THE CHAMPION SCULLER OF THE WORLD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 98, 14 August 1876, Page 2

THE CHAMPION SCULLER OF THE WORLD.

Edward Trickett, of Greenwich, near Sydney, New South Wales ! If any one had been bold enough six months ago to hazard the opinion that any Colonial sculler could attain the proud position of champion of the world he would have been laughed at, and almost looked upon as insane, for his pains. But it is nevertheless a fact, and Sydney can now claim the distinguished honour of having been the first place to produce a sculler able to lower the colours of an English champion. The business, too, was done so modestly and quietly, without any parade or fuss. Like the famous Roman general, Trickett "went, saw, and conquered." There was none of that Colonial blowing a celebrated - novelist has talked about as a feature of Colonial life. Mr. Punch and Trickett came quietly to this city, booked their places in the mail steamer, arrived in England on the day of the University boat race, challenged Sadler, the then champion of England, took up their quarters at a hotel on the banks of the Thames, did the usual practice for a week or so, and then the telegraph sent us the result —Trickett easily, by four lengths ! The champion of England is a good man at anything. We have seen what sort of billiard-player Mr. Roberts is like. We have had a sample of pedestrianism, and know what English runners can do when they like; and in all kinds of athletic sports the Old Country has long taken the lead of all other countries in the world. In rowing and sculling particularly Great Britain has from time immemorial been unapproachable, and the title of champion of the Thames has long implied the perfection of skill in whoever was fortunate enough to hold the proud distinction. The names of famous oarsmen have been always associated with it, such as Coombes, Chambers, Kelly, Renforth, and, last of all, Sadler. It was a bold feat, then, on the part of a Sydney native to visit the Old Country and throw down the gauntlet j to Sadler, and even had he returned the j

loser, he would have merited the gooj wishes and approbation of his fello*. countrymen for what he had attempted And although some of our clever rowing men who saw Trickett do a paddle on [\ Yarra were blind to his merits, we cat nevertheless, as a community, feel a jiride in the representative of our sister Colony and offer our sincei'e congratulations 05 the result of the late contest for the chain. pionship. But we trust that this Colony will d 0 more. It is intended in New South to present Trickett, on his return, with i substantial testimonial in recognition of prowess as a scullor and of his havij. attained the title of champion of tfc; world. Victorians, we trust, will coin forward also, and show by deeds as words that they are glad to assist in &; praiseworthy an object. The Trickett over Sadler will have done nion to make these Colonies known throughout the old world than all the lectures givti and statistics published during the last fli years. This Sydney native, who standi 6ft. 4in. in his stockings, will draw tli; attention of thousands to these Colonic who otherwise would scarcely have heard of their existence, so that even from this point of view Trickett deserves some sut stantial recognition from the Colonies, on, of which, New South Wales, he repre. sents. We shall have much pleasure it taking charge of any subscriptions sent in for that purpose, and we feel sure that this Colony will not be backward in sliowim its appreciation of the pluck, skill, and stamina combined which enabled Tricketi to attain the highest aquatic honors thai it is possible for any one to acquire—the Championship of the World.—" Australasian."