The Boat Race.

Opunake Times, Volume XXII, Issue 775, 22 September 1905, Page 4

The Boat Race.

SYDNEY, July 24. When the umpire's steamer, the Bronaewiug, with a ruli complement of spectators em board, drew up in the vicinity of Hyde Bridge on Saturday it was just about the time appointed far the race to start, half past three p.m., but the men were not yet aflfoat, although the signal was given them as the steam, er passed their respective quarters. Stau■bury, in his red and white colours, was the first to appear-, iand much interest was evinced as he paddled in his shell from his training shed on the Hyde Wharf side. Pulling up to a position to await the toss for choice of waters, he was warmly cheered by those on the official steamer, and the applause was reDESORIPTION OF THE RACE. GETTING INTO POSITION, newed when his'trainer, W. Beach, the hero of great struggles in the past, followed him in an outrigger. Stanbury looked bright and well, and those who had not seen him since he had undergone his long training must have noticed a wonderful difference in the man. He was devoid of surplus flesh, and looked •ausoular to a degree, which evidenced the fact that he was thoroughly fit and well. Towns came out from Uhr's point shortly afterwards, and encouraging cheers greeted him from thousands of voices along the river side. His colours were dark blue and gold. He looked, in the pink of condition, and was the popular favourite. The coin was spun between Mr. J. A. Beales (for Stanbury) and Mr. J. Blackman (for Towns) in the presence of Mr. M. Rush, the umpire. Stanbury showed some anxiety to know the result, but when told that Towns had won he was not perturbed, and pulled off to the starting point which was about 300 yards above Ryde Bridge, with the final words, "Good luck to you, Jim," from Beach. Towns smiled when informed that he had the choice of waters, and bowed in acknowledgement of further hearty cheering. Stanbury scaled 12st. 81b. and Towns lOst. 121 b. A GOOD START.

It was just on four o'clock when the man took up their positions. At the actual moment of starting, which was by mutual consent, the umpire's boat swung round, and few on board saw the scullers dip the water together. Those who were in a position to observe the first strokes said Stanbury started off at 41 to the minute and Towns at about 40. The wind was behind the men, and the water was smooth, with a fast ebb tide, and everything was favourable for a fast race. Towns took the southern side of the course. For, the first dozen strokes they raced level, then Stanbury appeared to get a slight lead, and so they raced a minute after the start. The Ryde Bridge was readied in lmin. 3osecs., and here the boats were about level, both v men going for all tihey were worth. STANBURY GETS A LEAD.

After leaving the Bridge Stanbury drew away fast, and soon had a length's lead, this being the relative difference in the speed of the two men who were, of course, rowing at their top bent every stroke. Near bag Ukr's Point Stanbury drew still further away, and was two lengths in front after rowing for three and a half minutes. Opening up the bay, Towns seemed to hold his own, and '• was rowing as well as he ever did, but he was not making up any lost ground. Further on Stanbury again slipped away, and was, when about a mile had been rowed, quite three lengths in front. PASSING BLANLANDS. The beacon at Blaxland'a Point was passed by Stanbury in about 7mia. 40 sees., but there is no certainty as to the time. It, however, must have been very fast, and was probably not over the six minutes for the first mile. There were frantic calls for Towns to go up, but he was at his best all the time, and uoulrl not make the least impression on tlho leader, who was souiling very well. Stanbury, indeed, was rowing as well and as strongly as at the start, land drew awnv r. u steady rate of 28 strokes minu. . Putney Point was about one and three quarter miles from the start, and here Stanbury was four lengths in front. He appeared to be rowing well within himi»alf, and watched his rival oarefully all the while. The time at this point was about 10£ minutes, and the race was then well in hand. TOWNS COULD NOT RESPOND. The supporters of Towns repeatedly called upon their man, but he was hard pressed, and could not respond. It wasso far a very fair race, and in favour of Stanbury ali the way; indeed, the prospects of the new champion were bright. It did not seem probable that Towns would get any nearer to the leader, for while Stanbury was rowing as well as ever, Towns was fully extended to keep within a reasonable distance. Passing wide of Tennyson, Stanbury led by fully four lengths, arid was comparatively fresh, although perspiring rather freely. Nearing Cabarrba the ShoaUiaven representative was greeted with cheers from tho crowds afloat, and "oock-a----doodle-do" on the steam whistle added to the excitement. ENCOURAGING CHEERS FOR TOWNS. _ Towns' supporters now appeared, resigned to a defeat, although their man was rowing very well, and doing his best to pick up the lost distance. B.efore reaching Gladesville, Stanbury apr wared to tire, and his boat did not run along so steadily as it had done This change soon attracted the attention of. those deeply intorested,and there were loud cheers for Stanbury, and calls fc/r Towns ' to go -on. Here Stanbury's load was about five lengths, but lie did not hoi/ j his own for some distance, and opposfc 0 Abbotsforc Wharf, Towns had clew J up more than a length. Th e leader Jil] not spurt, and he was losing his adv antage at lan alarming rate THE FINAL EFF'ORT .There was perhaps a garter <>f a intense but the. leader was well enough to stave off any rash £ A finished with all tlJpow • *£d ' JUIi they had, but the strong el * I hiS man eventually won gf & aml bettel ed to have about two , llllb ™7 2 SSST age, and the time v le "^ fc ¥ This is verv fast, ' , as I?™ 11 " "E? 08 - quite equal to thf t] ™ distance being three miles 330 vr o lcl n ?, oul ' s t' •■ , LS diet of Mr. M 7 arAs ' T,, ° °ffi° ml *«•- .iudge, was "St- V H " Fitzhardin rk, the The rare was anbury, by two loiugtiis. the N.S.W. ' rotted under the rules of The ex-cJ Rowing Vssociation. hibited gr - lampion rowed well and exthe pace aa * staying power, but laeked perform OI " n i s opponent. St anbury «.nd b' brilliantly all down the course He s' is rowing was thoroughly good. and nowed as fine form as ever lie did, olp • . his condition must have been firstit' ss. The pace was fa?t from beginning o end, and Stanbury had all the best of the racing. It was a case of a wellprepared strong man beating an ecfually fit opponent, who had' rather less strength.