THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1736, 12 September 1879, Page 3

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

The champion sculling match bstween Trickett'and Laycock was pulled on August 29th, on the Parramatta river, and the race is thus reported by the correspondent of the "Melbourne Argus":— " As they took their preliminary spins, the condition of each was eagerly scanned. Trickett, whose long body seemed to tower over that of Laycock, was a trifle thin in the faco, and hia skin, as fair as a woman's, presented a striking contrast to that of Laycock, which was brown as mahogany. The inue» cular development of each man was simply perfect, and as Laycock weighed 13st., and Trickett 12st. 71bs , Victorians can imagine what a pair of giants they are. "Without much delay, thoy started by mutual consent. Laycock having a slight advantage as they dipped their sculls, and also having the best of the course, in a few strokes placed the stern of his boat slightly in advance of Trickett's. Both men were rowing at the rate of forty to the minute, and the form of each was unexceptionable, Trickett, however, reaching out the beßt, and using the slide to perfection. As they proceeded, neither seemed inclined to slacken, but though both were going at a tremendous pace, Trickett was sculling the neater of the two, albeit the play of the swivel caused many to imagine that he was not rowing so much cross-handed eta usual, and that hia sculls were shorter, but in reality they were not. As they approached "Weir's Point Trickett got upon level terms with Laycock, and, for about 100 yards they rowed scull for soull, each man still rowing at the rate of 40 to the minute, Inch by inch,

however, Tricket began to drive his boat to the front, and slowly but surely he placed his craft half a length to the good, which advantage he held three-quarters of a mile from the Btart, but, shooting over to the northern shore, "he lost a trifle, Laycock keeping a direct course, and for a few_ strokes he appeared to be level with the champion, but this equality was only momentary, as Trickett put in two or three vigorous strokes, and as they shot past the mile point, in 6min. 13seo. from the start, Trickett had placed a length and a half to his credit, 5 to 1 being offered on him. Trickett was now rowing in magnificent style, 38 to the minute, and though the severity of the pace began to tell its tale upon Laycock, he never relaxed his efforts, but kept pegging away at the rate of 40. At Walker's Point, Trickett had increased his lead to two lengths, and at Putney, where he was rowing at 36 stroke 3 to the minute, three lengths separated him from Laycock, who kept a straight course on the southern shore, while Trickett hugged the northern shore. This enabled Laycock to slightly decrease the distance between them, though, as the men were quite 100 yards wide of each other, it was difficult to say how much advantage Trickett had until he approached G-ladesville wharf, which they passed in 17 min. 20secs. from the start, and Trickett quickoning up to 38, he soon placed a gap of six lengths between them. Just after passing the Sydney Bowing Club wharf, whore thousands of people had congregated, Trickett stopped rowing, pulled in his sculls, and deliberately wiped the perspiration from his forehead. This enabled Laycock to draw a length or two nearer to him, but Trickett at once went away again, and though he was rowing only 35 and 36, he was going faster than Laycock, who still bravely kept up at 38 and 39. One hundred yards.from the goal Trickett quickened up to 38, and drawing away at every stroke, he passed the judge's boat twelve or fourteen lengths in front, the time 22min. 35sec, Laycock being exactly 31sec. behind him. Trickett was loudly cheered by the occupacts of the numerous steamers and row-boats, and as he rowed up alongside the umpiro's boat he met with a perfect ovation. Mr Richard Driver acted as umpire, Mr George Curtis as official timekeeper, and T. Mulhall, a wellknown waterman, acted as judge."