SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12932, 31 July 1905, Page 6

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

'DESCRIPTION OF THE RACE.

GETTING INTO POSITION.

Stdkkt, July 24. When the umpire's steamer, the Bronzewing, with a full complement of spectators on board, drew up in the vicinity of Ry ce ''."■ Bridge, on .Saturday it was just about the • time appointed for the race to start, half, past three p.m., but (lie men were not yet afloat, although the signal was given themr as the steamer passed their respective quar- ; ' ters. ; Stanbury, in his red and white col- : " • ours, was the first to appear, and much in-" terest was evinced as he paddled in hisshell from : his training shed on the Hyde Wharf side. Pulling up to a position to: await the toss for choice of waters, he was' " 1 warmly cheered by those on the official; steamer, and the applause, was renewed' when his trainer, W. Beach, the, hero of. great struggles in the past, followed him in' an outrigger. Stanbury looked bright and well, and thoso who had not seen him since' lie had undergone his long training must! have noticed a wonderful difference in the' man. He was devoid of surplus flesh, and looked muscular to' a degree, which evidenced the fact that he was thoroughly fit' and well. Towns came out from Dhr's Point shortly afterwards, and encouraging, cheers greeted him from thousands of voices along the riverside. His colours were dark blue and gold. lie looked in the pink of \ condition, and was the popular favourite. The coin was spun between Mr. J. A. Beales (for Stanbury) and Mr. J. Blackmari. (for Towns) in the presence of Mr. M. Rush, the umpire. Stanbury showed some anxiety to know the result, but when told that Towns had won he was not perturbed > .' ' and pulled off to the starting point, wliioh' was about 300 yds above Jlyde Bridge, with ' • the final words, "Good luck to you, Jim" ; from Beach. Towns smiled when informed, that ho had the choice of waters, and bowed in acknowledgment of further hearty cheering. Stanbury scaled 12st 81b and Towns lOst 121b. A GOOD START. It was just on four o'clock when the men took up their positions. At the actual moment of starting, ■ which was by mutual consent, the umpire's boat swung round, and few on board saw the scullers dip the water together. Those who were in a position to observe the first strokes said Stan- ; bury started off at 41 to the minute and' '' Towns at about 40. The wind was behind the men, and the water was smooth, with a fast ebb tide, and everything was favourable V for a fast race. Towns took the southern bide of the course. For the first dozen strokes they raced level, then Stanbury ap- "' peared to get a slight lead, and so they raced a minute after the start. The Hyde Bridge was reached in lm. 355., and here the .' ■'. boats were about level, both mcr. going for / all they were worth. STANBURY GETS A LEAD. . ' ' After leaving the bridge Stanbury drew away fast, and soon had a length's lead, this being the relative difference in the'.' speed of the two men, who were, of course, rowing at their top . bent every . stroke. ■■• Nearing Uhr's Point Stanbury drew still"; further away, and was two lengths in front after rowing for three and a-half minutes. ' r Opening up the bay Towns semed to hold his own, and Was rowing as well as he ever * did, but he was not making up any lost ground. Further on Stanbury again slipped :: away, and was, when about a mile had been'- ;, rowed, quite three lengths in front. PASSING BLAXLAND'S. The beacon at Blaxland's Point was passed by Stanbury in about 7m. 405., but there isvv no certainty as to the time., It, however,, i must have been very fast, and was probably: i not over the six minutes for the first mile. There were frantio calls for. Towns to,'go - up, but he was at his best all the time, and- \"V could not make the least impression on the leader, who was sculling very well.' Stan- . bury, indeed, was rowing as well and as strongly as at the start, and drew away at a steady rate of 28 strokes per minute. Putney Point was about one and three- ~; quarter miles from the start, and here Stan- '■:■•' bury was four lengths in front. He appeared, to be rowing well within himself, ; and watched his rival carefully all tho while. ; &l The; time at this point was about 10£ minutes, and the race was then well in hand.: TOWNS OOULD NOT RESPOND.

The supporters of Towns repeatedly called upon their man, but he was hard pressed, and could not respond. ,It was so far a very fine race, and in favour of Stanbury all the ; way; indeed, the prospects of the new champion were bright. It did not seem probable that Towns would get any nearer to.the - leader, for, while.Stanbury was rowing as well as ever, Towns was fully i extended -to -.' ■ keep within, a reasonable distance. Passing" wide of Tennyson, Stanbury led by fully - four lengths, and was comparatively fresh,'■ although perspiring rather freely. Nearing Cabarita the Shoalnaven representative was greeted I with cheers from the crowds afloat, and "cock-a-doodle-doo" .on the steam whistles added to the exoitement.

ENCOURAGING CHEERS FOR TOWNS. Towns' supporters now appeared resignedto a defeat, although their man was rowing - very well, ani doing his best to pick up the . lost distance. Before reaohing Gladesville, Stanbury appeared to tire, and his boat did " .not run along so steadily as it had done.' This change soon attracted the attention ' of those deeply interested, and there were : loud oheers for Stanbury, and calls for Towns to go on. Here Stanbury's lead' wa3 about five lengths, but he did not hold ' his own for some distance, and opposite * Abbotsfordi Wharf Towns had closed up more than a length. The leader did not - spurt, and he was losing his advantage at an alarming rate. THE FINAL EFFORT., There was perhaps a-quarter of a mile to go, and the exoitement became intense, but the leader was doing well enough to stave off any rush. Both men finished with all the power and skill they had, but the:!-, stronger and better man eventually won. Stanbury appeared to have about two length's advantage, and the time was 19m. 475. This is very fast, the distance being quite equal to the old course, tiiat is three ; miles 330 yds. The official verdict of Mr. M. A. H. Fitzhardinge, • the judge, was Stanbury, by two lengths." The race . was rowed under the rules of the N.fik'W. A Bowing Association. The ex-champion rowed well and exhibited great staying power, but lacked the pace of his opponent. ' Stanbury performed brilliantly all down the course, and his rowing was thoroughly good. He showed as fine :,. term as ever he did, and his condition must have been first-class. The pace was fast ' fi ; oni , beginning to end, and Stanbury had ail the better of the racing. It was a case of a well-prepared, strong man beating an equally fit opponent, who had rather less strength.