SCULLING CHAMPION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20455, 7 November 1934, Page 6

SCULLING CHAMPION.

Bob Pearce’s Win Over His American Rival. Fully 20.000 people saw Bob Pearce beat Bill Miller, of Philadelphia, in the final of the three-mile sculling championship at the Canadian National Exhibition on Lake Ontario, Toronto. Once again Pearce gave his innumerable admirers reason for their claim that he is not only the greatest sculler to-day, but the best in history. The thousands who watched the race were hopeful that Miller would give Pearce the best battle of his career, but they were doomed to disappointment. A boat load of loyal well-wishers came from Hamilton to cheer Pearce on to victory, and took command of the applause at the end of the race. ater conditions were not quite ideal when starter Jake Gaudaur sent the rowers on their way. Thev got off together; each struck up a 32 rate, striving to secure the lead; and. to the surprise of the crowd. Miller gradually rirew out and was ahead by 2yds at the -00-yard mark. The announcement

| over the loud-speaker that the Austrai lian was behind increased the exciteI ment, and Miller was greeted with ► thunderous applause. Undaunted bv this new experience, ; Pearce kept to his task, and, using a 26 rate, slowly but surely crept up and - into the lead, and on the first turn was - three lengths to the good. Bob took five strokes to make the turn to Mil--1 ler’s seven, the latter thereby losing more ground and being four lengths to - the bad on the second turn. i Miller courageously set out to over* r come his rival, urged on by the sympathetic crowd, but he found Pearce - too far ahead and rowing too well. s Pearce’s time for the three miles was , 19min 52 2-ssec—27 l-ssec slower than when he beat Ted Phelps last year Miller was beaten by 28 2-ssec and s officially 15 lengths. Naturally disap- ~ pointed, but like the thorough sportsf man he is, he eagerly shook hands and congratulated his conqueror, e Pearce received 5000 dollars for his t victory and Miller 1000 dollars. The t final was delayed 12 days, due to Miller's indisposition, which, however, did e not affect his condition, as he finished / without any sign of exhaustion, while, t strange to say, Pearce appeared to be t in distress