SCULLING CONTEST

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1923, Page 5

SCULLING CONTEST

PADDON WINS EASILY. HADFIELD OUTCLASSED. ;Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, July 22. An unprecedented crowcl lined the banks of the Richmond River, near the finishing post, to witness the sculling championship on Saturday. Nondescript conveyances came from all directions, some from as far away as Queensland, and presented a motley spectacle for the northern rivers. The weather was fine. There was a strong south-west breeze. The tide was at its flood. Paddon weighed 14st 21b, and Hadfield 12st 71b.

Both men moved off from an excellent start. Hadfield rowed at 33 strokes to the minute, and Paddon at 35. The latter immediately went to the front. He led by half a length at fifty yards. The champion was rowing freely, but the New Zealander was disturbed by the choppy water. When three-quarters of a mile had been traversed Hadfield endeavoured to overtake Paddon, but the latter drew in front of the visitor, and gave him his wash. The New Zealander - several times floundered badly in the rough water. On one occasion he lost half a length when the rough water reached him.

Passing the mile, Paddon rowed 40 strokes and Hadfield 45 to the minute, with three lengths separating them. Hadfield at half-dway pulled towards the centre of the course to avoid Paddon’s wash, but the champion also pulled over. It was noticed that Hadfield missed *with his right several times, and from thence to the finish he relied mainly on his left. At two and a-quarter miles, Paddon increased his lead to ten lengths, but the New Zealander, striking smooth water, threatened to creep up on the champion. Rounding the bend of the river, the visitor again encountered rough, open water, and his boat rocked like a match-box in midocean. The champion did not experience the same difficulty, as he knew the vagaries of the river, and he allowed his boat to ride the water. Hadfield pluckily made a ff al effort to overhaul his opponent, when nearing the finish, and he reduced.the lead to six lengths. On their entering the straight, the crowd cheered when they saw Paddon leading. The champion then clapped on the pace and won by 12 lengths. Ihe time was ISmin 19sec. Both men were wildly cheered by the spectators. Paddon said it was a harder race than the one he had at Wanganui. Hadfield was at a disadvantage through the rough water, but he had rowed a game race. Hadfield admitted that Paddon was' the better man. By bad luck he got into rough'water. If asked to practise on it, he would have refused.

Ihe published reports vary greatly regarding the number of ’engths of Paddon’s win, ranging from six to 12 lengths.

The second race resulted in Major Goodsell beating Sharpe (New Zealand) by half a lengtVi. life race was for £lOO a-side. The pair kept together for the greater part of the journey. A quarter of a mile from the finish, Goodsell had a length to spare, but the New Zealander, in a fine spurt, gradually reduced this margin by half. THE UMPIRE’S OPINION. SYDNEY, July 22. With the official pronouncement still wanting, five different estimates of the length of Paddon’s win are circulated. The “Herald” makes it nine lengths, and the “Telegraph” six. After the race, the umpire, W. Beach, said that it was a one-man race. Paddon was never extended. He declared the course was good. Hadfield described Paddon as the fastest sculler in the world. CHALLENGE FROM HANNAN SYDNEY, July 23. Paddon, referring to a challenge by Hannan said: “I agree to row in New Zealand provided my expenses are paid, so that the stake will be quite clear.”