THE AQUATIC SEASON OF 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1561, 19 February 1879, Page 3

THE AQUATIC SEASON OF 1878.

[From the " Sportsman."] Looking back upon the various events which have occurred in the rowing world during the twelve months that have now so nearly pas cd away, one, as a preliminary, is driven to the conclusion that the season has been an almost exceptionally busy one, and that it has witnessed events of no mean importance. Of 1877 it hail to be said that miich improvement had been manifested on the year preceding it, and it may truthfully he recorded that 1878 deserves to take even higher rank still. There have occurred various sternly-contested struggles for the title Champion of Engl <nd, and the result is 'hat the qin srion of supremacy as between North and S uth remains ax much in abeyai ce as ever, although it will be noticed that ihe positions of the representatives of Thames and Tyne are precisely the reverse of those occupied at the corresponding period of 1877. Tne dawn of 1878 witnessed a niatch between Higgins and Boyd on the Tyne, the pievious aquatic duel having it will be remembered, resulted in a victory for the Londoner. Once again last January the northerner was vanquished, and the hopes of the metropolitan contingent waxed high. Later on, when a new claimant for favor in the person of William Elliott was somewhat easily disposed of, it was believed in divers quarters that the Thames was destined to prove invincible. But the hardy sons of the Tyne, though beaten, were undaunted, and we shall tell anew of their run of conquests in a future contribution. Just to finish, h wever, this hasty sketch of the state of affairs in re the Championship of England, we find the symbol of aquatic supremacy now being retained at Newcastle, and in the course of the first few weeks of the coming year will take place a sculling battle-royal on the Tyne, in which the selected of the Thames will strive, not as he did at the commencement of last year, to retain what he had won, but to win back that which he has so recently lost. Casually glancing at other matters before going into a detailed review of the achievements of the season, it may be remarked that the inter-University struggle of 187 S was not a remarkably brilliant one, the Cambridge crew being decidedly inferior to their Oxonian opponents, and falling easy victims. The regatta at Henley-on Thames in July wa'i productive of more than ordinary interest on account of America contributing a number of oarsmen, who arrived on our shores with enviable credentials. They almost, without exception, came to grief, an t we can only trust that, so far from being dispirited, our cousins of the United States and our brethren of Canada maybe contemplating a renewed effort in the coming year. Again, the Thames Internaticnd Regatta —international only in name, by the way—furnished an unusual amount of excitement, by reason of the extraordinary "form" displayed by the scullers hailing from Tyneside. One by one the northerners scored victory, Hawdon, Boyd, and Elliott overcoming those arrayed against them, and to use a somewhat hackneyed expressi'>n, literally sweeping the board of the honors and emoluments. Nor must it be forgotten tha«t on the occasion alluded to marvellous improvement in style, finish, and pace was displayed by sundry «f the chief clubs, and that the majority of the races were productive of most exciting struggles. In addition to the Championship matches already referred to, there have occurred both on the Thames and Tyne notable contests between scullers, some of whom had already achieved reputations as high-class oarsmen, and others, who, by exhibiting rare qualities of speed and endurance, have succeeded in greatly elevating themselves in popular esteem. Of these latter, perhaps, the most remarkable specimen is Hawdon, of D<daval, who will doubtless, ere long, deem himself worthy of competing for the highest honor which the aquactic world has to bestow. With regard to the reelama ion by this country of the coveted title of the Champion of the World, matters remain much as they were. Various rumors have at one time and another been current to the effect that Trickett, having easily disposed of all his colonial opponents, was, like the warrior of old, "thirsting for other worlds to conquer," and contemplated another visit to England to give some of the chief scullers of this country an opportunity of lowering his colors were they capable of so doing. Months have passed by, however, and the Australian, so far from appearing here, seems to be comfortably settled down in his publichouse, and is accused by some who profess to know of having merely indulged in an operation technically known among his countrymen as "blowing." Correspondents have written to this paper at divers times making all kinds of suggestions for sending a sculler to Sydney with a view of entering into competition with Trickett, but up to the present none of the schemes have found much favor, and we have not heard of any really serious idea being entertained of dispatching anyone to the Antipodes for the purpose named. It is encouraging to all thoie who regard with favor aquatic pursuits as furnishing one of the best and healthiest forms of recreation to notice that the ranks of amateur scullers have been largely reinforced during the past season. Several new clubs have been started in London and the vicinity, and accessions have occurred to the strength of those already in existence. In addition, it will have been observed that the various regattas held on the Thames and other rivers in the south have passed off with even more eclat than formerly, and that good fields have almost invariably turned out to compete for the prizes offered. Speaking of amateurs reminds one that an attempt has been made to settle the much vexed question a 3 to what constitutes an amateur oarsman or sculler. In April la9t a meeting of representatives of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the principal boat clubs in London was held at Putney, when the following definition of an amateur was drawn up and adopted, viz—- " An amateur oarsman or sculler must be an officer of her Majesty's army or navy or civil service, a member of the liberal professions, or of the universities or public schools, or of any established boat or rowing club not containing mechanics or professionals, and must not have competed in any competition for either a stake, or money, or entrance fee, or with or against a professional for any prize; or have even taught, pursued, or assisted in the pursuit of athletic exercises of any kind a 3 a means of livelihood ; or have ever been employed in or about boats, or in manual labor; or be a mechanic, artisan, or laborer. Considerable controversy has since taken place upon the question, and all kinds of objections have been rai?ed to the definition above quoted The truth of the matter, however, is that the line of demarcation between an amateurand a professional sculler always has been md will ever remain a very slight one, and inder such circumstances probably the Putaey convention drew up about as definite a ruie for guidance as it was possible to connect.