AQUATICS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1747, 25 September 1879, Page 3

AQUATICS.

THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE THAMES. CONTEST FOR THE WINGFIELD SCULLS. ["The SportsmaD."] The trial heat in this competition between Messrs J. Lowndes, of Hertford College, Oxford, and C. G. White, of the London Rowing Club, to decide which should be entitled to row Mr F. L. Playford, the present champion, for that honor, took place from Pntney to Mortlake recently. Considerable interest was manifested in the contest from the fact that both the candidates were known to be high-class scullers and thorough stayers, while Lowndes, by his recent victory over the champion at Henley, and the form shown by him in the previous year, was looked upon as being very likely to give considerable trouble in spite of his youth—he is only twenty-one years of age. On the other hand the L.R.C. men had great confidence in their second representative, and they believed that if Mr Playford had to succumb it would be to his own club mate, who two years previously had beaten Messrs Gulston, Bambridge, and Hastie in the Prince of Wales' Cup in the International Regatta. Although on the occasion under notice White was doomed to defeat, he made so gallant a struggle from start to finish as to fully justify the confidence of his friends, and he well deserved the applause they gave him when the contest was over. Seldom has so fine a race been seen on the Thames. The tide had fallen very slack when the commencement took place shortly before five o'clock, otherwise everything was favorable, the weather being bright and sunny and the wind light. White was the first to show in front after the start, when Lowndes drew up again, and yard by yard the struggle was of the most determined character, the two boats being dead level at the Crab Tree. From this point Lowndes began to draw in front, and at the Soap Works he was a length in advance, although he sculled in dangerous proximity to his rival, and at one time a foul was feared. He shot Hammersmith bridge just clear, however, although White held him stubbornly. The Oxford man was nearly a length clear off the Oil Mills, but on approaching Chiswick Church White put on a Brilliant spurt, and drew almost level once • more, when again the race got very exciting, j Off the Bull's Head at Barnes Lowndes had j Bcarcely half a length in hand, and shortly { afterwards, going out into White's water to j clear a barge, a foul occurred, which caused i the rivals to come to a standstill for a few ; seconds, when Lowndes got best away again, , but the battle was stubbornly contested right t np to the winning-post, which was passed by j the Oxonian with half a length in hand. White claimed the race on the foul, but the , umpire, Mr E. D. Brickwood, decided in favor of the first past the post. The winner , appeared very little distressed after the match, and from the fine form he displayed the final struggle was looked forward to with the greatest interest, a grand race being anticipated. Mr Lowndes scaled list 71b, and his height is sft. llin. FINAL HEAT. I The encounter was brought to a decisive issue, and the uncertainty which surrounded the result, combined with the beautiful -weather, caused the umpire's steamer to be so crowded that the sponsons were almost down to the water-line, and, as a consequence, the number of those who obtained anything like a good view of the race must have been extremely limited. As usual, no provision was made for the Press, and although through the courtesy of one of the officials our reporter was accommodated with a corner near the bows, so great was theex--citement and pressure that it was impossible ' -to note the struggle in a very satisfactory fashion. If in amateur races a leaf was taken out of the mode of procedure used in professional contests, namely, by having a fairly wide space roped off for the umpire and accredited members of the Press only, with a policeman to enforce the rule, the public would benefit as well as the friends of the competitors .themselves, by receiving a more perfect account than under the present system is posaible. The start was fixed for 5.30, but it was nearly a quarter to six before Lowndes, followed by his cutter, made his appearance on the scene and paddled down to the vicinity of his stake-boat, Mr J. Clasper being his pilot. He was shortly followed by the amateur champion and his mentor, Mr Gulston, in the L.R.C. twelveoared cutter. Both men looked in the pink of health and condition, although Playford was undoubtedly the more powerful of the two, while his ruddy appearance completely falsified all rumours as to his being out of condition. In the drawfor stations Lowndes obtained the Surrey berth, and by the time that all was ready for the start the tide was very slack, and wind waß not of sufficient power to seriously affect either sculler. Playford was the favorite in the betting at 1 to 1 on. After one false start Mr E. D. Brickwood, the umpire, sent the men away to a capital start, Playford almost immediately getting a slight advance. He seemed to get into the swing of his stroke at once, reaching well forward, and dragging his sculls right through with excellent results. Liowndes also commenced very prettily, but his efforts appeared to lack the power of his opponent, and his strokes were rather short. Both went away at 42 to the minute, but Lowndes took a very erratic course at the outset, pulling right over towards the boathouses, and it was some little time before Clasper got him straight again, and when he had passed the Duke's Head the champion led him by half a length. It was thus early apparent that Playford pulled by far the stronger stroke, as, in spite of the determined sculling of his rival, he was nearly a length to the good half way up the concrete wall. He then dashed in some dozen strokes of extra strength, which enabled him to let the daylight in between the boats by the time the Paint was arrived at. Still Lowndes upheld his reputation for oarsmanship, as again and again he slightly drew up to his antagonist, only, however, to fall further to the rear after each succeeding effort. Thus early both men were making for the Surrey aide, and by the time that the mile-post was reached (smin 17see) they were well out in mid-stream. Playford just after this took Lowndes' water, and treated him to his wash, and still increasing his lead with apparent ease he was at least three lengths ahead off the Crab Tree; time, Omin 2Ssec. The race was now to all appearances over, as although Lowndes made several plncky attempts to get on more level terms, they were unavailing, the L R.C. man passing the Soap Works bridge in Smin l7sec, with three clear lengths to the good. The Surrey arch of Hammersmith bridge was shot by the leader in lOmin 2sec. He was then rapidly widening the gap which separated him from the Oxonian, who seemed to be quite done with, and at the foot of Chiswick Eyot (time, 12min 3-lsec) six lengths were credited to the pioneer. Lowndes now made a final spurt, and, quickening his stroke, succeeded in drawing up a little. His effort was, h«w-

I ever, soon over, and then Playford had the I race "all his own," and when Chiswick Church was breasted (time, lGmin 2aec) ho was at least twelve lengths in front. The race needs no further description, as going along in grand style Playford shot Barnes bridge in 21min SOseo from the start, being 35fec in advance of his adversary, and he finally passed John Phelps (distance judge) in 25miu 51sec, the winner with consummate ease by no less than one hundred and fifty yards, thus renewing his title of amateur championship for another year and for the fifth time. In conclusion it can only be said that Lowndes was out-classed from the start, but as he is very young, and_ has all the makings of a fine oarsman, he will, no doubt, on some future occasion, succeed in obtaining the coveted distinction. In Mr F. L. Playford we have, however, probably one of the finest ama'eur oarsmen ever seen on the Thames, and so long as he 3hows his present form he will take a lot of beating. The boat used by Mr Playford was built expressly for him by Messrs P helps, Peters, and Co., of Putney. She is made of Mexican cedar, with a pine stern and rudder, her length is 30ft Gin, lljfin in width, sJin deep at the well, and she is 3|in high at the bow, and 2Ain at the stern. The length of the slide is 23in, and she is fitted with gunmetal swivel rowlocks, patented by Phelps & Co. The sculls are from the design of Mr F. S. Gulston, who, by the bye, first put Hanlan up to the idea of using broad-bladed ones.