AQUATIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7484, 25 February 1885, Page 2

AQUATIC.

* HANLAN AND CLIFFORD FOE .£IOOO. The sculling match between Edward Hanlan, of Toronto, Canada, and Thomas Clifford, of New South Wales, came <?ff over the Championship Course (3 miles 3lso yards), Parramatta River, on Feb. 7. The following cable message has been received: —" Heavy rain fell before the race commenced, and the water was consequently smooth. The race resulted in an easy victory for Hanlan by fully eight lengths. He led from start to finish, and was never asked to pull. Clifford rowed gamely throughout, but without effect. Time—21min 4sec."

Hanlan and Clifford were interviewed by. a 'Daily Telegraph reporter after the race. A portion of the interview with the Canadian is as follows: —"How did you row at the start ?" " I went as I nearly always do, at a big rate, and I saw at once that Clifford meant business too. I looked at him every now and then, and really it seemed either that he was much bigger than he really was, or I much'smaller. His size so appalled me, and I was so scared to see him keeping up with me in the first mile, and with me again at a mile and a half, where I expected to have a lead of several lengths, that I feel now surprised and can hardly believe that I won the race. I only know that I have won. You don't know how glad I was to see this big man ease off at a mile and a half. It does seem indeed a mystery to me that I should have beaten a man 2st 21b heavier than I am after a mile and a half in a three mile race." " And you didn't think the race was yours for some time after that P " " No, I did not think to myself, ' I have got him,' till I reached Gladesville. I kept a watchful eye on him all the time. There was no looking around to keep out of the way of sharks." " Did Clifford get away first ? " " So my friends say. I thought I got the start. I know I broke away once or twice before he was ready, and I think it was the third time I called to him that we went away. I shall never forget his size as he appeared to me at that moment. Anyhow he is the biggest men I ever saw in a boat, and I don't want to row him any more. I prefer little men, and I think it is time anyhow that you Australians gave me a show with a man my own size. Now, I don't want you to think I am crowing, bantam-like, of my littleness; but it is to me extraordinary that all your scullers that I have rowed with are the biggest in the world. There is no part of the world where you would get four big champions of one sporting profession like Beach, Trickett, Laycock and Clifford." "How do you account for Clifford's easing down?" "Why did I ease down when Beach caught up to me ? They say a steam-engine eases down when the steam is becoming exhausted; so it is with me in a race, and so it was, I suppose, with Clifford on Saturday. I saw enough of him in the race (and I never saw him row like it before) to satisfy me that he is a much better man than some people think. There is no doubt that the rolling which his boat suffered helped to beat him. "And what of his style of rowing?" " Although he can go at a big pace, he has a lot to learn before his style can be called perfect. I have seen very little of him on the river in practice, as he always appeared disinclined to show his form when I was about, and yesterday I had no chance to form a good idea of his style. To judge a man's rowing well you must look at him coming and passing you. I saw him coming yesterday, but I wasn't sufficiently desirous of learning his style as to allow him to pass me for that purpose. From what I have seen of him on the river, he is not as active as he might be, and does not swing evenly his legs, body, and arms. He rows, however, a fine long

stroke, and wpfch.it manages to get a splendid pace out.oMhis. boat." ''What are your intentions after your next race ?" " Win or lose I intend to>;go to Toronto. I like you well enough' to say I shall like you better if I carry away the championship." "You have no intention of settling in Australia, I suppose ?" "No, not at present. I shall probably put in the next five years in Toronto. Though I have said so lots of times, I should like to say again, I have enjoyed my trip, and add to that, that I shall never forget the good reception I got after the race on Saturday." "Do you entertain, the idea of retiring from rowing ? " " Yes! I do. If I beat Beach there is only another man in the world I want to have a race with before retiring, that is Teemer of America. I have had four or five races with him, and have always beaten him, but it appears he has shot ahead, and is regarded now as a perfect terror, and if I beat him again I shall have had a good innings and should then like to retire 'not out.'" Clifford admits that he was fairly beaten ; but like Hanlan complains bitterly of the way in which steamers and open boats were allowed to go about the course.