THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1280, 10 September 1896, Page 27

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

London, September 7. The sculling race between Stanbury, champion of the world, and Gaudaur, the American sculler, for the championship and .£IOOO a side, took place on the Thames today. . Stanbury, haying won the toss, chose the Surrey side of the river. After 12 false starts the men got away, and at Harrold’s Gaudaur took Stanbury’s water.

Gaudaur won easily by 20 lengths... Stanbury claimed a foul, and after that hlade no further effort. The leather was dull, and a light b?ee?ie %as bio wine 1 . The betting at the start was 7 to 4 on Stanbury; The alleged foul took place near the tead-mills, brit the champion’s claim was disallowed.

LOndOn, September 8. Tlie banks of the Thames wete lined bjr thousands to pitiless the race , for the championship; ririd tHe greatest erithrisiasiii was displayed. , For half a mile the boats were level, Stanbury appearing to be rowing his hardest, while Gaudaur was evidently holding his position without being pushed. At the end of three-quarters of a mile Gaudaur was almost clear of the Australian, whose stroke was shorter and its finish less clean than that of the Canadian, who shot past the mile post in 4min 52sec, and had a clear lead of a length. Gaudaur was rowing easily at this time, and Hammersmith bridge was reached in Stnin 51aec, when Stanbury made a desperate effort to get up to the leader, but only succeeded in overlapping the stern of Gaudaur’s boat, and from that out the race was merely a procession. The winner’s time was 23min lseo. Stanbury finished 4osec later.

Gaudaur received a great ovation. Mr Innes, the judge, states that when the boats fouled they were in neutral water.

The Sportsman says that Stanbury rowed a game race, and the Sporting Life declares that Gaudaur always had the best of the go.

Jacob A. Gaudaur, the Canadian, who defeated the champion, competed for the race on the Thames in 1880 against W. Beach, and was defeated. Beach was then in his prime, having previously downed Hanlan (twice), Clifford and Matfcerson. He had nothing to spare at the finish, the time being 22min 29sec. In July, 1890, Gaudaur put up a three-mile, single-sculls record, with a turn, in America, 19min 31sec. In February, 1893, Stanbury went to America, but was not successful in making a match with Gaudaur. They, however, met in an exhibition race, over a three-mile course, at the Texas Regatta, Gaudaur finishing m front. Stanbury at the time was suffering from a broken finger.