SCULLING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 257, 27 September 1933, Page 12

SCULLING

PEARCE AND PHELPS.^ BRIEF SKETCHES. Phelps, who was beaten for the world’s sculling championship by Pearce, is the son of Bossie Phelps, the Thames professional coach. He is about 25 years of age, and defeated Major Goodsell at Long Beach, California last September. Phelps won tho title from Bert Barry, whom he defeated in June, 1930, and again four months later. Barry defeated Major Goodsell at Vancouver in 1927, Goodsell having held the title since tho retirement of James Paddon in 1924. Pearce may rightly be described as the greatest amateur sculler the world has seen. Commencing his sculling career by winning the Walker and Hall Cup on the Parramatta River, Sydney, he quickly gained the State and Australian championship titles, and in 1928 he recorded Australia’s only victory at the Olympic Games, establishing a world’s record for the 2000 metres course in one of the heats. Ho has since won the Diamond Skulls at Hen-ley-on-Thames, the champiinship of the British Empire, the Canadian and American .National championships, and he successfuliv defended his title at the Olympic Games at Los Angeles last year. Ho ha.s never been defeated in a scratch race. Parce rowed against Phelps in the Dewar 111., built for him by A. and H. Green, at Abbotsford, the third of the boats presented to him by Lord Dewar. OLD-TIME SCULLERS. FORMER WORLD CHAMPIONS AT WEDDING. Two former world champion scullers, Messrs IV. Beach and J. Stanbury, attended a wedding at Ryde (Sydney) recently. Mr Stanbury is the father of the bride, Miss Amy Stanbury. Mr Chris. Nielsen, a life-long friend of the two champions, who made Air Stnnbury’s racing boats, was also present. Although he never contested world championship events, because of his light weight, Mr Nielsen holds the record for the championship course of 3 miles 330 yards on the Parramatta River. On September 17, 1892, Mr Nielsen rowed over the course in 17 minutes 46£ seconds, which is just under two minutes faster than the fastest time put up in a world’s championship event by R. Arnst in 1911. The three veterans carry their years lightly, W. Beach, despite his eighty odd years, being hale and hearty, travelling down from the Shoalhaven specially for the wedding of his old friend’s daughter. Mr Beach gave the opinion that the Nepean course at Penrith is the finest in Australia, and believes that before long it will come in to prominence as the course for the G.P.S. events. “Because it is a fresh water stream rowing is harder on the Nepean,” said Air Beach, “but it is as fair for one as for the other.” Alany famous championships of the past were yarned over by the famous trio.