ■. so that each lrihn receives an equal share. .(») A challenge, shall only: be, recognised .as "bona:fide-'- --when. accompa- , niod by,a deposit-of £100 if race be in- ' tornational, and - £2»;-. if between''local , .men, .and this.placed in tho hands of a reputable • person, who shall notify tho . person challenged of the nature of . the' ; challenge.:.. (G) • A holder of .the championship must accept a "bona 'fide" cliallengo within, ■ - throe,. (3) -months; and must race.within-: . six (6.! months of the acceptance of the challenge - or forfeit his title, unless lie has to row in. another .country,, when tho limit shall be'nine (9i months. ' , L (7) William Webb, of Waiiganui, is hereby rccogniswl as Champion Soulier of the World; and we aro agreed to re-

time , the race .is specified to start until its-final-, termination.''--'j'' 1 (2.) Tho start shall bo by mutual consent,'unless otherwise agreed' upon; but; if _ the i scullers fail to start' within '20 minutes; fronv the time they aro ordered out by, lie shall order them to go on; a/signal given by him. ,: ; (3.) Choice of . stations at tho. start, shall be-.decided. by. drawing of .lots or tossing of a coin. ■' (4.) The judge, shall bo stationed at the finishing line, and he shall'report to the rofereo 'the'order-in which the scullers pass tho winning post. • (5.)' Races shall'be' started 'by the bows,land be judged at tho finish by the bows. \ ' (6.) A sculler's proper course is such a course as will enable him. to reach' tho winning post in. the . shortest possible time, 1 ..provided-.;that 'he allows ample water,for the.other competitor-.to steer liis proper. course -on /the side on which such competitor, started when such competitor- is in a position - to . enforce his right ,to such ; water.- Any. sculler failing to keep his proper course does so at his'peril-in, the, event of a foul occurring.; •• .-, ... ". .. . (7.)' A, seuller. shall ; stand by his own accidents. . . I i - ,• . (8.) In..the event of : a doad-heat the referee : shall .order the: race ,to bo rorowed, but Hot-'within fourteen days of the day of, the.dead-heat. . ■ (9.) : Tha referee,'; if appealed to, but - not without an appeal, shall give liis decision on \any ' point coming within his -jurisdiction 'immediately after the race. In the' event of a' foul a sculler may claim samo by holding up his hand, and, if necessary;, state', bis claim by; word-of mouth-immediately-after the race.

' .(10.) Tlfe■■ referee may warn a competitor of any impending danger in -his coursc.

■\ cognise as his successor anyone who may • defeat him, or/to whom, ho may forfeit 1 by default, provided-'always tho rules and conditions now. agreed to by us are duly observed. In the; event of the.death or . retirement of a : holder of. tho title the ; championship to tho'imme-diat-e ex-champion. ' (8) The agreement to raco shall bo drawn : on the conditions now approved by us, and' named. "Boat .Race —Articles , of. Agreement." , , ..' (9) ;Tho raco. may be postponed, by the ' consent of botli parties, for ono or more' days... ■ j;, CHAMPIONSHiP BOAT RACE LAWS ' ■ (1.) The . : referee : : (who shall be named in \tlie: articles 'bindiiig the match) shall have-the ! scullers .';iii charge 'from' :the

WEBB'S PERFORAIANCES. Webb obtained a first and two seconds in Junior Fours at Picton (two starts) ami Wellington (one start) prior to 1900. His record sinco -then is as follows:— 1900-1901. Ist, Maiden Sculls. 2nd, Junior 'Fours. Unplaced in Junior Clinker Fours. All at 'Wanganui Regatta.' 1901-2. Ist, Junior Sculls. Ist, Senior Sculls. Both at Wanganui. 1902-3. Ist, Senior Sculls, and Ist, Now Zealand Amateur Champion Sculls, at Wanganui 1903-4. Ist, Senior Fours, and Ist, Senior Sculls, at Wellington. vr 1904-5. -ntl, rsew Zealand Amateur Champion Sculls, and Ist, New Zealand Amateur Champion Double Sculls, at Wellington. Ist, Senior Clinker Fours; Ist, Senior Best Fours, -and Ist, Senior Sculls, at Wanganui. ; ■ ■ . ' 1905-6. Ist, New Zealand Amateur Champion Sculls, and Ist, New Zealand Amateur Champion Double Sculls, at'Pioton. Ist, Senior Fours, at\Waitara. 2nd, Senior Fours, and Ist, Senior Sculls, at Wanganui. , _ December 26, 1906. Made his debut as a professional, defeating James (ex-world's champion) oil tho Kaiwhaiki course, Wangahui' River, for the Championship of °New . Zealand and a stake of £200. August 3, 1907. Defeated Charles Towns on tho Parrasiatta River, New South Wales, for the Championship of the World and £500 a-sido. AND WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

