AQUATICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 762, 8 October 1886, Page 15

AQUATICS.

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. 1

DETAILS OF THE RACE.

The special correspondent of the Melbourne Age telegraphed the following particulars of ”ihe sculling match between Gaudaur and * The boat race between William Baach, of Dfew South Wales, and Jacob Gaudaur, America, for the stake of £IOOO and the championship of the world, took place to-day on the Thames. The weather was beautifully fine, tand the match having excited very deep interest, there was an enormous attendance. Beach, up to the start, was a very warm •aavorite, and odds of 5 to 1 were freely laid on hin3. Beach won the tois, and -chose the Middlesex side. At the start •Gaudaur obtained some advantage, getting the water first and securing a slight lead. Beach, however, soon overhauled bis antagonist, and continued fo lead until half the distance had been traversed. Both men were rowing a desperate race, and at about the middle distance Beach seemed to utterly collapse, and stopped rowing until Gaudaur, who also evidently was much distressed, passed him. Then Beach appeared to have made up his mind for a final effort, and, •resuming the contest, iu the midst of succeed-

ing rounds of encouraging cheers, brought himself level with his opponent, but soon afterwards again collapsed. Beach once again rallied, and, resuming the race, he pulled over the remaining distance and soon succeeded in overhau'ing and passing Gaudaur, whom he finally beat by three lengths, amidst most enthusiastic cheering. The time was 22min 29sec. Later, further particulars were telegraphed, as follow :--In the championship race between Beach and Gaudaur, the former started rowing 38 strokes to the minute. Gaudaur attbe3tarfc was rowing a slightly slower stroke—about 36. On arriving at Hammersmith Bridge Beach struck the buttress with his right hand scull. The excitement during the race, and particularly after Beach’s first collapse, was almost indescribable. Both men were greatly distressed before half the distance had been covered, and both were encouraged to further efforts by almost continuous cheers from the multitude of spectators. When Beach stopped the second time his defeat was regarded as a certainty. It was thought that Gaudaur had only to pull over the ground to claim the race, and the betting immediately changed, odds being offered a”gainafc Beach, whose chances looked so hopelessly bad that very few of the offers were taken. But Gaudaur himself was so exhausted that he could row at only a very slow pace, and had only gained a lead of two lengths, when the New South Wales man nerved himself for another effort. Beach, in the midst of almost frantic cheering, soon got on levtl terms with his opponent, and the pair rowed side by side for a distance of about a hundred yards. Towards the finish of the race Gaudaur, who made a strong effort to come up with his opponent, was only able to row 28 strokes per minute, whilst Beach was rowing 32. At the conclusion of the race the competitors shook hands in a friendly way, the crowd cheering both with equal cordiality. It is generally agreed that it was the most stubbornly contested race ever rowed on the Thames. The Agents-General of-the different colonies, and several well known colonists now visiting England, witnessed the race from the Hammersmith Ironworks, where they were entertained at a banquet.

(SPECIAL TO UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

London, October 5. The “ Sportsman’s ” gold medal has been presented to Beach.