SCULLING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 521, 31 May 1909, Page 5

SCULLING.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF AUSTRALIA. PEARCE WINS. EASILY HOLDS THE CHAMPION, (nr TEl.Knßini—l'itr.as association—ranatanTJ (Reo. May 30, 4.45 p.m.) Sydney, . May 30. la the sculling match for the championship of Australia, rowed yesterday on tho Parra'matta River, B. Thoroughgood, tho champion, was beaten by. H. Pearco, tho challenger, by two lengths. Thoroughgood won choice of positions. Pearco wont ahead in tho first few strokes. At a mile and a quarter Thoroughgood pulled up on his opponent, but could not head him; Pearco then going away again, pulling a faster stroke. Thoroughgood made desperate efforts to overhaul his opponent, but Pearce responded magnificently every time. Ho easily held Thoroughgood to tho finish, where ho was two lengths to tho good. The time was 21 minutes 19 seconds. PEARCE'S CAREER. ENGLISH AND CANADIAN TOURS. : B. Thoroughgood acquired the title of cham< pion of Australia from R. Trcsidder, who. was defeated by. Wm. Webb for tho world's championship at WaDganui, and who, on retiring, handed over' his Australian title to Thoroughgood. Tho latter had to defend himself against the New Zealandor Whelch last year, and on the Raymond Terrace course.dofeated Whelch easily by threo lengths. The New Zealander, since beating Fogwell at Alcaroa, has expressed a dosire to again contest the Australian title. Therefore, as Pearoe has beaten Thoroughgood, a Pcarce-Wheloh match may perhaps be ono of tho noxt sonlling events. What Beach Said. The victory of Pearce over Thoroughgood cannot bo said to be a surprise. When R. Arnst mado his first great step towards aquatic fame by beating Pearce, the old sculler Beach said: "Pearco pulled a great race, and I am' satisfied no man in Australia but Arnst could lower his colours. Within a few months Arnst will'bo the champion of the world." Beach was right about Arnst, and ho is probably not' far wrong about the quality of Pearce. According to recpnt Sydney files, Pearce's weight is about 12st. Sib., his rato of striking is abonl 28 to 30, and ho is about 29 years of ago. Thoroughgood was scaling ISst. • Blb., and was. described as in fine fcttlo. "The champion (says a recent scribc). has gone into his new shell, which enrries him splendidly. Ho is a big man, scaling some 1901b., and needs a big boat. The ship was built by Geoige Towns. His greatest trouble at present is that he can't get a pair of sculls strong enough for him." Nev; Champion's Earlier Racing, Pearce is no child af tho game. 'Ho has sculled in Britain and Canada as well as in Nova Scotia. Henry Pearce began,to race on November' 9, 1895. at Balmain Regatta, as a youth under 17. He won easily from G. Fisher, to whom he allowed lOsec., also from C. Messenger, who'was on the same mark, and finished' third. Two years later he won tho All-comers' Race at Balmain, having -Msec, from R. Tresidder, who was second, and several others. Yot another two years and ho was on the same mark as Tresidder, and although a very young than he shaped remarkably well against wellseasoned scullers. ■. This was in 1899, and at Balmain Regatta. He was just about this timo a constant handicap rower, and had done well, and in good company, too. At Anniversary Regatta, 1900. Pearoe had to allow Charles Towns 225e0., ana after a very fino race tho Newcastle lad soored a win, with Pearce close up. Tho Anniversary Regatta.Committeo of 1901 gave a prize of JCIOO for a scratch race in best boats, over a conrso of. one mile, and a half, on> the Parratnatta. It was a great struggle for a- mile, but after that Pearce rowed away, and won by two .lengths from C. Nielsen and A. Worboys, the time being fast—Bmin. 52sec. Pearje Overseas. ' Shortly afterwards Pearce visited England, where George Towns was at the timo engaged to row James Wray. .After, this he accom■named Towns to Canada, and at Rat Portage .beat'J. Hackett in a mile and a half race for .£IOO stakes, the timo boing 9min. 42sec. A few (lays later a handicap was rowed at Winnipeg, in nwhich T. Sullivan (3sec.).won, with Pearco (Bsec.) second, G. Towns (sot.), , third, and E. Durnon (sor.), fourth. Returning to England, Pearco rowed W. Barry, (eldsr brothor of the present English champion, E. Barry), a conrso of threo miles on tho Tyne in best boats, and was beaten (Febrnary 10, 1902). A fortnight later, in open skiffs, Pearco beat Barry over a course of one mile and a quarter for JE2OO stakes. It. was very cold weather, and did not suit tho Australian. * Later in tho year ho returned home," and without much delay he was matched against R. Trcsidder. for .£IOO a side; over the full course on the Parramatta River. Pearco led for a mile and a quarter, when ho was no longer able to stand the strain of heading Irssidder, who passed to tho front, and von easily. Prom that time (1003) till l:>st year Pearco was not so regular a competi'ir at regattas, one reason being ho had not the rime' to train. He, however, has been shaping well, una Somp time ago was anxious to row another raoii with Tresidder, but they never met.