LAST YEAR'S VICTORY RECALLED . It is (interesting to-day'to recall the great naco on tho Parramatta Rivor on August 3 last, when Bill" Webb succeeded in wresting "J®, rowing championship of" the world rrom. Charles Towns (who held it as va-'cift fiom his brother. George). ♦ The account oftho race reads as follows:— The . weather , was dull, and .threatening A. .strong wind blowing, but right be-' hmd the scullers. ... t . . ~ e bb won tho tossj but there was no particular .ad vantage in ; tlijß positions. Rush, tho veteran sculler, acted as umpire. AN OVATION. AT THE START. .The competitors received an ovation as they'leisurely, sculled to tho starting-post. reVi®P ,m - an ' excellent start' was cltected. Towns going away at' tho rate of thirty-eight strokes to the •minute,' while his opponent was only rowing one less; but,the champion did not get away from' Webb with a , rU T,, •I- £ su PP°rters had ejpeeted. At Uhr s Point it was found that Towns «» fl . reduced his stroke to thirty, and, while Webb too had decreased his, he" was putting in thirty-two. The first half-milo was clocked as 2mm. 40sec., and tho Maoriandor was pressing his rival, who had barely a- length's advantage. Webb was rowing surprisingly well, although his body • rolled somewhat. /-■ As the milo post was approached Webb had reduced Towns's lead to half a length, and tho hopes of tho New Zealander's supporters were rising steadily.' It was clearly evident that Towns could . not get/ rid of .him.- As the' boats swept past the' milo (lilaxland s), A\ebb was almost on terms, the time • m traversing the distance bcin rT omin. -lOsec. ' ' ' ' AVEJ3B. OPENS OUT. Webb' then opened out with a fine spurt,' and Towns gamely responded, each doing thirty strokes to tho minute. - Approaching I utney Webb had' forged ahead, , and soon assumed a length's lead. Towns came St him, and both, scullers edged into Gaseoigno Bay somewhat, which, was Towns's side of tho river. '. ■ • ?, Towns quickeiud his stroke, and altered his course to clear Putney Point. AVebb ir.ade a great effort to get clear, but Towns came too quick, and hit the stern of Webb's boat with his left scull. ' A PROTEST, The New South Welshman held up liis wii aS T, a protest, and)then went after \\ ebb.- Putney Point was left behind in Dmm. /sec., AVebb at this time 'having a couple of lengths' advantage. Seeing his rival coming up again he cracked on tho pace, added another length to his v lead, and tho race was- then practically ovc-r. Towns spurted, but'Webb responded readily to every effort • Toivns put forth. Tennyson's (about two miles) was passed in ilmin. 52sec., and there great cheering arose from the steamers at Webb's success. Ho was now able to hold Towns with the. utmost ease, and, .though the latter spurted and spurted, Webb maintained his eight.lengths' lead, passing Gladesvillo in 15min 58sec. ■A WONDERFUL "SPURT. Towns now-mado a wonderful spurt,'. 'which lie maintained almost to tho finish, and drew up to within three or four .-lengths of tho visitor; but as tho judgo's boat was noarcd.-AVebb.put in hard rowing and gained tho Verdict by five lengths in the fino time of 20min. <l!ssec.. ; ; ' Towns-. lodged a protest against the Now Zeainnder on the .-'ground of a foul, but the complaint was dismissed. . . , In giving his decision dismissing the protest, the umpire (Mr. Rush) said:--"I wish to say that.when lilaxland -Point, was turned I considered the men rowed as straight a coursc as possiblo for Putney, both occupying tile same, positions that tliey took at starting. • I."believe Towns had sufficient ..water at all times without having to depart from his straight course, and that tho. slight touching of sculls which took placo in no way - interfered with the result. Therefore, I dismiss tho protest." AVobb's height is sft. 10in., and he is 28 years of a™. He is a native of Lvttolt-on, N.Z.

