PADDON'S WIN

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 27, 1 August 1923, Page 10

PADDON'S WIN

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

THE RACE DESCRIBED

•Fifteen thousand people Baw Jama? Paddon,'of Evans Head, retain his title ot world's champion sculler against Dnrcy Hndfield. of Xew Zealand, on tlio Richmond River, on. 2 lst July, in a wee which will live long in'the memory of those who saw it, on accounfc of the New Zealander's plucky fight, against the champion, who had complete mastery of the race from thestart, says a writer in the Sydney "Sun."

-the roadway fronting tl le river at the finish was lined with a black mass' ot people, and -when the championcrossed the finishing line tho scenes of enthusiasm were unparalleled in the history of sculling on the Northern Kiveis. .Ihe crowd cheered and. cheered. Not only did they cheer the winner but they cheered the little New Zeaiander for the admirable fight that he put up in the choppy water. Although he was beaten from the time the men left the starting post he hung on to the Kvans Head man with bull-' dog tenacity, but was always forced to give way to the champion when the open water was encountered. ■When the two men left to take up then- positions at tho starting post exc.tement was at fever heat. Hadfield did the three-mile trip down the river by launch with his trainer, George lowns, while the champion rowed to the starting point, Hadfield arrived about 15 minutes before the champion, and when Paddon'came in sight he took his seat in his boat.

The weights of the two men were announced as Paddon 14st 21b, and Hadfield 12st 71b.

Both scullers paddled to the starting imSj where they were :to commence rowing by mutual consent. They shook hands, and Paddon took the northern shore. After . finessing for a start for about five minutes Paddon broke away,, but Hadfield ■ wasn't ready. Another 10 minutes and the pair broke away to a beautiful start. Hadi field struck water,. and ■ rowed at 33 ■ while Paddon knocked up 35. Paddon immediately assumed tTie lead, and at fifty yards was leading by half a length. Paddon -rowed freely, but Hadfield was troubled greatly by the choppy water. A strong south-west broeze was blowing, and the. tide was at the flood. Paddon. was swinging well, and was getting a lot of pace from his drive. Immediately the race started, cars along the river bank set out in pursuit of the two scullers. Horses were put to the gallop. ; NEW ZEALANDER IN TEOUBLE. Hadfield put on the pace at three-quar-ters of a mile, and attempted to draw level with Paddon. Paddon crossed in front of him and Hadfield got the wash from the champion's boat. The rough water had the New Zealander at sea, and several times he floundered ominously.. Once when the rough water struck him he lost almost half a length, and when they reached the mile Paddon was three lengths in advance of the challenger. Just beyond the mile post Paddon was rowing, at 40, while Hadfield was doing, 45. Hadfield set out after the cham-' pion and reduced the gap to about three lengths. Hadfield missed several times' with his right, and seemed to be putting' more work into his left scull. I

Passing the punt, which is about half-i way, Paddon drew away slightly. Here Hadfield realised that Paddon was directly in front of him, and that he was geting his wash. Hadfield then pulled across to the centre of the course, in an' endeavour to get under the lee of the shore, the champion immediately adopt-, ed the same tactics.

Hadfield kept using his left, and was getting good work into his drive, but the. right was a dead loss to him.

From this out the champion rowed his own race, but Hadfield fought over every inch of the journey. Hadfield eventually got in smooth water, and it looked as if he would pull up on the champion, but Paddon got over, into the same water, and was quickly sharing the benefits of the smooth going with the New Zealander.

Paddon was then ten lengths in front of his opponent, but a spurt by the New Zealander reduced the lead by. a length Passing the 2i miles Paddon had increased his lead to ten lengths. Aftar they had rounded a turn in the river, open water was again encountered, and Hadfield's boat rocked and'bumped like a cockle shell. Hadfield took the rough water too fast, and consequently the damage done by the impact was more severe than if he had allowed his boat to ride the water a little.

The champion did not have the same difficulty as the New Zealander, because he adopted better tactics. Of course, Paddon knew every inch of the river, but Hadfield also had said that he knew it, too.

Hadfield was worried near the finish, tut managed to get within six lengths of the champion. As the scullers neared. the finishing mark the crowd went wild with delight, when it was seen that Paddon was in : the lead. TEey cheered the two men right down the straight, and above the din could be heard the New Zealand manager's final exhortations to Hadfield to do his best. Paddon kept gome at a fast pace, and Hadfield rowed pluckily to the finish, but did not .overhaul the champion who at the pistol crack was 12 lengths in front of the New Zealander. As soon as Paddon stopped rowing he fell forward on his oars. He was not exactly distressed, but he had rowed o hard* race, and had not Riven the New Zealander the slightest opportunity to- | get within striking range. Hadfield was not distressed, and ■as soon as he had rested for a moment he rowed over to the champion and shook hands with him. • The crowd cheered the New Zealander for his sportsmanlike conduct. Near the steps Paddon called for three cheers for Hadfield, and the crowd lesponded and threw their hats in the air. Then Hadfield called for three cheers for Paddon. and the crowd's enthusiasm knew no bounds. It was indeed a thrilling- instance of true sDortsmanshii>. " '■ GOOD TIME RECORDED. The time for the race was announced as 19.19, which was particularly good considering the rough nature of the water. Interviewed after race, the champion said: "It wag a hard race—ranch harder than when I rowed Hadfield on the Wanganui. Hadfield was undoubtedly at.' a disadvantage in the rough water at the start, and for the next mile. I gained the lead early in the race, and was able to hold it to the finish, although it was no easy matter. . Hadlield rowed^a name race. _ Anybody else who wants to row me will ha.ye to pill up the. money lively. 1 won't hove- any more long-drawn-out negotiation's." Hadfield said thai, lie would give in 'that Paddon was the better man. "It wns bad luck that I c ot. into th.-it rough water, but you must ;idmif, that it v,:nn not a proper day for scullinpr," .-ultlod Hadfield. "If v mn n hnri. boon ;ls l< (J ,l to go out on tbnt water to pv.-ictiee ji 0 yiosli hmsstesi After. &s lirei tni}.,

when I struck the rough water, it was a matter for Paddon only to keep in the lead. Still, I tried all the way, and you must admit that there was not much in the race at times."

George Towns, trainer of Hadfield, said that if the water had been smooth Hadfield would have done much better. .Hadfield was not a cood rough-water culler, and it was a pity that the race had to be rowed under such conditions.