SCULLING CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18458, 23 July 1923, Page 7

SCULLING CONTEST.

PADDON BEATS HADFIELD. IN THE LEAD ALL THE WAY. MARGIN OF SIX LENGTHS. COURSE BAFFLES VISITOR. By Telegraph—'■ Association Copyright. ' 'v ' (Received 4.5 p.m.) ' A and N.Z. ■ . SYDNEY. July 22. The match» between Jim Paddon (Australia) and Darcy Hadfield (New Zealand) for the world's sculling championship, was rowed yesterday afternoon on the Richmond River. ' ' Paddon. went ahead at the start and led all the way. He was never seriously challenged, and won by at least, six lengths. "_ An unprecedented crowd lined the banks of the Richmond 'River near the finishing post. Nondescript conveyances came from all directions, some from as far as Queensland. They presented a motley spectacle for the Northern Rivers. The weather was fine. There was a strong south-westerly breeze and the tide was at flood. Paddon weighed 14st. 21b. and Hadfield 12st 71b.- . , Both moved off from an excellent start. Hadfield rowed at 33 strokes a ; minute and Paddon at 35. Paddon immediately went to the front, arid led by half a length at 50yds. He was rowing freely but the New Zealander was disturbed by choppy water. When three-quarters of a mile had been traversed, Hadfield endeavoured to overtake Paddon, but the latter drew in front of the visitor and gave him the wash. Hadfield several times floundered badly in rough water. On one occasion he lost half a length when rough water reached him. [ In passing the mile, Paddon was rowing at 40 strokes a minute and Hadfield at 45, with three lengths separating them. Hadfield, at halfway, nulled toward the centre of the course to avoid Paddon's wash, but the champion . also pulled over. It was noticed that Hadfield missed with .the right several times, arid thenceforward to the "finish, ho relied mainly on his left. i

At 2J miles Paddon had increased his lead to 10 lengths, but Hadfield. striking smooth waiter, : threatened to creep up on the champion. Rounding a bend in the river, Hadfield again encountered rough open water and his boat rocked like a matchbox in mid-ocean. Paddon did not experience the same difficulty, as he knew the vagaries of the river and allowed his boat to ride the water.

Hadfield pluckily made a final effort to overhaul his opponent on nearing the finish, and reduced Paddon's lead to six lengths .'on entering the straight. The crowd cheered when it saw Paddon leading. * The champion clapped on pace, and won by at least 'six \ lengths in 19m. 19s. ' • ■ • ' ■ ' Both men were wildly, cheered by the spectators. Paddon said that it was a harder, race than on the Wanganui. Hadfield was at a. disadvantage by reason of the rough water, but he rowed; a game race. Hadfield : admitted Paddon was the better man. By bad, luck-he got into rough water. If he had been asked to practice on the ■course he would have refused.'. '„ ■ :':•■'■. '' Published.reports vary greatly regarding the length of Paddon's lead at the finish. Estimates range from, six to twelve lengths. , ''■ ,_

GOODSEMiDWAT^ SHARPE CLOSE RACE ROWED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Eecd; Si p.m.) ' /SYDNEY. July 22. . Goodsell beat Sharp* (Nevij Zealand) by halt-a-length in a sculling match on the Richmond River ; for ; £100 a-side. The pair kept together for the greater part of the journey. " A quarter of a-mile from the finish: Goodsell. had a length to spare, but the New Zealander, in a fine spurt, gradually reduced the margin by half a length. . /"• " " ■ yi -/■'.''^...•: : '