TRESIDDER'S PERFORMANCES. Richard Tresidder has been sculling for 19 years, and has had a great amount of success in handicap races.. Beginning his sculling career at tho ago of 18, at Lake jlncminrif regatta, on January 26, 1889, ho finished third in a double sculling race, iinishing second with the same partner at tho samo regatta tho following year. On January 18, 1891, ho was unplaced in the fishermen's race at Newcastle regatta. In the'next year, at Hexham, he divided tho stakes with two other competitors in tho single sculls, and on tho samo day finished' first in tho double sculls. At Newcastle, on January 4, 1892, ho finished t.nrd in an all-comers' handicap, Georgo Towns being fourth. On the 26th of the same month, at tho Wallsend regatta, he was associated with his present trainer, Joe Bain, in tho double sculls, in which they finished second. At the same regatta the next year ho pulled off tho doublo sculls in company with .M. Bedford, and finished second to, ucorgo Towns in the single sculls. Ho repeated this performance at tho samo regatta in 188-t, except that Towns was not a competitor. In 1895 Tresidder and Bedford were victorious at tho Stockton, regatta in tho , "k'S. sc ' l '" s > nlJ d "'so at Wallsond, boating p™- Towns and T. Crosse at the latter place by 3ft-. after a great race. He was unsuccessful in the sin&lft sculls on tho samo day, owing to his boat swamping. J first match race was towards the. end of 1595, .when ho iieat. T. Jordan for tho modest stake of £10 a side, the distance being oiiiy a quarter-mile dash. In 1896 ho-beat J. I ord over* three miles at Raymond Terrace, Newcastle, for £50 a side, and three years plater beat A. AVorbojs in a three: milo raco for a similar staku. On this occasion Tresidder carried 301b. handicap. At Newcastle regatta, on January 1, 1901), he finished second, frorn 40sec. behind, to.Charles Towns (20 sec. behind). In May of the samo year 'no again beat "Worboys for £50 a side, giving him 15seo. start. At Wallsend regatta, in 1899, ho won three races, and later on carried off an all-comers' rac'o in Sydney, off. scratch) On .May 12, 1900, at Port Hunter, Tresidder rowed second in an all-comers' handicap which was won by a sculler named Chapman, to whom ho conceded 38scc. start, and pushed to within a length. The samo month at Coraki, ho was beaten from scratch by A. V. orbovs (ISsec.) in a handicap, and a couple of days later finished second from scratch to' C. Messenger (19secl) At Wallsend regatta, in 1901, ho won his heat off scratch, finishing third iii tho final to Charles Towns (16scc.). Tresidder did no more rowing for a couplo of years, when he Came out and defeated Harry Peareo for the championship of Australia and £100 a side on the Parramatta course. On t-lio samo course, in Juno 1904, lie made his first hid for the championship of tho world and £500 a side, but had to go under to George Towns.. Tresidder was said to be very unwell on this occasion. He did no more sculling till June of 1907, when lie defeated Ben Thoroughgood; after a clinking raco on tho Hunter River for £100 a sido and tho championship of Australia. This was his last race prior to meeting Webb. . . Tresidder's height is sft. 10|in, and ho is 37 years of age. Ho is a native, of Wall-j send,, near Newcastle, N.S.W. ! "THE INVISIBLES " REMINISCENCE OF A GREAT FOUR. (By RnriuEP. String.) When rowing is tho talk in the club houso i after dusk has settled over,tho harbour and tho last inan has rubbed himself down and jumped into his clothes and respectability, there is just as strong a tendency to speak- of the sport in the past as there is to chat over future prospects. Tho old hands, whoso backs aro much too stiff..to 1 bend 'an ash at tho end of a, slide, cannot, let the chance go by to churn up, tales of "the old "Dolly Varden" crew, who wero giants of rrwi«" in > v")iinfton somo 30 years ago. If half the tales are true tiiat aro told or this lour they must nave been a heartbreaking crew to pull against. Jim M'Grath, now of the Public Works Department, and plain Bill'Hearne, who is still plugging-away at Stowart's mill,'were members of the crew, which should bo a guarantee that they were something quite out of the ordinary: • '

■ But, though the "Dollys" were a; find lot, tho _writer ; doubts if,- under equal conditions in similar boats they could havo beaten tli'o gicafc crew the Wellington ' Rowing Club boasted some 15 years ago. I refer to tho champion four—Roso, Sullivan, Bridson, and M'Kay (stroke;. No mere, puppets of men

WILL HEARNE,

these, no idle prattlers about the shed; they wero • essentially ■-men. of action, not words, and their united action had something of the Baldwin locomotivo about it. Something had to gc-r-fortuuatoly it was ti boat, and it did go! It- is not necessary to relate how often they won tho senior- iiiriggcd or outrigged championships, not to count tho pairs, doublo and single sculls. They mostly won o\ciything there was to win, and with it all they were as modest and sportsmanlike a team as one would care to meet in a lifeimc. Ton: M'Kay, the stroke, had a bony, broad Cft figure, with square shoulders and a. rather "droopy" chest, a skin as lair as a Cncassian. He was a baker by trade —v.sod. ' o work for Mr. Simon Scott in Manners Street and I, as a lad about the shed, always felt as if I would havo liked to call him "Snowy.-" I nover did—his arm was too lumpy and long. Ho was the singlo sculler of the "four' 1 in the earlier years of its existence, and ho was a powerful shell-shifter, though not a very attractive sculler "Bill" Bridson (now manager in Wellington for Briscoe and Co., who has lost a good deal of his physical symmetry, while gaining, a donblo cuiu 111 his prosperity) was tho No. 3. Ho was a finished oarsman, combining a fino graoefiil action with plenty of power. 110 was tho pretty boy of tlio.crowd, iiis figure was embellished with Adonis-liko curves, and ho nover showed his muscle knots with such ugly obtrusivenoss as the others; yet it was there when wanted. Ho took up sculls after a time, and becamo ono of the prettiest amateur oarsmen Now Zealand lias over known, and achieved tho championship on mcro than ono occasion, if I remember right. ' Tom Sullivan sat firm and heavy on No. 2 slido, , There was a lino breezy manliness .a-lnut Tow that made him loved by all tho

boys about tho shod. Ho was a member of tho Torpedo Corps in those days—dnys when they mid to live at Shelly Bay and'play at defending tho harbour from tho Russians. "With such men as Tom Sullivan at tho Heads we al l knew what an impossible task, the Russians Mould "have. That's why tho Russians never camo. Tom was always' hard—trained to mahogany hardness, and seemingly:always rosy with condition. Ho was rough on oars, was Turn—used to break them when he caught tho water, he was so impetuous in-his earnest strength. Ho also took up sculling, as the wovl.l knows. He soon camo to be able to' kineU Pilots off anything in theso waters. Then ho went home, and. casually annexed the championship of England. Ho now keeps a "pub." at Putney on the Thames. . ..

