THE GREAT BOAT-RACE BETWEEN RUSH AND HICKEY FOR £500.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 125, 3 June 1870, Page 2

THE GREAT BOAT-RACE BETWEEN RUSH AND HICKEY FOR £500.

(From the Sydney Afternoon lelegram, May 28.) On Saturday afternoon the skill, endurance, and courage of two of the finest rowers in Australian waters were tested on the regular course on : the Parrainatta River, when R. Hiekey and M. Rush mot to decide as to which was the superior man in watermen's boats, the rich stake cf £500 being also involved in the contest. The competitors in this great event were Richard Hickey, of Newcastle, and Michael Rush, of the Clarence River, —who by the way is a nephew of the late respected ex-champion, Mr. Thomas M'Grath, whom he much resembles in affableness of temper and general demeanor. Hickey, who is a brother to the present champion sculler of the colony, aged about twenty-five years, and weighing 12st 81b, belongs to the Hunter River,; and is a native of that locality, where he has enjoyed a high reputation as a sculler. Tke few races he has gone for have been mostly in regattas, and only once, it is said, he met with'defeat. Michael Rush is twent.y-five years of age, and for the last twelve years has been a resident of the Clarence River, where he-has won some small events, but was here quite unknown as a sculler until he pulled off two regatta prizes on last Anniversary Day. After this, he, with his partner, Coulon, defeated the brothers Trickett in a double sculls match for £50 a side. Immediately afterwards He issued a challenge to row any man in the colony in watermen's boats. The offer was quickly taken up ; and William Hickey, the champion sculler, then was matched —the latter giving £200 to Rush's £150. The result was favourable to Hickey. The particulars are pretty well known. However, nothing daunted, Rush and his friends sought another match, when Richard Hickey whose forte is waterman's boat sculling, was put forward, giving £300 to £200 staked by the backers of Rush. Richard Green, the ex-champion, was selected as the trainer of Rush, who was the non-favourite at that time, but has iince steadily risen in popular estimation, as it became known that his rowing was improving, and his condition was the better by nearly a stone and a half in weight on Saturday. "William Hickey lookod after the wants of his brother, and gave him unceasing attention throughout. The deposits towards the stakes (£500) were from time to time made good. Jhe last was staked on Fridaynight, atthe City Wine Vaults, Q-eorge-street. A large number of the Hunter River people were present, and it is said some 150 came down to see the race.

Party spirit ran pretty high on the forthcoming c rent, and in more than one instance overstepped the bounds of propriety. Betting was done in fifties and hundreds, Hickey having the call at about five to four, and in a good many wagers level money was piled on.

The morning of the eventful day came and and was quite worthy of an Australian autumn. The rain had cleared off, as it always does for a hoat race—just the contrary to what invariably is the case on the Thames, the Cam, or the Iris. The concourse who witnessed the race was much larger than has been seen on the river for some time past. The steamers accompany ing the men were the Kembla (Hickey's boat), Breadalbane (Bush's boat), Vesta, Cobra, Adelaide, Pelican, Atalanta, Herald, Cygnet, arid Mr. John Outliberfc's handsome steam yacht Fairy, besides hundreds of pulling boats. The steamers w. re so densely packed that there was scarcely standing room on board of either, and two or three points on the river side were peopled with the inhabitants of the locality. There mils* have been something like-3000 on shore and afloat. - The tranquil waters of the boating course were eadly ruffled by the tottering steam fl?efc, which polluted the air with black, dirty smoke.

The hour for the contest was drawing near, and the spectators were becoming impatient. In the interim the most affectionate anxiety was evinced regarding the health, form,' and style of the two"aspirants. At half-past four o'clock Rush was seen to put off in his skiff from the wharf at Ryde, and was accorded some applause by the lookers ou from the Breadalbane. Hickey soon followed, and received a like compliment, and wLen passing the judge (Mr. Driver), he notified protest against some slight alteration that hai been made in his opponent's boat. The objection, however, was not entertained. The Newcastle man took his preliminary row;

his style is high ftatherv'V^^ most brilliant; he prefokjjg the with immense energy, and witto. the erfo?®*1 man -who means to win or newnl &^ attempt. The stranger took iuEL* * more coolly, and did. not eeem half L * concerned as the lookers on. The 1-I stations having been won by Hickev h ' the outside position on the south rid? t river, opposite the bathing-house At, 1 * minutes twenty seconds the off wj • andjtf the two boats flew, both men. 8? flurried/. Hickey got the crip of &k\ 'f first. They kept side by 8 sidetuM abreast of the point, called Llew«? 1 Here Hiokey put on the steam in terrifl«X1 and lifted his boat half a length aheS 3 a good survey of his opponent, w'hol pulling a splendid steady stroke, and,r ignoring the presence of every thine and.." body but his able mentor, Green, who W lowing close behind in the bows of an eiT boat, and directing his course down the ri William Hickey who was in a similar Q piloting his brother. Two hundred v»' past the point the men were on equal wf and continued "so for mbre'thatt haS across to Kissing Point, where the kJ steamers crowded' round, and followed cIS up in the wake of the men. Hiekey diTe»J from his straight corn-se, and was steered! side of Kissing Point. There was aw yell of counsel, encouragement, and oWb* tion, to none of which did either num piy? slightest heed. The- point wag- « B ; 0 in 7min 35sec. The erratic steering J Rush about a length advantage, H& having to pull on tho left to get his boat straight. Rush w alive to the advantage, and slightly "n^ on," and thus rendered the gap between tk« nearly two lengths; and, continuing his did course to Bedlam Ferry, he gradually dm away, keeping up a wonderfully ] O i, mechanical stroke, seldom over twenty-iix s minute throughout. Hickey, before reaolui the ferry, appeared to labour heavily, »nd» evidently much excited; but his pluck« determination appeared to give him bj vigour, and the steady twenty -eight was en denly exchanged for a flashing thirtj-t« and he hung on to his man as a deerhoat hangs to a stag. Rush, however, maintain his advantage, aud his magnificent pullimii drew forth the encomiums of all present,si>l! he passed the flagboat three lengths dtd at 5h 14min 20sec. Time—26min4oßec,ttej fastest on record in watermen's boats;

The stakes were handed over to the winner on Saturday night, at tke City Wiie Viuta, George-street; and a challenge was given oiilS for Rush to row William Hickey, and a mate! it it is said will likely be made to-day,