SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 49

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

RACE ON RICHMOND RIVER. PADDON WINS COMFORTABLY. SYDNEY, July 22. An unprecedented crowd lined the bank of the Richmond River near the finishing post to witness the sculling championship. Nondescript conveyances came from all directions, some from as far as Queensland, and presented a motley spectacle. The weather was fine, with a strong south-west breeze, and the tide was at the flood. Paddon weighed 14 st 21b, and Hadfield list 71b. Both mored off from an excellent start. Hadfield rowed 33 to the minute and Paddon 35. The latter immediately went to the front and led by half a length at 50 yards. The champion was rowing freely, but the New Zealander was disturbed by the choppy water. When threequarters of a mile had been traversed Hadfield _ endeavoured to overtake Paddon, but the latter drew in front of the visitor and gave him his wash. The New Zealander several times floundered badly in the rough water, and on one occasion lost half a length when rough water reached him. Passing the mile Paddon rowed 40 and Hadfield 45, with three lengths separating them. The latter at half-way pulled towards the centre of the course to avoid Paddon’s wash, but the champion also pulled oyer. It was noticed that Hadfield missed with his right several times, and from thence to the finish he relied mainly on his left. At two and a-quartcr miles Paddon increased his lead to 10 lengths, but the New Zealander, striking smooth water, threatened to creep up on the champion. Rounding the bend of the river the visitor .again encountered rough open water, and the boat, rocked like a matchbox in mid-ocean. The champion did not experience the same difficulty, as he knew the vagaries of the liver and allowed his boat to ride the water. Hadfield pluckily made a final effort to overhaul his opponent nearing the finish, and reduced the lead to six lengths entering the straight. The crowd cheered when they saw Paddon leading. The champion clapped on pace and won by 12 lengths in 19min 19sec. Both men were wildly cheered by the spectators. Paddon said it was a harder race than the Wanganui one. Hadfield was at a disadvantage on account of the rough water, but he rowed a game race. Hadfield admitted that Paddon was the better man By had luck he got into rough water. If asked to practise on it he would have refused The published reports vary greatly regarding the number of lengths of Paddon’s win, ranging from six to 12 lengths. WINNERS OF THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP. Year. Winner. Loser. Time.

Notes.—Thames course. 4 miles 400 yards; Parramatta course, 3 miles 330 vards; Tyne course, 3 miles 713 yards; Nepean River course, about 31 miles; Wanganui course 3J miles; Akaroa course, 33 miles; Zambesi course, 3i miles; Wairau course, 3 miles 100 yards up stream. * These races were about half a mile short of the full course. GOODSELL DEFEATS SHARPE. Major Goodsell beat Mr Sharpe (Hadfield’s pacer) by half a length for £IOO a side. The pair kept together for tile greater part of the journey. A quarter of a mile from the finish Goodsell had a -length to spare, but the New Zealander in a fine spurt gradually reduced the margin by half.

1876 Trickett Sadler nun. 25 sec. 23 1877 Trickett Kush 23 271 1879 Trickett Laj T cock 23 39 1880 Har.lan Trickett 26 12 1881 Han Ian Lay cock 25 40 1882 Hanlan Boyd 21 25 1882 Han lan Trickett 28 0 1384 Hanlan Laycock 22 45 1834 Roach Hanlan 20 284 1885 Beach Matterson 24 111 1885 Beach Clifford 26 0 1885 Beach Hanlan 22 51 1886 Beach Gaudaur 22 29 1886 l>each Ross 23 5 1887 Beach Hanlan 19 55 1667 Kemp Clifford 23 47 1888 Kemp Hanlan 21 36 1888 Kemp Hanlan 21 25 1883 Searle Kemp 22 414 1889 Searle O’Connor 22 42 1890 Kemp Matterson 21 131 1890 Kemp M'Lean 21 454 1890 M'Hcan Kemp 22 13 1891 Stanbury M'Lean 22 151 1891* Stanbury M‘Le<in 18 25 1832* Stanbury Sullivan 18 27 1896 Stanbury Harding 21 51 1896 Gaudaur Stanbury 23 1 1897 Gaudaur J ohn stone 1901 Towns Gaudaur 20 30 1904 Towns Tresi elder 21 48 4-5 1905 Stanbury G. Towns 19 47 1906 Towns Stanbury 19 531 1907 Towns Durnan 22 27 1907 W ebb C. Towns 20 45 1908 Webb Tresidder 20 28 1908 Arn at Webb 19 52 1909 Arnst Webb 18 15 1910 Arnst Wlielcb 21 50 1910 Arnst Barry 20 3 4 3-5 1911 Arnst Pearce 19 46 1912 Ba rry Arnst 23 3 1913 Barry Pearce 24 9 1-5 1919 Felton Barry 1920 Barry Felton 24 32 1921 Arnst IT nan 22 23 1922 Hadfield Arnst 1922 Paddon Hadfield