Ernio'Rose was tho bow man —a big angular chap; all corners and muscles where no ono else seemed to have them. No one ever hinted that Rose was not wortli his placo hi'the boat, for. ho dug as much water away with his oar as'-any of, their.. Popularity went-his way, for his quiet unobtrusive maimer. . i I have "coxed" these demons'ot' xlio shell, and I never returned to the shed from a spin with them without a pain in the "tummy," occasioned by the jolt they gave tho boat when thoy caught-. the. wat-gr. ' But; I never told auy one.- 7

AN OLD NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION! ROWING"'IK THE OLD DAYS. To-day, when the old''uns'rccall'tho great rowing victories of tho paist', tli'ey , will' tixlk of tho veteran oarsman William Hearne, and how hp held tho,; championship 'of" New-'Zea-land against all : comers 'from- 74 iintiLbeaton by Stephenson in 1890. Bill.'Hearno belongs to tho old Juns, as he, with his'sß years and grey hairs, is now one of them. They . will, remember him'and his quick,'powerful stroke,'

and tho flash of his pink jersey as they hailed him a frequent winner past the post. „ Hoarno learned his rowing as a boy on the \i est Coast. "In those days," ho said to a reporter, "thero wero few roads on the coast, and 0110 madouso of tho'rivers . Wherever thoro was a river and 'you could get a boat to work, it was always used." Thus Hearno in his youth gained' muscle, ambition, and staying ' power. , Ho competed iii soveral events on the coast, and won mo3t' of them: In 1874; when 24 years of age, ho went out after the'ehampionship of tho colony at Kaia■poi. Ho represented tho Woodstock: (Hokitika) -Rowing Club, and on this occasion, for tho first, timo,. carried', his club's colours'to' victory. Ho also was one of tho Hokitika crow that won,tho championship fours at tho samo regatta.' In '76 ho rowpd against all comers in tho Wellington Provincial, regatta, held in» tho Wellington harbour, aiid again was successful. On that' occasion he represented tho Wellington Rowing Club, and among tho four or five cracks ho defeated wero Georgo ftiscoe, Jim Brown (Wellington), Forry (Wanganui), and Tunibull. In this samo rcgatta Hearno formed ono of the; famous Wellington Dolly Varden crew, and they won tho double event. "Tlioso were the, days of big prizo money," said Hc-arne, "£l£o went with tho championship outrigger events and £100 with the batswing. Thoso wcro our winnings." In tho following year tho Dolly Varden crow competed at Nelson and won again. Hearno also competed in tho pairs, and beat tho Auckland cracks D'acro and Henderson. Ho was not, however, permitted to row in the sculls at that- regatta. -Why? Oil, he could only suppose that they considered him • too good. In 1878, just 30 years ago, a crack Lyttelton crew, tho best combination of four Hearno roracmbers seeing, and probably tho

best New Zealand has ever produced, defeated the. Dolly Vardens at Wanganui over a four-milo courso. They rowed the four miles in 22min. against'a strong river tide. Tho veteran also competed in tho sculls and pairs, and in the inriggcr race and won the sculls and tho pairs. At the next local regatta at Wellington ho again appropriated tho sculls. In '79 be rowed 'successfully at Wanganui. About this, time the: intorproviucia! races—tho outrigger and .batswing fours—wero abandoned. Why was that? Hearne couldn't..say exactly. They just soemod to dio out. after the defeat.of the Dolly Varden crow. There appeared' to be no ono to carry, them;on: ' ;. ~ In '79 lTearno decided to try further afield, and crossed over to 'Melbourne, taking the

good'"Wishes of tho people .of .New. Zealand with him. , ' ■■■■ , ■ ' . ,

Up to this time ho had rowed as an amatour, and as an amatour he met and defeaated Georgo Leo on the Yarra.,' Eight weeks afterwards tBo met Messenger as >a professional on, t-lio same river, over .a', two niilo courso for the. championship, of' Victoria, 'and ' ! was beaten by.a-baro length;....- Tliig,'. Hearne :bc-' lievod, was, the-.first occasion on which a New Zealander liad competed 'in a'big. event ,in Australia;' a.hd tl a .great. crowd- witnessed the racg. ' Returning horiio - Hearne;; rowed with success' for a year or tivo' in local 'regattas. Then came tho 'challenge of Albert jWhite, :'a. half-caste of Mercury: Bay, to. row. anyone in Now Zealand .for the' championship' of the ■ colony. Hoarno accepted the -' challenge, and rowed him in . the t .Wellington Harbour., Hoarno gavo Whito. =£25 for coming to Wellington, and the match was" for £IUO a sidq. This was ;tho. match in New Zealand-.', Hearne easily'defeated his man, pulling lipmo 3J,Johgths nlioad. Tho, ooursobf this.race was from. Ngahaurauga to •tho/Queen's.. Wharf, ' . ■ j. " ">• About 13 .months-later-.Messenger, of .Mel-' bourno, - crossed . over to .. Now' Zealand, defeated White, and .then-challenged Hearne.for a match of-£IOO a sido aud'tlic championship

