The Sculling Championship.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 102, 27 October 1888, Page 2

The Sculling Championship.

Great interest centres in fhet face which cornea off to-day in Sydney between Peter Kemp and Henry E. Searlo for the sculling championship of tho world. Kemp has now thrice s'ccCeTwfiillj defended the title since it was handed over iUVi/tt by Beach. His first opponent was Clifford, and oft tbo other two occasions his challenger was Hrinltfrt This time it is a young and promising Anstftrtiftn sculler who aspires to the honour, and although ho is a mere lad— only 22— his performances bavo beon of so sterling a character as to r&ma his friends to make him a strong favourite fc# today's raoe. . The following interesting sfectcif $ his oareor is taken from the Sydney Town' ffifld Country Journal of the 13th instant, which afoo 1 publishes a portrait of tho rising young sculler :'— Henry E, Soarle, is a native of Graf ton, Clarence Biver, N.S.W., having been born there on 14th July, 1866. His height is sft 10in, chest measurement 41£ in, and he is 16in round tha oalf. His weight, when rowing, is list 01b t but out of training he scales 13st 3lb. Searle's first experience in rowing was gained during his school days, when be hffd to rdw to school and back, a distance of three #iled| e&oti way. troth morning and evening". A row 6? six miles per day fot a mere boy must necessarily fiav'e hardened both musoles and consltiitifcrn ;' &W there is no doubt that this early training irqa the primary cause of his turning out the splendid sculler he is at tho present timo. Searlo's first attempt at racing was at Chatsworth on 9th November, 1884, a contest in watermen's skiffs, whioh he won. His next appearance was at Harwood, in May, 1885, where he won the light skiff race. On the same day, in company with J. Fisher, he scoured the first prize in a double-soull race in watermen's skiffs. In January, 1886, he again appeared iv a light skiff raoe at Harwood, over a three miles Cotlrse, and was again successful] M. Wftllade being Boacmd. On tho samo day no waß defeated by Wallace over a mile course; Searlo boir/g second. In April of the sairio year he competed in a light skiff race at Chatsworth, and again won ; A. Bakor being second, Wallace third, Busoh fourth, and . Jj. Pringle fifth. Two days aftor this, at Yamba, iv skiffs, ho was beaten tby A. Baker, oarrying S fedthor. Searle, carrying 101b, was seoond ; and M. Wallace, f eathor, third. Not long aftor this, at Palmor's Island, ho met and defeated M. Wnllace, A. Bakor, and G. Baker. Tho weights were— Searle 161b, M. Wallace 101b, A. Baker 161b, and G. Baker feather. In July of tho samo year, at Chatgworth, Searle rowed M. Wallace a private match in light skiffs, and placed another win to his credit. Shortly afterward ho was rriatoifed against S. Davis over a oourso of about 2f mi left, and came off victorious onco more. At Palmer's* Island, in November of tho same, year, he was defeated by A. Baker, who carried 81b; Searle boing Booond with 281b, M. Wallace third 71b, and J. Read fourth with feather weight. In April of last year, in a handicap by timo allowance, Searlo, with 20soo start from D. M'Donald, tho scratch mall, won ; M'Donald being second ; M. "Wallace, 4Ssec, third j and A. Baker, 2Gsoo, fourth. In November lasc, in anothor light skiff raoe at Chatsworth, with a handicap of 351b, he once mote passed the post first) M. Wallace, feather, being second) R. Brown, 151b, third ; and A. Baker, 201b, fotirth. 'Searle's next performance was on 2nd January this year, at the Clarence River Aquatic Carnival, when, in his first attempt in outriggers, ho scored another win by beating Chris. Neilson, from whom he receivod throo and a-half lengths' start, dnd Hearn, tho champion of New Zealand, who had to concede to him two and a-half lengths. This was a great surprise to everyone, as Searle's previous performances had been in skiffs ; and it was not rxpectod that he would havo sneceeded so well in an outrigger. It was. thorefore, no matter for surprise to notico so promising a sculler taken in hand by Neil Matterson, who brought him to Sydney, and has hod a watchful eye on him ever since his arrival in the metropolis. His first match after his arrival in Sydney was with Wulf, the race taking place over the Parramatta championship course on 16th June last, when Searle won easily. This race was for JIOO a side. Stansbury, the Shoalhavon sculler, having a fortnight previously to this last race defeated Wulf, a matoh was arranged between Searle and Stansbury for i! 100 a side. This was rowed on 13th .Inly last; and after a splendid race all through Searle won, and broke all previous reoords in any race over the Parramatta champion course — the time being 19min 53f sec. A matoh had then been made between Searle and W. Hngheß, of Newcastle, for J2IOO a side, to row on the Hunter River; Searle to ooncede Hughes a start of lOsee. Bnt in the meantime* Neilsen's friends were anxious to try their man against the Clarence River man, and a raoe was arranged to take place on 14th September, over the Parramatta' course, for .£IOO. This race was rather disappointing to Neilsen's friends, as Searle had his opponent beaten at Uhr'a Point, and won easily. His engagement with Hughes having been fixed for the sth of this month, he, with Neil Matterson, left for Newcastle, to train on the Huntor Biver. This race took place on the date fixed; and Searle, although he conceded Haghos lOseo, won in tho hollowost manner possiblfl, stopping several times to fix his rowloak and bail his boat out. He is now matched against Peter Kemp for JBSOO a-side and the championship of the world ; the race to take place on the 27th instant. It is very likely that he will start a favourite in this race. Should he win this contest, arrangements have been made for him to meet the famous Amorican sculler, John Teemer, in six months from the Kemp engagement. ifilOO a-side havo already been deposited; and, should Searlo win his Kemp fixture, a date will then bo fixed. This intonded race will be for .£SOO and the championship. Searle has been anxious to have a "go" at Hanlan, and has challenged him in the papors, offering to back himsolf at .£SOO to .£250. But tho Canadian has declined to accept the terms. We are not likely to roceivo tho resnlt much before 7 o'clock.