THE SCULLTNG CHAMPIONSHIP.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1440, 5 September 1884, Page 2

THE SCULLTNG CHAMPIONSHIP.

BEACH F. HANLOK The following is tlie Melbourne A?e report, as telegraph to the Lyttelton Times of the scull-ing match between Beach and Hanlan for £500 a side, and the sculling championship of the WOrlrl '. The weather was magnificent, and fully 70,000, were present to witness the' contest. The water, although somewhat rough, was not sufficiently tnvbnlent to cause any inconvenience to the oarsmen, both of whom were in excellent condition. The brief space of time during which the contest for

Lhe blue ribbon lasted was perhaps 1 ' Lhe most exciting 20 minutes ever ] experienced on the Parramatta course, i About a quarter past 4, Hanlan, wear- : ing a blue sleeveless guernsy, aud looked in fin- condition, stepped into : his boat at Uhr Point, and Beach who was stripped to the waist, shortly afterwards rowed up from his tiainiug quarters. Hanlan's weight was within half-pound of list. He rowed in a boat built by Edwards of Melbourne. Beach's weight was 12st. He used one of Donnelly and Sullivan's boats. Both appeared in splendid condition, Beach showing a remarkably hard muscular appearance. The unjjr.e was Mr P. J. Clarke, one of the liest judges of rowing in Australia. The competitors tossed for choice of position which was won by Beach, who elected to take the inner position close to the southern side. It. was agreed that they should start by mutual consent, but, owing to a somewhat strong westerly breeze which was blowing at the time, there was some delay in getting away. Finally, at twenty-three minutes lo 4 oclock they made v splendid start, bolh catching the walor at Uie same moment, .pulling almost stroke for stroke. Uaulou's stroke was the cleanest and neatest, Beach's though equally effective, being somewhat flurried in the first hundred yards. Hanlan from the first appeared to settle down to work as very seriously business. He was closely watching Beach, with whom he kept almost o>i a dead level for some distance. After level pulling for a quarter of a mile, lianlan quickened his stroke and went a length ahead. He then slowed down in accordance wioh his ordinary custom and just maintained al>out the same lead, going a little faster when li! 4 opponent drew closer, and easing oi? again when he himself seemed to Inincreasing his load again. After pass ing the first point, and getting into comparatively open water, where the full force of the breese caught them, both became rather unsteady, an occasional splash showing that the wind was somewhat rough, and that the water was inconveniencing them. At about this period ot the contest a most unfortunate incident oocurreo. The steamer Tomki, which had be.en chartered by Beach's supporters, was heading right across Hanlan's track in mid stream. Hanlan pulled right up to within a few feet of the steamer's side, being slightly ahead of Beach. | whose course just erable.d him to miss the. steamer's bow. As Haul an came up close, a thousand voices called onfc fco him to beware of being ssviimp?d, and, as he turned in his boat ahead lie saw the danger in a moment, and, apparently resolved to cut Beach right out of the race. Heading his boat across Beach's' course,, h:> put on a magnificent spurt, shot past the steamer's bow at marvellous speed, and dropped again into the steady stroke, when he had pt.t some, four or live lengths between himself and his opponent. To the spectatators this seemed to give the race to Hanlan, and one or two incidents which occurred in rowing just afterwards were interpreted as acts of bravado on his part, but which, as Hanlan now states, were signs of distress. Shortly after he finished, his great spurt he half dropped his left hand scull, but recovered himself almost immediately Hanlan had not gone a qnavter of a mile further before he made a partial stoppage, entirely missing his stroke.. This gave the impression that he was pulling well within himself, that ho had gauged Beach's powers and satisfied himself of his ability to keep in front by responding whenever Beach spurted, and that he could afford to play with his opponent. Hanian's explanation given after the race was over is that by the big spurt he exhausted himself, and so far from " showing oiT," was in a distressed condition. This statement is borne out by Beach, who states that when Hanlan went so far to the front on thus occasion he began to regard it as a a hopeless contest, until he turned and saw Hanlan's face. Then lie saw clearly that Hanlan was "giving oufc >: and the thought went through Beach's mind like a flash of lightning, 'the. race is mine." Encouraged by this hope, and in accordance with his trainer's advice he put on just such a spurt as Hanlan had done, and with half a dozen quick, powerful strokes brought his boat right down on Hanlan, who had worked across into Beach's water and was so exhausted that he could I not respond to Beach's pace and pull out of the way. The consequence was a foul. The boats did not touch, but Hanlan's left scull and Beach's right crossed each other and prevented either other from pulling for a moment. Both boats were dead level, and either man had an equal chance of getting away first, or, in fact, when they freed their interlocked sculls, both could have re-started on exactly equal terms, but Hanlan was not equal to the emergency. He held up his hand to claim a foul, by which he lost his stroke, and then he halted a few seconds, as if hesitating whether to go on or give up. This gave Beach a lead of five of six lengths, which ho never really lost during the rest of the race. Once Hanlan made a fierce attempt to overtake Beach, and actually. got within three boats' length, but his condition then gave out entirely, and he fell away Beach pulled hard ; but has he was never really pushed, there is every reason to credit his statement that he could have pulled much harder. He certainly finished in fine condition, which is more than can be said of Hanlan. Beach passed the flag-boat nearly six leng hs ahead. As the umpire's boat came up, Hanlan pulled alongside and said : "Mr

Clarke, I claim a fowl." Mr Clarke promptly responded : " You got over into Beach's water ; that caused the foul, and I give the race to Beach." The decision was immediately shouted from steamer to steamer and along the banks, and was received with ringing cheers.