I of Now Zealand., Thoraco.was rowed.at .Wellington, and Hearno'won oasily. Tho;distance on this occcasion was 3i miles.- -The next challenge came. from Georgo Harrington (of Itivertoii). E«arno accepted 'Harrjngton's terms and went to Riverton to''row tho race.' He won easily. His ago .at the time'was 34 years. - ". ' > ' " After winning an all-comers' race for £100, at Riverton (specially, .arranged; for him), Hoarno, in '87 crossed • over to Sydney. His first raco in New South' 'Wales was a handicap event- qn the Clareneo, River,for. £150. .Ho ; .was. receiving -four* lengths from Hanlan arid. ono length from Chris. .Neilson. 1 Harry.. Searlc'..had sovon longths from the scratch , man, ■ . and' this formed a . collection ... of tho best scullers Australia has ever;. seen.. . . In that evont tho New . Zealandcr came third; It Was in this ■'race ' that Searlo mado his debut as a professional. Ho won tho event with easo. Six months afterwards ho became champion of tho world. ; Hoarno noxt competed in the Sydney Harbour against Kemp and Neilson for:: tho., championship of New South Wales. Koran won, Hearno was second, and Neilson third. At this time," it must bo confessed, tho New Zealander was not rowing at his best, and his performances woi'o not equal to some ho had put up- in; Now Zealand. Hearno attributed this to tho boat, which interfered with training. He also suffered; inconvcnienco in tho mattor of boats. Boforo leaving fortho'Clarcncoherowod in a "good-bye" ' handicap, and-beat Jack M Lean, Hoarno in . this raco gave awav 2olb. handicap,: carrying SOlb. in his boat, wlulo M'Lean carriod olb. Twelve months after t.iat M'Lean becamo champion of tho world, so that this was tho second occasion on which tho sturdy New Zealaader had do-'

feated two subsequent world's champions o» the Clarence River.

Wflsviw, alter thin roVed' no moire- until .tho man who was to lower his ■ colours, Charles Stephenson, challenged bim for the championship of New Zealand. "Wo rowed in tho Wellington Harbour," said the veteran briefly, "and ho beat mo by abo' five lengths. I was not in the host of form, 1. ring suffered! ■severely from boils. That was ,he last time 1 rowed." In this race Stephens n was allowed to make the pace, .and led prefcr • well all the way, although hard pushed bj the veteran. Hearno's age' at the time! of 1' 's retirement was 39. No sportsman will den; that ho had a splendid career as an oarsman. Hqarno was; always known ai's a most enthusiastic oarsman, who never.,.tired of . his boat. The whole of his spare time, was spent in rowing. Tho training, courses, in those days were mostly from tlie. .boatshed to Ngahauranga and back (bugging the inshore smooth , water), and then perhaps' coh/tinuing down'to the present patent slip and hack. This course was- usually covered twice daily. Hearnb is now a) hale, sturdy man, well set up," and does not look-as if the' severe exercise of his early days had harmed him. In his prime he rowed at 12st. Sib: . ..

Spoakrng of the . boats of his day compared with those used now, Hoarne said- that tho present shells wore shorter hy 'sft., and lighter. In his day the regulation length was 31ft. Now-a-days a slower stroke was also adopted. • An oarsman of tho eighties started off at, say, 38, and rowed thus for the first three-quarters of a mile, dropping then to about 36, and doing the last portion of the journey at 34.-Hoarne does not consider there is tho same encouragement now as in his day for pulling. In tho old provincial regattas some of the prizes given were as follows Championship outrigger fours, £150-; batawing fours, £100; wlialeboat race, £50; pairs, £25; sculls, £25. Then £100 was also given for the coasters', sailing race, and a similar sum" for a first-class yacht race. The last time veteran Hearne was in a boat was about a year ago, when lie; expected to be offered half a minute in a mile against J. Stanbury, in connection with a local aquatic display. Ho was having just a .little gentle exercise in anticipation; Stanbury, howover, lost. againist Webb, and the event did' not take place. Hearne considers Webb a very good man. He witnessed tho event last year with-Stan-bury, and reckons that this time Webb will be extended as he has never yet boon, Trosiddcr being a good oarsman ■ and' a determined stayer. No doubt Webb, however, had learned a lot in Sydney—a sculler gained knowledge in every big race lie . rowed—and ha would be a different Webb "to the man. that Stanbury met. Hearne anticipates a great race. - \

CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. GIANTS OP THE SCULLS. . Former winners of tho championship wen as follow: —' '' • *■'■. 1831—0. Campbell .beat J. -Williams (Thames). IS3B—C. Campbell beat R. Cooiubes (Thames). 18-16—It. Coombes beat C. Campbell (Thames), ;. ' 26min. lOsee. 18-17 —R. Coombes beat R. Newell (Thames), 2Umin. 4Gsec. , ; . Coombes beat >T. M'Kinney ■ . (Thames), 27min. 30scc. 1852— T. Colo beat R. Coombes..(Thames), ' 25min. losefc. ; , . .• .' .1852—T;. Cole beat .R. Coombes (Thames), ' " 23min'. 35sec; • •: . 1854 —J. Messenger beat T. Colo (Thames), . ' '24uiin.Y 45sec. 1857— H. Kelly beat J. Messenger (Thames), "... 24min, • 30sec. • ■ • : 1859— R. Chambers beat H.; Kelly (Thames), 25min. 25sec. - V 'IB6O—R. Chambers ...beat T. White (Thames), V - 23min.-25sec. -■ 1863—R. Vi Chambers- beat R. ,W. Green > (Thames), 25min. 35sec. . 1865— H. Kelly beat R. Chambers (Thames),' 23lnih; 23sed. ' • IS;i3G—H. : Kelly /beat J. Hammill (Tyne), 32diin;'-4Sseb; - - 1566-tR. '-.Chambers:'. _bea,t J.; H. Sadler i (Thames)/ 2omin. 4sec. - ■ 1567—H.'Kelly beat. R. Chambers (Tyne), 31min. 47scc.-. ■■ ■.-•-■ ■; - 1868—j. Renforth beat: H.- Kelly (Thames), 23inin;ilusec. .. [' .. ■_ 1874—J, H. Sadler beat R. Bagnall (Thames), . 24min. losec. . ; ■ ■ IS75—Jj H. •' Sadler; beat E. W. Boyd ' '•-'•''"•.(TBames;, • 2Smin.< sseft-; 1876TTr8., Trickett beat J. H. Sadler (Thames), 25min. 23sec. ;

