AQUATICS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4330, 13 April 1901, Page 7 (Supplement)

AQUATICS

Sportsmen all the world over will learn with-regret of the: sudden death of the famous Oxonian oarsman,; D. H. McLean, who was earned off by Colitis at Johannesburg on February 5. ‘Mr McLean, Who was captain of the: 69th Company Imperial "Yeomanry- - could plain* tiio proud distinction of having rowed against Cambridge on-live occasions, from 1883 to 1887 inclusive. He rowed No. 5 for the first two years, but in 1885 gave up that seat to- his' brother, 11. McLean, since deceased, and that season and the two following years he occupied the seventh thwart. Needless to'say, such an accomplished oarsman as the old Etonian proved ‘himself to be won' ntyuy events'-'on the Isis and Thames. With Ms brother as-partner, he twice won the Oxford University pairs—viz., in 1885 and 1886—a-nd in the first-named year the brothers secured the silver goblets at Henley. For many years Mr McLean coached the Oxford eight, and only loft the crew last year, midway in their training, .to go to the front. Mr McLean, who was 1 known to his familiars as “Dukker,” was connected with that same good Australian stock which sent Fairbairn, Bell, and JUandale to Cambridge, and enriched the traditions of Oxford with two generations of Robertsons, and' many others. Both he and h'is brother were tall, ‘well-built men, rowed at List, when fully trained, and pulled every ounce of their weight.

“Wag” Harding, who achieved fame ■by" twTco lowering the colours of Tom Sullivan in' matches,' but failed to hold his championship when pitted against brawny Jem Stanbury, is on .the war-path once more, .after a long period on the shelf, and there is a prospect that ho and Sullivan will be found in antagonism on the Thames before the year is out. The New Zealander, it is said, is keen, on revenging the defeats he sustained at Hardings hands, and if “Wag” can find a hacker for a oouple of hundreds there wont be any need for him to look further than mine host of the Union Arms, Battersea., for a match.