Rowing Items.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6705, 19 November 1889, Page 4

Rowing Items.

Mr C. Crane presented Searle with the boat named the " Young Crisoy," which he used in the race againßt O'Connor. The Balmain Working Men's Club haa decided to send a four-oared crew to the Dunedin Eegatta to be held next February. Searle rowed the distance between the mile and Hammersmith Bridge only seven seconds slower than the first mile of the course. This is a great performance. Mr Hyams, Hon Secretary of the Wellington Bowing Club, writes to several Australian papers, with reference to the manner in which his communications, asking for particulars regarding the Champion Four 3, rowed laßt Saturday, were received. Mr Hyams writes ■ strongly on the subject, and, I believe, he is justified in doing bo, for the diiatoriness of the Secretary of the Victorian Eowing Association, led to the Wellington Eowing Club not being represented in the above mentioned race. I might also Btate that the Union Eowing, Club did not receive an answer to their letters until their representative (F. Foster) had left for Melbourne. If this is the way the Victorian Eowing Association transact their business it is not to be wondered at that things do not work to the satisfaction of the members. On Oct. 30, J. M'Lean rowed C. Stephenson for .£IOO aside on the Parramatta river, and won after a grand race. The water was rough, owing to the strong North-east wind meeting the ebbing tide, and rowing was very hard work. M'Lean scaled list 101 b, and looked very well, and co did Stepheneon, who rowed at llet 71b. The Btart was a fair one, and both went away at a strong 35 per minute, which was maintained to Uhr'a Point, where Stepheneon led by a length., the time being lmin 40aec. Soon afterwards the New Zealander drew away, and at a half-mile must have been two lengths in front, which advantage was gained by hard rowing. Still further on M'Lean dropped astern until near Blaxland'a Point he was three lengths to the bad, and appeared rowed out. However, such was not the case, and with a well-timed terrific spurt he fairly romped over the leader, and afc the beacon was but a half length, behind. The time for the mile was Gruin 9sec, which was decidedly fast on Buch water. After passingthepointbothboatsracedalmoatlevclfor a few hundred yards, when M'Lean passed to the front off Mortlake Jetty, and at Putney was a certain winner, although | only a length in front. The time was 9min 40sec. So far the race had been a grand one, and Stephenson rowed with ', great gameness, although opposed by a . more powerful sculler. Off the gasworks M'Lean drew away, although Stephenson ! made desperate efforts to catch up with him, and at Tennyson the distance between the boats was three lengths. Nearing Gladesville the leader spurted in the ' smooth water, and gained another length, the time at the wharf being lGmin 55sec. One Man Wharf was passed by M'Lean with five lengths 1 advantage, the time being 19min 14sec. Neither rowed more than 28 or 30 strokes per minute during the last mile or two, and no sporting was attempted during the latter mile, as both men were rather tired. The row on to the finish did not alter the positions of the boats, and M'Lean won a splendid race in 21min 54sea. A considerable amount of betting was done about the result, and the odds changed from one side to the other and back again rapidly. It was abont even, money at the start. The reason why Stephenson's friends thought him co good a man was (says the j Sydney Mail) because he had rowed I such splendid trials. His time over the ] " long mile " was three seconds better than Beach's best. However, the water was too heavy for the New Zealander on Wednesday, and the stronger man won. Touching upon the recent championship race, the London Sportsman, in referring to the start, Bays -. — The Australian sculler at this moment displayed the utmost self- ' confidence. He was first to break away, but only took half a stroke before he found that O'Connor waa not ready. Addressing his rival, he said good-humouredly, •' You want a fair start P All right. You go on and I'll follow you." The Canadian at 1 once dashed away with an advantage of almost half a length — a piece of good fortune which put hia supporte*»jcn.-«xceUent terms with themselves. SCdt&t&osever, for long. The recent excitement over the race for the championship between Searle and O'Connor is evidently bearing fruit (says the London Sporting Life) in increased interest in this country in professional sculling, but it will soon die out agaiu, unless the contests are carried out in a very different manner than seemß to be the case on the other side of the Atlantic. H. E. Searle mußt congratulate himself on having decidedly expressed his determination not to row there, and, with the knowledge of what is possible, it is exceedingly unlikely that he will change his views. He has arranged to go back to Australia next month, and now Jacob Gaudaur professes to be anxious to meet him over here. But this haa very much the appearance of being mere bounce engendered by the knowledge that he will be soon leaving theee shores, for when Searle offered to row him on the Henley course, if he did not like either the Thames or Tyne championship ones he waa judiciously silent, taking no notice of tha proposal.