1877— E. Triekett .. 'beat' M. Rush (Parra? ! ; niatta), 23min. 37sco. .. ■■■•.. 1879—E.,..Tricltett- beat E. Laycock. (Parra- f- < matta); 23min. 39jsec. , . ■>. 1880—E.* Hanlau.beat li. Tnckett (Thames), ' : 26min. 12sec. . - .-, ■ 1831— E. Hanlan beat E. Laycock (Thames), . 2omin. 40scc. 1882—E..Hanhm beat R. W. Boyd (Tyne), 21nun';' SosocV'V ' : . 1883—E.' Hanlan tyeat E. Triokett (Thames), ■. 2Smin. .\" . ' > ISB4—E.Hanlan beat E. Laycobk ; (Nepean), \ Tv 22min.. , 455ec. " v -, 1834—W.' Beach beat E. v Hanlan (Parra- ' matta), 20miu. 2SJsec.- : 1885-W. Beach'beat-:T.. Clifford (Parraniatta), 2Gmin. ' .' v. 1835 —\V. Beach beat E. , Hanlan '(Parra- ■ ' " ■ .■■ matta), 22min. 51sec.;' 1885— W. Beach : beat N. Matterson. (Parra> . ' '■■ matta), : 24minlli'sec. V ' 1886— W. .Beach beat J. Gaudaur,n(Tha'mes), " 22min. 29sec. '■ ■- '• .' '. ! rßeaqh' -'...beat'. W; •• Ross (Thames), 23min..5sec. ' \ 1887 —W; Beach beat E.' Hanlan (Nepean); . « '. . 19mm. 55' see. , , 1888—P. Kemp .beat- T. Clifford- (Parraf matta),'23miii.'.47sec.'. t , 'r ■ ,1888—JV Kemp ; ; beat ■ E. ; -Hanlan (Parra- ' / matta),' 21min. 36scc., v•• .... 1888—P;; Kemp beat E., Hanlan (Parra- ■ mjitta),.2lmin. 25sec. ■■■... .. 18S8—H-.'.K Searlo beat 1 .P.; Kemp: (Parra-.« matta),;22ihln. .4iisec. r; 1889—H; E.' Searle- , beat W. - O'Connor ■ ' (Thames), 22min. 42sec. - » 159,0t-P. Kemp beat' N. Matterson (Parra-., "i.. . .matta2lmin 13iseci i ; . ■-i 1890r-P. Kompsbeat .; J. M'Lean' (Parrai matta),. 21iiiih. 46fseo. .■: \ • 1890—rJ. M'Lean .beat; IV Kemp. (Parra-'. matta), 22min. 13sec. . .. ■ 1891— J. Stanbury beat J. M'Lean (Parra-. • matta), 22min.. lojscc. 1891— J. Stanbury beat J. M'Lean (Parra-. matta),-lSinin.■" 2pse*c,.',(full courso . not; rowed). 1 . ■ .: : ■ IS92—J. S.tanbury beat T., Sullivan (Parra-- : ' . matta), 18miu. 26Jsec. (full course '. :v not rowed). -.L ... 1896— J. ' St'aijlmry''. beat ■C. -Harding ■ (Thajiies), 21min. olsec. 1896—J.. Gaudaur beat -J. Stanbury (Thames), '-23miD. .Isec. - , .1898— J. Cjaudaur' beat R. Johnson (Van- ' . ' couver), 20min, 5 4-Ssec. • 1901— G., Towns heat J. ..Gaudaur (Canada), N ■ 20min. 30scc. .- 1904— G. Towns beat ;R. Tresidder (Parra matta), 2iniin;-48 ,4-ssec. 190(5—Stanbury beat Towns, 19min. 47sec. . . 1906—Towns beat Stanbury, l9min. 53jsec. . 1907—Towns , beat: Durnan, 22min. ,27scc. 1907—Webb, beat C, Tov,'ns. ,20mim 45soo;"•

NED HANLAN, "GREATEST ARTIST I EVER'SAW." VIEWS OE AUSTRALIA'S UNBEATEN CHAMPION. (By "Bill" Beach, in. tho Sydney "Referee. ")~N- . So poor. Ned Hanlan has gono! I ani sorry to hear of it'.- . It was a blow to mo, for although we have becu rivals, 1 we wore always, friends, and-I am sorry to hear of a good sport going; under. '-.".Why;'it'was only a few weeks back th.it X heard lio was thinking of. having a trip to Australia, and I. naturally thought lie was in good health. Jfy word;'ho was a good sculler. ' I look back to our first race, and remember that it was only my condition that beat him. :Ho was tho bolter, sculler of tho two then, though. Tho first time I met Ilanlan waa when ho ca.ino' out to row Triekctt, and' I saw what a ■ champion ho iwas. Then a match was arranged, between him and Lay-; cock on tho Nopeiin, which he .won. Then Hanlan and T wore fooling, about for a match for a-good wliilo. \Ho wanted a go for £500 aside, but I did not : have it. Evenutally, 'after somo difficulty, r got a backing, and wo wore: matched for £500 - aside- and the chamoionihio of tho world; %■

