SCULLING CLASSIC

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 26 August 1933, Page 8

SCULLING CLASSIC

BEACH’S GREATEST VICTORY EXCITED THAMES-SIDE CROWD. DEFEAT OF CANADIAN CHADLEN GER. (By “Physical Culturist.”) New Zealand has had some, great oarsmen in the hist fifty years, commencing with “Billy’’ Webb, followed by Arnsbv Hadfieid =and Hannan and others of lesser note, though it is doubtful if any race roused quite such widespread interest as that which took place between Beach, the Australian, and Gaudaur, the Canadian, on the Thames in 1836. It will oe remembered that when William Beach defeated the Canadian, Edward Hanlan, on the Paramatta, it created a sensation, as Hanlan was looked upon as a super-man and, without a doubt, he was a wonderful sculler. It was scarcely thought that Beach, who was then in his 39th year, would succeed where other younger men had failed. However, he had not sapped Jus strength by early training and when, at a much later age than most oarsmen begin, he first sat in an outrigger, he began a brilliant career at a. time when sculling was a leading' sport, maintaining in its ranks such men as Hanlan, Beach and Gaudaur, closely followed by such men as Teenier, Wallace-Ross, Bubear and others too numerous to mention. After Beach took the cTiampionshiip frjom Hanlan the latter tried twice to win back the title, but each time in vain, Beaoli proving an easy victor on each occasion.

It was nearly fifty years ago that Beach won the title, in 1884 or 188.5. In 1886 he- went to England where, in the space of four weeks, lie- raced five times over tlie F'utney-to-jUort-lake course, winning each time sweepstakes and matches. The hardest race of his career was undoubtedly the one with Gaudaur, the details oi which I take from a special message to the “Sydney News,” as follows: “The race that took place to-day on the Thames between William Beach of Sydney, the champion sculler of the world,‘and Jacob Gaudaur, the Canadian oarsman, resulted in the finest aquatic -struggle that lias ever boon witnessed. Beach, in his last race, lowered the record for the championship course and he has now brought the tune measurement for this clis-i tance to a phenomenal minimum. It J is- impossible to describe the excite-j ment that was occasioned by this match. This event was looked torward to as the one that was to- decide whether or not the ‘Australian Wonder,’ as Beach is now styled, should retain the distinction lie has so far protected against the muscular assaults of the English and American scullers. Never has there been such scenes witness on the Thames as those evoked by the aquatic contests that have taken place during the present season and never has there been witnessed in the history of the aquatic world such a sight as that produced bv this contest. Sporting London seemed to have gone mad and the Thames was alive with excitement. The whole length of the championship course was fringed with row upon row of excited partisans. It was a- wonderful sight and the combining circumstances stamp Beach as the victor of a race, the particulars of which will be handed down to posterity. Beach has, by his marvellous powers, his indomitable pluck and not-to-be-beaten tenacity, won' for himself an immortal name.”

This is th© substance of wliat lias appeared in the London “Sporting Press”: “The race was phenomenal, not only from the fact of the extraordinarily fast time in which it was rowed, but also from the fact of Beach having twice stopped during tlie race. It seemed as though the champion was dead beaten. Then, as if electrified by the thundering cheers of his supporters, he fell to liis gallant work again and, with the courage of a lionhearted conqueror, be went in nursuitj of his iron-muscled foe. This occurred twice. In the first attempt Beach failed to put his enemy behind him; hut, encouraged by the promptings of. his coach and the wonderworking calls of “Go on Beach” from the following boats, be pulled, with the result that lie completely wore down the Canadian. “Soon after the time appointed for tho beginning of the race the two scullers made their appearance. Both men were in splendid trim. Beach, sitting high in his boat-, seemed much the bigger man. His opponent, however, stripped in grand style and looked, as he took a few preliminary strokes, to row like clockwork. Beach made no pretence to show form. He quietly pulled to his mooring station, be having chosen the Surrey side, and there awaited the completion of bis final arrangements. Both men were received with a roll ol thundering applause that seemed to be taken up by the almost countless masses along the river and, as the first flush of excited demonstrations seemed to die away at the starting point far away down the river, a low rumbling of cheers could be heard on the Press boat.” Next week 1 purpose describing what was the greatest and most sensational race in the history of sculling.