AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5997, 5 February 1881, Page 6

AQUATICS.

Tiie Australian Sportsman savs :—At the Intercolonial Regatta the general impression, was that had the -wind been stronger the Taniwha •would have shown the Janet a clean pair of heels. A late telegram (says the Melbourne Lullctm) to Joe Thompson states that "the to one on Hanlau," and' John further Haitian is " too good for any mail in the woridr-—■-_ The following is a letter written by Hanlan Xnior to his match with Trickett :—'"lhave seen Edward Trickett, champion sculler from Australia, and thiuklcan justaboutbeat him, although he is a good man—much better than some people think. I have seen him and Laycock rowing very fast npon the water. Hosmer, the American oarsman, will * have a hard race all the way if he wins. I thinkit Hosmer is all right he will beat Laycock. 1 am feeling very well, and am rowing up to my old form. I was terribly sick all the way over, and I assure you that when Ige to England again to row it will be for more than £200 a-side. The betting will be abont 2 or 3to 1 on me to win the race. The Australian, Trickett, thinks he can beat any man who sits in a boat; but when I get him alongside of me he will find a race cut out for him from start to finish if he beats me. I think lam sure to win if I ke<?p well; and I can assure you that I will do my best; not only for myself and friends, but for the honour of the country across the water which I love so well."

"Eobin Hood," in the Australasian, writes : —"ln all my experience in sporting matters on both sides of the world, I have never yet met a man who has been such an all-round popular favourite as is Laycock. Amongst thu Putney working men and riverside employes, he is simply idolised; there never was a man, say they, like Laycock. All the way on both sides the river, Putney to Mortlake, ' Laycock ' is the one word on all men's tongues. Amongst bettcr-clas3 people, too, the same state of things prevails, his great pluck, the fact that he had by his four matches amassed some £SOO, and then lost all but a £10-note on his 'mate* Trickett; his steadfast swearing by Trickett, and sticking to the latter in his disastersall these, added to his quiet, gentlemanly, want-of-blustcr demeanour, have done what I have said, and have given him the sympathies and good wishes of all, high or low, rich or poor, who care anything about aquatics. I will now, however, proceed to give an account of the final heat. After going about a third of a mile Laycock yelled at Smith to give him a chance, and Smith just after bore out a little, and Laycock got the nose of his boat in and gradually pulled up alongside ; and now he had more chance to get on, for Wallace Ross had by this time a lead of three clear lengths, so that Laycock had no fear of a foul on his right. Getting well alongside Smith, and rapidly forging ahead of him, he said, ' Well, I have got rid of you, and now I'm after your "mate;"' but the_'..mate' wanted ajktjj, of catching, and HWuM^oo, > \!esTtfj5 r "''"P3* done with. The brave little Ya^^,' ras sticking most gamely to his Hammersmith Bridge was neared * e "?* seen to be gaining perceptibly on Zaynoc*'Now we'll show you all about yoar A»ycocks,' said Ross's supporter to me i,, which I replied, 'Yes; I l«* thev hav? done for him between them. • Laycock ultimately passed lengths winner, and W thrle. Ross immediately'* ™f ' ■«£ ™f on the foul, but the rephed, 'You get second nB« « imtt3 of - » these words; were tag* t0 ' ■£. h | up for the braved* ■> wavJ hh J m his boat top . All the Never was we returned, we back on bark hundreds of times were asked/«» , who won ~ to wW , by the WM 'Laycock • Then up CoUl ?hitefc " ,e a ' l- ' and , loudclleersat every ™\ h seUd our reply On Laycock? POI VJ &*at p utaey, s , uc v a Scene M that ™V Ssed can hardly be believed, thousands Peoplp/taniing ankle deep in ' ° f Jr, the high tide being over the towingrfi jelhng, rushing, cheering—all to g&tte ™T? r - Jt ™ s ** option W« u o mistake, and Laycoek's happy flea "Jj all over smilea." ltf * f