AN EX-NEW ZEALAND ROWER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XXI, 27 May 1899, Page 732

AN EX-NEW ZEALAND ROWER.

Mr Tom Sullivan whose photo, appears in this issue is well known throughout New Zealand and Australia especially by rowing enthusiasts, for it is as a sculler that ‘Tom’ made his mark first in the colonies, and afterwards in the Old Country. Mr Sullivan was born in the Auckland province on September 18, 1868, and is therefore in his thirty-first year. He took to the water and rowing like a duck, and was quite young when first he began to show his prowess as an oarsman. After winning several dinghy races in Auckland Tom Sullivan won his first sculling race of importance at Wanganui when he was 21 years of age. Shortly afterwards Sullivan won the Amateur Championship of New Zealand, and was then advised to try his skill against the Australian oarsmen. He visited Sydnev and soon found backers. He rowed his first match on the Nepean River on April 14, 1891, for £lOO aside. Through illness Sullivan was defeated. On May 11 he defeated C. Stevenson easily for £lOO a side and a side wager of £2OO. He followed up this victory by defeating Bubear on May 30, and C. Dutch on June 29 for £ 100 aside. On June 12, 1892, Sullivan tackled J. Stansbury for the Championship of the World, but the New Zealander was beaten easily. In the following year Sullivan visited England, and on September 25, ’93, he won the championship of England verv easily from Bubear. His next contest was against Wag Harding on the Tyne for the championship and £2OO. but Sullivan was defeated. A second race with Harding ended in a similar result. After getting married to a daughter of Mr Rough, well known in rowing circles in England, Sullivan started as mine host of the Hammersmith Hotel, and has filled in his time by training and coaching crews both amateur and professional. Sullivan continued to keep in good form as was evinced by his last race with Haines, the English sculler, whom the ex-New Zealander defeated on 16th inst. in a sculling match for £2OO aside. Sullivan’s parents reside in Auckland, his father being a captain in the Devonport Ferry Company's service. Our picture is' taken from the latest photo, of Sullivan.