THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11615, 20 July 1905, Page 7

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

BY "VICTOR." Continuing the brief review of the races for the world's sculling championship, I may state that the news of Hanlan's defeat by Beach created a big sensation not only in Australia, but in England and America, and great was the surprise manifested at the result. However, Hanlan soon let it be known that he was not satisfied, as he claimed that he had been interfered with by one of the steamers which followed the race, and the Canadian's friends made much of the incident. Beach's supporters .agreed to give the Toronto man another race, and the pair met on the 28th March, 1885. This meeting created more excitement, even, than the first match, and the betting on the result was extremely heavy. Again Beach won most decisively, and demonstrated beyond a shadow of doubt that he was the aquatic king. Beach was then called upon to row Noil Matterson, but the latter had no chance wi£h the champion. Beach now had to go abroad to find opponents, and visited England, where he took part in a sweepstake on the Thames, defeating:, amongst others, George Lee, George Bubear, and John Teenier, probably the best sculler on his day that America had ever produced. Jake Gaudaur came on the scene /at this stage, and caught Beach when he -was rather stale, after winning several races. The men met on the Thames, and Beach got the verdict after one of the most desperate races ever rowed. Beach led most of the way, but something went wrong with his ge.ir, and Gaudaur came with a jrreat rush and, spurting brilliantly, had almost won. Beach got going again, however, and with a 'grand final effort snatched the victory back. It was a close shave, but there can be no question but that Beach was not in his best condition, otherwise Gaudaur could not have given- him so much trouble. The nqxt day Wallace Ross - tackled Beach, who had no difficulty in winning.' The champion then returned to Australia, and got a great reception, which he-thor-oughly deserved. He was followed out" by Haulan, who wanted to have one- r more chance against Beach. He was accommodated, and the race eventuated on^ the Nepean, over a course 3J miles in lengtjiHaul an, who was in splendid 'fctll«, t made a better race of it with the champion, who was ill and very thin on it, than he had done in either of the other contests, but the result was another win for Beach. Beach had now won .£2OOO in stakes alone from Hanlan, £MOO in testimonials, and many hundreds in wagers laid him in bimdi'eds to nothing. Ho won, it is said, ,£I3OO in the sweepstake which he appropriated on the Thames, and had altogether netted quite a fortune by his strength and skill with the sculls. He had, moreover, established himself as quite themost popular athlete, of all time in Australia. Beach, who was now over 37 years of age, decided to retire, and handed over the title of champion to Peter Kemp, who had shown splendid form in his trials with Beach, whom he bad trained. Kemp's first challenger was Tom Clifford, who had no chance with Peter, who was a most finished sculler, and won easily when the rare was rowed on the 11th February, , 1888. ■ Edward Hanlan, who regarded Kemp as by no meanß a good rower, then challenged the champion. The result was another defeat for Hanlan, Kemp showing superior form and endurance powers. Lntsr on iv the same year Hanlan mode still another effort to win back the championship, but the rcuiltwas the same— a win for Ivcmp after a good mcc. Tn the meantime another sculler, and tbe be?t of them all, had been gradually comine to the front. This was the- Clarovc.e River "Comet," Henry Ernest Sos'r'e. who hatf on July 13 of 1883 defeated Janes R» anbury aflor a desperate race in I.>o then fastest time ever recorded over the

championship course. Searle was matched agaiu&t Kemp for the championship, and the race eventuated on the 27th October, 1888, and S«arle won eb easily as to satisfy Kemp and convince Hanlan that it \va3 no use him tackling the Clarence River wonder. Searle then went Home to meet Wm. O'Connor, another Canadian, who had proved himself a good man in lii 3 own country. O'Connor's friends thought he could not lose, but they did not know what a phenomenon Searle was. The race was rowed on the Thames on the 19th September, 1889, and was for the championship of the world, the championship of England,, and .£IOOO in stakes. The Australian demonstrated . his superiority beyond question, and as no.,one else remained who had any inclination to tackle Searle, the latter started on his return home with his honours thick^ upon him, but contracted typhoid on the^ voyage out, and died in Melbourne before reaching home, i His last wish was that the Australia! boys should race for the title of champion, and accordingly Peter Kemp and Neil Matterson met on the 25th April, IS9O, on the Parramatta, Kemp winning easily and being recognised as champion. John McLean then tackled Kemp, but the latter proved too good, as he did in another race against the same man. However, a third meeting between the pair resulted in McLean winning. This was on the loth December, 1890. There was no doubt the best man became champion. Jas. Stanbury (who had twice defeated W. O'Connor) was now brought out by the "Hyde Stable," to • which Kemp had belonged, and on tho 28th April, 1891, he defeated McLean for the championship with ease. McLean had another go at Stanbury, but the latter had no difficulty in again asserting his superiority. - The New Zealand sculler, Tom Sullivan, then tried to wrest the championship from Stanbury, but the title never at any part of the race looked like coming to this colony, Stanbury winning easily." The champion then visited England, where he met and easily . defeated "Wag" Harding on the Thames on July 13, 1896. Gaudaur then suddenly appeared on the scene, and Stanbury, although he had boon taking things easily after his race with Harding, accommodated the Canadian, who was close on 40 years of age at the time, but in splendid condition. The race took place on the 7th September, [ and resulted in a victory for Gaudaur, much to the surprise of all colonials. The men rowed pretty level for a mile, when Gaudaur forged ahead, and took Stan- | bury's water. The Australian spurted and, touching his opponent's boat, claimed a foul and stopped rowing. The foul was net allowed, and the race was awarded to Gaudaur, who made tracks for his home with the title, and hung to it until Geo. Towns crossed "over to America and won the championship back for Australia. A year ago on the 13th of this month Trcssider endeavoured to. gain the honor, ' but Towns proved too good. Theft the champion was challenged by another Australian — James Stanbury, — and on Saturday evening we will know whether William Beach, who is supervising Stanbury's training, has succeeded in getting him back to his old form. The decision of the old champion to take the big Shoalhavcn sculler in hand is considered by many to have lent a deal of colour to Stanbury's chance, as "Beach seldom makes a mistake in his man.

The evening train from Wellington to Palmerston North last night met with a slight mishap. As tho train was drawing into Paikakariki the van -jumped the points, and. clearing 'the line, came in contact with the down express. Beyond the delay "occasioned in getting the van back to the rails, no damage was dor.o.