. I*always Vthink' ho' had an idea he had to .nieet-'s'oinething. pretty, rough, for\during my race with Tnckott/about that: tinio, Hanlan : eaw/mo'put get out of. tho) way :'of ,tho[.steamers following the «;race,: and I think it always stuck in ;Han- . lan's-,mind.:-, :--(riur : 'match was ■ niado for, August 10," 18i ,< YOU CANV LE4.RN ANYTHING During,the tr-io wo wero training wo often' had.:a' bit of 'i ■ brush-up, but, "of course, neither -of'-'us- 'fnew .whetlior the other . was . all him;[one morning cpm-,' ing to 'train,iiig',|shcd, 'and.asking nip' if [ had / any objection : to. lus : looking at my gear, - boat;-'scuils/.': etc.: -I said ''No,, vou, can't lea'Tn-' anything - from , me,, though 1 might learn something' from you with your years-of -expedience.: Ho had a good.-look .at >e?eirHfiing, hut didn't'say; anything 'about what'ho'Baw. - On leaving he ilnvitcd: mo over to his shed, :but. l never went. 'Ho saw Jack' Double, whowas v supposed to bo my backer, asiho was: going away, and said .ho reckoned I- was: prutty.--fair,' -but ho would beat mo pretty easy. Well, wo got' to the mark,,.and that dittlo smglct incident occurred. . -When Hanlan saw mo take jny singlet , off >ho[ chippfed ' : me about; wanting it 'later, on,, liiiff'4!dvJri!iko 'liiiii; take[ his ■ off; : bofore l finished-with mm; ■ ' Then ■ there .wps another.' incident very'few knotv. ,about:- - we -wero on. tho, mark, lie said to me. ' i '■ "Beach,' I'll bot you £100 I beat you." ,r. "Nb,''y saidilj^yi^haven'tVgot' tho' £100." ' "Bet'you £00, then " "No i J ■. '!Welli -'.my,iboatT> against: yours."', "No,"''l 'said; -"1 might want -my boat to I race. someDody 1 else'; but I'll give you as good a race,as 1 1 can " ■> Attad djd. I, got 'dhead . after half :tho oourspihad been/done;, and I won.- -He put . dowii,,liis;:clofeat,'to'. tihe. wash of the steamer me 'most,: as. Hanlan'i was; a vb,etter, waterman, ' though vho did not i take'tho amount , ot caro ho should ha\ o takcil ~ ' ' Iho'' iVo^met-I got. back on him; over. tlip.:'sido V bet;-.: ' I'. was: ■ tho >■:lion.'this time, and ho'tho lamb a -' "Bet you £100," saiQ'l. "Np." ' '-. "Fifty^theni! l ■:■' "No." ' "W'oll, , I'll ,'give you' tho'.damdest ; hiding you.cvcr'had*in .your .lire!"' . ' . :: ■ And" I: fancy I-did giva him a pretty good doing; as'ne Whs nevcr.ahead from start to finish./..; :';' ; ■: ■

I improved wonderfully between the first and second .races,» though;- -, -In ..a-! trial spin over a 1J mile course . I was 40 scconds faster.-than'in:my first.rnco-witlulum,: and I was ;very confidentiabo.ut -vtho-'seeond.-, t ■ Ho rowed Clifford; a. raco, and I-.was at the start in j my:; boat.'' -•■ AiS: ad<.they had gone a fair .distance I set/ after ,them, and. got to Putney- 40,-seconds-: quicker than -either of

Later he "challenged, did 'to; rowon tho Thames.:ior; .tho • championship . and £500 aside,- and- stated • that ho had,'deposited £100 ;Tvithvthe "Sportsman" in London.''' • I ; accepts, : ;'aha ' went to; England to' pull, hiriiy but;t7hen I:got- to the. "Sportsman"- ofEco I found >ho >had not - put up. any i cash.; •' They referred jnoito Mr.wW.'J.' Innes, of tho "Roferee;"- "There was none thore: -'■•Then Mr. Inriesyywho^was.iitho,'.father rowing- in Englund, vgOt :ujj:" an - international , sculling of £1200.. ..1 ■',won, 'this, and th'en' raced and beat Gaudaur and Ross. CHALLENGE' FOR £0000.

