ROWING.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15061, 7 October 1922, Page 17 (Supplement)

ROWING.

A GREAT SCULLER.

LATE HARRY SEARLE.

“Matterson came to me one day with a tale of a Wonderful youth up on the Clarence, • who was doing things in a boat that astonished the natives and suggested that I should take a chance on him,” said Mr John Spencer one day, records a writer in The Arrow.

“The youth’s name was Harry Searle, and I may say that he was the greatest sculler the world has ever produced. We brought him to Sydney, and George Fern took him in hand with Neil Matterson as sparringpartner. “I gave Searle his first race against Julius Woolf on the Parramatta. It was really no race, as Searle could have .won by half the course. Stanbury was next on Searlc’s list with me, and Searle won alter a gruelling race in very fast time. “Then our lad beat Neilsen.” said Mr Spencer, “and I thought it was time to fly high, so we aimed at the world’s championship, at this time held by Peter Kemp, who had secured it from Beach on forfeit, Bill having tired of the game.

“The making of the match caused something of a sensation. Kemp beat ftanlan a second time for the championship (Hanlan was very persistent you'll note) on Saturday, September 28, 1888, and that night, at the paying over of the stakes after the usual nice things had been said, I announced that I would like to back Harry Searle against Peter Kemp for the championship and £SOO aside. At this, Mr Smart, Kemp’s biggest blacker, was quickly on his feet and shouted: ‘£soo’? We'll row you for £5000.’ “ ‘Very well,’ I said, ‘we’ll row you for £SOOO, and here's my deposit of £SOO to bind the match.’ “The room was soon in an uproar, and for a while it was hard to make out what anyone was saying. But it presently appeared that Smart’s friends were trying to persuade him not to venture such a large amount, while Scaric’s followers were imploring them not to be spoil-sports. “In fact, so heated was the discussion, that my brother Tom and Bill Beach came lo blows. However, calmer consideration eventually prevailed, and the match was fixed' for £SOO aside, and the championship. Searle won easily. Peter couldn't even extend him. “Of Searlc’s visit to England to M w \Y. .1. O’Connor, and its -sad ending, I cannot even at this distance of time speak without feeling. How Searle won in sensational style, after giving O’Connor .an advantage at the siarl. and then died at the Williams(own Hospital on liis way borne with his honours still fresh, is a matter of history. He died on December 10. 1889. and with his passing tile world losl a fine man and its greatest sculler.”