SCULLING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1914, Page 7

SCULLING.

. ' ■■--■rr*- ■— — WORLD'S TITLE.

P ADDON'S VISIT TO ENGLAND. James Paddon has left Australia for England in order to meet Ernest Barry for the world's sculling championship ©.n the Thames. It is interesting to note (says the Sydney Morning Herald) that, although. Faddon is Si© thirteenth Australian .sculler.'who- will have gone to England -witih a definite mission, he is only the third whose end in view was to regain for Australia the world's sculkng championship. Edward Ta-ickett went to England in 1876 to inaugurate the title; and lie came back holder of it, "but it was left to George Towns ami Harry Pearce to attempt to regain *he honor. Towns did, but Pearoe failed! .rather badly. Of the thirteen scullers referred' to, the^ ■ fire* was Richard Green, who in 1863 made^t'he long trip to row the late Robert CJhambers, who was the champion of England. Green became.ill, and was Ibeaten, but when he sought a return match, the stakes for which were to I>e found by the late Hon. George 'Thornton, M.L.C., 'Chambers de•clined to row again. , In 1876 Triokett left us for the ex- i press purpose of sculling the rV>g- | vised champion of England, Joseph H. SadleiS who had also proved that lie was more than a match for the American scullers. It was agreed that the race should be for the sculling championship of the wo rid, ■ and £200 a side stake •money.- Trackefct won. easily. Four years later, Hanlan, the Canadian, had beaten all opponents, and' disputed! the right of 'Trickett to hold the title. In Australia there was a rival in M. Rush, "but as Tricketit had beaten him v for ih© title, he refused to row him again until lie 'had settled with Hanlan on -tfho neutral waters of the Thames. Hanlan won on November 15th, 1880. Elias Laycock was in England, -fco "row for the Hop Bitters i prize of, £1000. He won three traces', besides •'first prize of £500 in the'-Hop Bitters,-';a-nd in February ;of the following year rowed Hanlan for his newlygained honor, but he was beaten, the weather being dreadfully sold. Trickett was away for two years, during wihich time he was again beaten "by Harilan. In 1882 Henry Pearce (senior) went to. England to (row, John Largan for the English championship, but he was unsuccessful. Laycock \sas Pearce's ♦companion, his mission being to row the late Robert Watson Boyd. He won very easily, much to the surprise of those" who favored the chances of "his rival, and betted largely at* odds •of 5 tol.

William Beach, became chamtMoh in 1884 by defeating the late Edward Hanlan, and after -he had vanquished, "his rivals in Australia lie went to lEngland, first to compete -in the Thames Sculling Sweepstakes, valued at over £2500, and in the second place to row anyone for the world's title. "Within the space of twenty-six days "Beach, won first prize in the, sweepstake (£1334), and. beat both Gaudaur "•and Wallace Ross for /the championshipship. Both were Canadian scullers of good quality. Neil Matterson and Peter Kemp ■were companions to iihe famous exchampion, but did not meet with, very much success., This all happened in the summer of 1886. Beach was the first Australian to take the championship away (to England), a-nd- bring it I>ack; amd only one other has done so. 'The late Henry Searle won the title in Australia in 1888, Beach having retiredl, and next year Tie took it to England, so as to meet the Canadian, William J. O'Connor, on the Thames. He won, "but it was. a good race. Searle was accompanied by Neil Mat-tpi-son, who was keen on winning the English title-; and he did so. Searle <Jid not lhre to see Sydney again, but the iritle: got back all right. ■ James Stansbury could not make any more matdhes in Australia, so he loft for England, in 1896 to row Charles K. Harding on the Thames for the world's title. He was successful in this match, but a few weeks later }io was beaten by Gaudaivr, who unexpectedly appeared in England. ' bo ■that Stansbury, like Trickett, .took the title away, and could' not bring it* back.,

In the following year, however, <Jeorge Towns left for England, pre r pared to row anyone, and after some minor matches he won the championship of England twice, following this «p by taking tho world's- title away from Gaudau r,' exactly five years after the defeat of Stansbary. . Tn 1900 Harry Pearco was in England, where lie won a race from William Barry, lifcewiso losing one to him. Towns regained the chnmpionship in September, 1901, and -brought it back to Australia. Several years t later, having rctii'cd, ho was prevailed ur>on to return to the Thames to row'''Ernest* Barry'for the English title. He was past his best day, and failed, but only after leading for more than half the course. R./Artist becamo champion, and having settled all opposition in Australia, went to the Zambesi, to meet Ernest Barry, whom he defeated. A tempting offer was then, made jbim to tow Barry on the Thames, ! and he accented. Tlie result is wed JiTjown to' all followers of rowing. Shortly before this William Fogwcll wont to 'England to scull Baa-ry for *he> English t?itle, and was easily. Jbeaten: . Harry Peairco made his second trip, this time to attempt to faring back the world's title. He failed a-ntlier badly. B-osides those mentioned. Chris Nielsen visited England in 1836, but it wns not with the obiw; of racing, which, however, he dip, With some decree of succefis. Tom Bullivan left us in 1893, rowed several races, and has resided, in England -ever since, but in leaving us his chief tobiect may not have been to race. Trickett, Stamsbury, and. Arnst liavo taken the championship to .the Thames and loft it there. _ Only George Town,^. has regained it away from home, and he did not do it # on the Tliames, but in Canada. There is fe. strong belief among rowing men in Sydney that not only will Paddon_ be the second scullor to bring it back, I>lit'that he will also 'have th© distinction of being tho first to regain it on. t/he Thames. He will have the bast (wishes of all Australian sportsmen in Jbis difficult task.