THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 803, 18 January 1877, Page 3

THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

(From the Pall Mall Budget , Nov. 24th.) Since the day that Trickett, the Australian, left England the title of Champion of the Thames has been practically in abeyance. A champion title must be defended in the place whence it takes its name. Trickett, by leaving the country, virtually gave up the title, which he had won in June last by beating J. Sadler, who was then reputed the English champion. The Australian could, however, afford to base his reputation upon the higher title of Champion of the World, which he had won at the same time. Since then there has been no match for the Championship of the Thames. It has be come more and more apparent of late that, Sadler was a long way short of being the best man in England when he was defeated by Trickett. Sadler is no longer the man that he was two years ago. He has since then paid forfeit in a match to J. Higgins of Shadwell ; ho has been easily beaten in a match by R. Boyd of Newcastle, and at the late regatta on the Thames he was beaten in the Scu'ls by Boyd again, and also by Blackman and Anderson, The last named we believe Sadler could have beaten, if it had been worth bis while to persevere for third place; but the other two were plainly better than he was. When Trickett beat Sadler he certainly did not do so with the ease that Boyd has since done. Higgins beat Boyd in a match last June with much ease. Since then Boyd has much improved, and in the late regatta on the Thames proved himself for the day a faster sculler than Higgins, the latter being then over-weight and short of condition. But the “ line ” given through Sadler -between Boyd and Higgins as against Trickett—seems to show a very strong probability that either of these men could beat the Australian ; in fact, it would be a very open question whether also even Blackman could not already do so. Two challenges have lately been issued in the professional world—one from Boyd, to scull any man of the North, which is of course aimed at Lumsden, who was matched against Trickett, but who forfeited. The other challenge is from Higgins to row any man in England for the championship of the Thames and £2OO aside or any man in the world for £SOO aside, and giving an allowance of £IOO for expenses to any foreigner or colonist, the race to be on the Thames. If the first pa it of this challenge has the effect of deciding who is to be considered the best man in England that he may afterwards do battle with Trickett, it will be satisfactory. It is now stated by the Sportsman that, though no match has yet been actually made, Boyd will accept Higgins’s defiance, the race to take place about the middle of March next, but with a reservation in favor of the Tyne as the sceae of action. We trust that this proviso will not be pressed, the metropolitan water should always be the course for English championships. The other challenge, of wider range, will also produce sport, if it should bring over some American sculler, emboldeued by the form shown by American professionals at the late Philadelphia Regatta. Bat still such a challenge is hardly likely to bring back to us what we most want, the formal championship of the world. That has now gone to Australia. It is a cardinal principal in championships that he whose title is coveted by another must be attacked only on his own ground. (If it were otherwise a champion might be challenged one day by an Esquimaux to row on Great Bear Lake, and another day by a Chinaman on the Peiho ; and if ha failed to go wherever thus ehal lenged, would lose his title by default). Trickett, after beating Sadler, so far waived this technicality as to consent to make a match with Lumsden to row on the Thames while he was on the spot, but ho cannot be expected to come hero now as a matter of duty to defend his title. If it cun be made worth his while to come, we might perhaps see him here again. But if he chooses to stand on his rights, he can hold the title of Champion of the World, until beaten on his own water. As it happens, his supremacy seems not unlikely to be disputed in his own colony. Green, of Australia (who rowed Chambers in England in 1863), lost the colonial championship to Hiokey; the latter in turn succumbed to Rush, and Rush to Laycock. Then came Trickett, who beat Laycock and Hichin at Wooloomooloo regatta, and then challenged Hush for the championship of Australia. He offered to journey 500 miles to row Rush on the Lawrence river, or to give expenses to row on the Paramatta. Rush retired, and Trickett in default assumed the colonial championship. Then he came to England. Rush has now sent an order to Swaddle and Winship, the Tyne boat builders, for two wager sculling boats, and this is interpreted as a sign that he means now to make a match with Trickett. The latter learned ia England the (to him) new art of the sliding seat. Slides seem to be hardly yet understood in Australia, and it remains to be seen how far Rush will be able to master the new style without the aid of a British instructor. It is to be hoped, however, that as soon as Higgins’s challenge has settled who is the best man in England an attempt will be made to win back the lost honor by sending a British sculler to Australia.