Hanlari arrived in, England > in timo to Bee riio beat Ross, and mo to row fbr : £sooCKl.told'himl.would riot pull liim, as 1 was going' 1 back to- Australia. ;: .1 wouldn't - stop .' there,' - and' pullin cold weather.-. ,;,I asked. him why lie; iiade a fool of me''bver; i tho",previous' challenge, aid told him- I would nat.pull him unless.■ho famo to Australia;' Ho said ho "wouldn't, unless I allowed'; him ; £100, ■ and pulled ,hihi.(«iii) tho NcpcanV'' l 'did not,'agree/to 'this tiiftil! I; got back. ;.to "Melbourne^; where,fJob,.Thompson, tho' bookmaker, masked!ino 'if I; iwould - row Hani in. ;;>.Tho-outcome of; our< conversation was t|iat 'hii ! puc' , up ''£50f) ! for -riie,.arid; cabled Hanlan't£lot), so .that HanJan-had his ,expense's -before' ho lbft London.,'-■ ';,;,■•; <>>: - We-pulled.on tho 1 Nepean|oyer a 3J miles. course:'■ This 'was'. tho - best ■ race Hanlan tyer.gayo.mo, and .it >; was - donoin'lOmin. SSseei? 'a-'recofdi i Hanlan rowed inb a very "'ard iraco,.and wo w;'ere both pretty tired at '•o.' finish:- -Hanlari; didn't, offer' to mako ~y' side!wager- on' tliis' race'. . /', .We had an equal go for :. tho-.first. halfmile. j Then If.got. .in'- froiit, and. Hanlan, wasinmy-wash-up" to tho frnsh. After tho ;race,,'when,r,went t oyer to shako; ; h'ands with him, ho said:.".You had ho business ;to-wash me;'',';;■ 'But;that waschis, owri'fault, hb 1 should have got" Out ; of- : -.-.my; wash; 'didn't make any difference ,to our .friendship, however, as- after the race I went to: Brown's, where Hanlan put'; up, -with • Peter Kemp, my trainer,'and Jack Thompson, and had a jolly half-hour, with 'Hanlan and his; party/ Then; wo/all weirt:fto : ;tho theatre in. the evening, and, all thought of. rivalry, was I gone. ; After that race I're tired, and handed tho championship to, Pote'r'Kemp: • ■ ;Kemp then' , continued * hisS training, and one day 1-, went ?P ;tho rjyer to sen .him./ . Ho chaffcd mo a bit,- and ' said:- "Hanlan wants to v 'row, you again.'' , ! told him I had /loft. off. and didn-fe fwaut.itk)piill any 'more, .'but 'Kemp said, ; ..ft; was afraid,.;or;elso pull Hanlan:'fr;-''Tull!'him!''vV;^id,^l;;« r ''why, I'd. pull -him ; and:.you, too.'' ;'. r THeh v Ke!rip bet. mp;a^b6ttl6 :, .bf.;oVampagiib'-ab6ut::it; and T told- Hanlan's I'.iriet him that: I would IiKO to -"sco Hfinlan 'aboufi :a •; match. Isext, day I, met \HanlaUj and : asked -him if he hadv'told Kemp' ho - to full mo "Yes,",said :'Ne'd : ;:"l ;guessil?would like to'give you another race.'/; ; I told, him '* was "^lijig,.-he would, put up £100 v 'and race weeks not including tuo. championship./*-- •V ' -1 : - : : .get ;':-£SOO very con.y.°W°^lys;v? - .ft row ; hini: for ariv-'-'.'ess*|} It was ■tho.• boot on tlib other foot this timej andyds I told vhim; ho''•would' not^row, me' for 'anything less: iwh'en: ho came to Sydney.... .. .". ~ BREAKS UP-.BADLY. and when it caino' oil it was' as ' good .'a raco as was oyer; witnessed ■ on - the Parramatta' over ono mile, arid;a quarter. .We practically, levelfforr r that'distance. Then ; he,broke up badlyj',; and 'was never. any' trouble afterwards. .'-'V;, r _Wb.; wero : always.'prptty. : g'ood ; friends. When ho was • going ] away;; to America I went on;board .hisj'.steamerjiand', shook hands with him,: arid wishedhim jolly goodluck. That was,the last':,l saw of;himj; though I had hoped, to -see !hini!'if, ho had come out hero shortly,L ;.uriderstood... ho intended to do. '-'■'■.-:;" ri ■".,;> '■■ . 'V *97''. great deal ofi tho art- rowers have since, learned of.•v-fittii^l,'.themselves : up. in their boats s<s. asi to -use -their;strength.;at tho proper tunc -is ta Jfo credited to Hanlan. ,VHo knew; that: before - he. came hero, ■ and we .did Hot-. At least, I. didn't, .and. I know it mado a big difference to me. Ho knew the right length of sculls,.' right' spread, and right, length of stretcher, ,to' use for his slide, and. hocused his jlide tq tho very best advantego:-' v ;'ly consider . him', .the, greatest artist in; alffjigbr ;hoat. I .ever, saw in my life." : Money.was easier to g'et,tlicnv The second time Hanlari' and ,'I pulled ;we had £1300 bteamer; money to .divide,, aud wo charged as much as £10 a ticket.. .Ten,reserved'scats were sold at £10 .apiece. Now people -won't give £1 to see a race. . : :

RACE ON THE NEPEAX. Then.on. tho •■Nepean- wo. got -£800 from trains.. :..IVo hired oight.trains, and got £100 opt of each.- never. Saw such a sight;, as that; ..It-rained, cats and dogs, and the peoplp, golj ..anything, they.. could.. for covering. There' seemed, to be 'millions of nmbiellas, yet there were,,not enough; the piopio : gotf,oilcloth - and hags, -and cut holes ui'ti:L\ni, and.put theirMieads through. TVe pulled' through tho rain, ,but tho yvater was as calm ,as; a -pond.; not a bit of • wind or tide. A fair and square go that. was. Our first; and second rapes on the Parramatta brought the biggest;, crowds ever seen there. ~;And;the,people went mad. -Two or three .jumped overboard, ;0r were pushed over, ;in:, the :• excitement, ■ while - many who had climbod i into •trees, to; get. a look at us were flopped into, the water through branches breaking. I couldn't hear anything but a continual "Hoorayl"