The Sculling Race.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 166, 28 September 1893, Page 7

The Sculling Race.

SULLIVAN EASILY BEATS BUBEAR. The sculling match between Tom Sullivan, of Auckland, and George Bubear, of America, for £2OO aside and the Sportsmans Challenge Cup, took place over the championship course from Putney to Mortlake on Monday last, and resulted in an easy win for the New Zealander. The American was the favourite at 11 to 8 on, and was strongly supported, but when the men were set going Sullivan immediately showed he held victory in the palm of his hand, and won as he liked, leading all the way and winning by five lengths. The New Zealander was within an ace of colliding with a steamer when shooting Hammersmith Bridge, and in avoiding the threatened danger the oarsman lost a couple of lengths, which he, however, speedily regained. The course was covered in 22 minutes 30 seconds. The victory of our representative is an exceedingly meritorious one, for to beat Bubear, an accomplished oarsman, in the way he did was no ordinary performance. Sullivan,' who is 25 years of age, was born and bred in Auckland, and made his first attempt at rowing on local water. His performance when he won the Amateur Sculling Championship of New Zealand is too well known to need repetition, and when he joined the professional ranks and arranged to meet James Stanbury in May of 1891, there were many willing to back their opinion that he would beat the Australian. But good as the Aucklander then showed himself to be Stanbury was better, and wrested the race from him. Sullivan has now met Bubear three times, and beaten'him twice. Their first meeting was on the Nepean River, N.8.W., onApril 4,1890, andin thismatch the Aucklander, who was in no condition to race through illness, was easily beaten, Having to abandon s the contest before the course was covered. On May 11th, 1891, he easily defeated Stephenson at Sydney for £lOO aside and a side wager of £lOO. In his second meeting with Bubear, on May 30, 1891, Sullivan won after a gallant race, in 19 min 15 sec, a record in advance of that made in the Beach-Han-lan race. When the present match was under negotiation Sullivan experienced some difficulty in getting his opponent to come totems. After a meeting had

been arranged consequent to the usual parleying through the sporting Press, an appointment was made which was attended by several leading sportsmen. When talking commenced Sullivan proposed to row Bubear on September 11, pointing out that he wished to return to Australasia as soon as possible. Bubear declined to fall in with this proposition, and stated he would not row on any other day than September 25. Although this meant additional expense to the Aucklander he at once agreed to fall in with Bubear’s date, and the match was forthwith arranged. The articles were then drawn up and signed, and provided that the men should row a straightaway scullers race from Putney Bridge to the Ship at Mortlake, starting from two moored skiffs, 25 yards apart, on Monday, September 25, 1893, in best-anh-best boats, for the sum of £2OO aside and the Challenge Cup, the two men to be in their boats ready to start at one o’clock in the afternoon, and to royv under the centre span of Hammersmith Bridge. The race to be rowed according to such of the new Thames National rules as are applicable, cutters being allowed to accompany the race, but they must be kept behind the sternmost map from start to finish. To start by mutual consent, but if not off within fifteep minutes of the appointed time to be started by the umpire by signal or otherwise. A clause was inserted to provide for the postponement of the race in cases of fog or rough weather. Now that our representative has gained the victory great interest will be taken ip his future actions as regards Stanbury. Frank Slavin, the Melbourn boxer, who it appears has given up the hard work of the prize ring for the less arduous task of match-making, has informed us through a recent cable that he intends arranging a sculling race for the championship of the world between the winner of the Sullivan-Bubear contest and Stanbury, the present champion. Accordingly, Sullivan is his man, and a match will doubtless be effected. Whatever our wishes may be, we are constrained to think that the Aucklander when he engages Stanbury will find a man exceedingly hard to beat. Stanbury has proved himself a worthy successor to Beach and Searle, and unless his knocking about in the States has broken him off his old form, he will make Sullivan spin along in earnest when the race comes off.