THE SCULLING MATCH, RUSH v. LAYCOCK.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1617, 26 April 1879, Page 3

THE SCULLING MATCH, RUSH v. LAYCOCK.

The sculling match between Elias Laycock, of Sydney, and Michael Rush, of the Clarence River, took place over the championship course on the Paramatta River on April 12th. The stake at issue was £IOO aside, and a wager of £IOO also depended upon the result. Both men are well known to fame in the aquatic world, Rush once having gained the championship by defeating William Hickey. Subsequently, he met Trickett, Laycock, and others on the Clarence River, and once more victory crowned his efforts. When Trickett returned from England after defeating Sadler Rush maintained that he was still champion, though Laycock had beaten him in a second trial on the Clarence River. Trickett readily accepted a challenge, and the pair met on the Parramatta River, when Trickett achieved a very easy victory. At the last Sydney anniversary regatta, Trickett, being out of form, was easily defeated by Laycock, and Rush, being present, challenged the victor to another trial of skill, and the match under notice was the result. When Rush made his appearance on the Parramatta the best judges found fault with his rowing, for though he had pretty well mastered the sliding seat, he was still inferior to Trickett and Liycock, and, as a consequence, his opponent was a slight favourite, though Laycock’s backers did not seem to regard their man with confidence, some of them alleging that he had not put in an appearance to row a trial which had been arranged. In justice to Laycock, however, we may mention that he states that his non-appearance was owing to a misunderstanding. The time for the contest was set down for a quarter past 4, and long before that hour the Parramatta was crowded with boats of almost every description. Having a seat in the umpire’s (Mr R. Driver’s) boat, I arrived early at the starting-point, and although it was only half-past three, Laycock was shortly afterwards seen preparing for the fray, and carrying his boat to the river, he being on the southern shore, while Rush was over at Ryde taking it leisurely on the banks, A short time before the appointed hour Laycock entered his cra'.t—a Swaddle and Winship—and after rowing about for awhile, he informed the umpire that as it was beyond the starting hour he would claim to row over if Rush did not come to scratch. Mr Driver requested him to wait a few minutes, but quite ten minutes elapsed before Rush was seen embarking in his boat, also built by Swaddle and Winship, and a splendid specimen. Both men were applauded, and as they rowed up towards the umpire’s boat their condition was eagerly scanned. No fault could be found with either, Rush weighing about 13st., or Laycock a few pounds lighter. When Rush, who won the toss, and chose the southern side, rowed to his place, he took off his cap and threw it into the water, but the gauntlet was quickly taken up, as Laycock rescued it and placed it in his boat. The weather was very fine, the tide being on the ebb, but a steady breeze from the southward rose a slight ripple, and the wind being dead ahead a rather slow race was anticipated. After a little finessing they started by mutual consent, Rush catching the water first, and gaining an advantage of nearly half a length, which he maintained for 100 yards, when Laycock, who was rowing in beautiful form, decreased the lead, and they were rowing almost level, Rush rowing at the rate of thirty-five, and Laycock at about thirty-seven strokes to the minute. Before reaching Uhis’s Point, Rush who was using the slide much more artistically than it was imagined he would, began to draw away, and though not rowing quite so clean as his opponent, there was wonderful power in every stroke. After passing Uhis’s Point, Rush increased his lead, and crossing over he took Laycock’s water, and gave him the full benefit of his wash. Quickening up, Laycock placed the bow of his boat over the stern of Rush’s, and for a moment a foul appeared imminent, but by a few powerfnl strokes Rush drew clear again, and as they dashed past the mile beacon in 6min, 25aecs. Rush held an advantage of a length and a half, which he shortly afterwards increased to a couple of lengths, and as ho passed Putney Point he was rowing at the rate of 36 to the minute, in very good form too, though not quite so neat as Laycock, who was sculling beautifully 36 strokes to the minute. As they began to draw near to Gladcsville Point, Laycock revived the hopes of his friends by decreasing the gap, but Rush responded, and as they passed the Gladesville wharf he was again two lengths to the good. Yet he was not rowing in such good stylo as he was during the early portion of the race, his right hand getting very low, while the scull went far too deep into the water. Nevertheless, Laycock had not decreased the lead at Five Dock, where thousands of people had assembled. After passing this point, however, and when 100 to 5 was offered on Rush, Laycock began to draw closer, and about 250 yards from the goal he quickened up to 38, and rowing in grand form, he quickly overlapped Rush, amidst excitement of the most intense description. He drew up to Rash’s outrigger, and the Clarence River hero, not having a spurt left in him, collapsed a few lengths from the finish, and was beaten a little more than a length. The official time was 24min. 24£sec. Laycock immediately picked up Rush’s cap and waved it in the air, as a response to the enthusiastic cheers of his friends. This ended the best sculling race ever witnessed on the Parramatta. The course was kept well, and neither man received the slightest inconvenience from the steamers.