COLONIAL SCULLERS IN ENGLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5804, 23 February 1897, Page 1

COLONIAL SCULLERS IN ENGLAND.

[Co-respondent " Canterbury Times."] LONDON, Jan. 1. No less than three -Antipodean scullers took part in the Christmas Half-mile Open Boat Handicap, promoted by Messrs Cook and Winship, and decided on the Tyne on Christmas Day and those following. They ] ■were Tom Sullivan and Charlie Stephenson, of Now Zealand, and James Wray, of Sydney, who came Home in company with Stanbiuy. Not one of the trio managed toget amongst the money, though JenuWray survived a couple of rounds, and was only beaten- in the third round after a good struggle with G. Haines, of Windsor, to whom he was conceding Gsec start. The handicap was framed from some person reckoned to be capable of giving W. A Barry, of London, 12sec in the distance — an allowance which not even Jake Gaudaur would be able to concede. Wray had 14sec, Sullivan 13sec and Stephenson losec The latter was the first of the Australians to show his mettle, contesting heat nineteen with R. Drurnniond, of the Hawthorn Rowing Club, to whom the New Zealander had to concede no less than llsec. Drummond made the most of his start, getting seven good pulls before Stephenson was slipped. Sculling with remarkable power the Antipodean at once [ began to reduce his opponent's formidable lead. It was sinvply a question, of distance. Stephenson rowed for all he was worth, and Drummond strained every nerve to keep ahead and, finally, defeated his game antagonist by perhaps a couple of yards, after a most exciting race. In another twenty yards Charlie would have won, and his victory would have pleased the locals, with whom the New Zealander is a prime favourite. The thirty - fourth heat brought out Wray and W. Johnson, to whom the New South Wales sculler had to concede 7sec. The heat was, perhaps, the best of the sixty -five constituting the first round. Wray was very much a " dark horse " to the Tynesiders, but the fact that he was only in receipt of 2sec from Barry indicated that someone know the man from " down under " could go more than a bit. StiJl the locals reckoned he would have to be "extra good "to give Johnson 7sec over the distance, and they backed the latter freely at 2to 1 on. Johnson put in five strokes before Wray was given the word, but from his first dip the visitor began to lessen the gap between the boats. By the time the Skinnerburn was reached Wray had di'iven his boat's nose up to the stern of Johnson's craft, but the latter stuck to his work, and Wray, bothered somewhat by the wind, became somewhat ragged in his work. Still ho gradually forged ahead, and in spite of a last desperate spurt by Johnson, won by half a dozen feet. Darkness coming on soon after, the proceedings were stopped for the day after the thirty-eighth heat. On Saturday a strong westerly wind rendered the surface of the water very rough, and when only three heats of the first round remained to be decided another adjournment was necessary. Meanwhile Tom Sullivan had rowed over in the fiftyfifth heat, Gilbert Bubear, of London (183 ec), failing to put in an appearance. On Monday Wray contested the fifteenth heat of the second round with Fred Kirton, of Sunderland, to whom he had to give llsec. The local man started off at a rare bat, but Wray quickly cut down his lead. Towards the finish both men were interfered with by a tug and some barges, but Wray had then got on terms with his antagonist. He won easily by a couple of lengths. On Tuesday business should have been resumed with the last heat of the second round between Tom Sullivan and A. Austin, of the Empire Club. The men got into their boats on the preceding evening, but as it was rather dark the referee declined to allow the race to be decided. As Sullivan was called upon to concede losec, the slack tide would have given him a reasonable chance of overhauling his man ; but on the fast ebbing tide in evidence on Tuesday the ex-champion had no earthly prospect of winning. It had been stated that the heat would be rowed uj> river, but one of the promoters refused to allow the starting boats to be moved, so Sullivan scratched. The third round being proceeded with the third heat brought out Wray and G. Haines, of Old Windsor. Wray's performances in the previous heats gave him precedence in the betting, and in .spite of the fact that he was asked to concede his opponent 6sec, the locals were quite content to bet 5 to 4 on the New South Welshman. Haines started away at top speed, getting five completed strokes in before Wray got the word. The latter sprinted off in pursuit, and at Davidson's jetty was less than a couple of lengths behind. Just at this point, hoAvever, the Antipodean curled up, evidently exhausted by the pace he had been going, and Haines plugging steadily along, won rather easily by a couple of lengths. Tom Sullivan, by the way, has, on behalf of Wray, thrdwn out a challenge to little Wag Harding. The New Zealander says he will match the young Cornstalk to scull Harding over the Thames championship course for ,£2OO a side. The challenge is rather surprising after Wray's display against Haines, which seemed to show that, whilst undoubtedly possessed of good speed, the young sculler is deficient in stamina. And stamina is the essential qualification for success over the tiring Thames course. Of coiu-se, Wray's collapse on the Tyne made have been due to Christmas pudding or other solid or liquid adjuncts to the festive season. Tom Sullivan should, at all events, know to an ounce or so what chance Wray has with Harding, who may be, as some riversiders aver, a greatly deteriorated sculler. Talking of rowing, an effort is being made to form an Australasian Boating Club on the Thames of colonials resident in or near the Metropolis. Mr W. M. Anderson, an Antipodean studying the gentle arts of medicine and surgery at the Charing Cross Hospital, is the prime mover in the scheme, which has the support of the London Colonial Club, and will doubtless come to something. There are plenty of young Antipodeans resident in and about London from among whom a formidable racing crew could be picked, and I have no doubt but that some philanthropic Australian would be found to give the club, when formed, an up-to-date racing craft, say a Clasper-built eight. Many others whose purses won't run to such presents would, one feels certain, support the club with odd guineas by way of annual subscriptions.