AQUATICS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2219, 6 April 1881, Page 4

AQUATICS.

The terrible weather in England lately has b.<en naturally much against aquatics, but the following events will be read with interest:—On July 14th one of the finest sculling races ever witnessed on the Thames Championship Course took place. The struggle was for the amateur championship of tho Thames, the rivals being Alex. Payne, Moulsey 8.0., O. G. White, L.8.C., aud J, Lowndes, Derby K.O. It may be mentioned that F. L. Playford, after bis fifth successive victory for the Wingfield Sonlls in 1879, when he defeated J. Lowndes, resigned the trophy which gives the championship title, and thus the three gentlemen above mentioned resolved to do battle for its possession. Payne had been a successful sculler in 1879, hut in tho following year little had been seen of him in a racing skiff. Lowndes, on the contrary, had taken a decided lead with the sonlls, and thus was a groat favourite for the event under notice. The Derby man, eager for the fray, was first at bis stake-boat, but he was quickly followed by his rivals, and it was not long before the starter, Mr Searle, gave the word, “Go!” and the race had commenced. White started very quickly, and by the time the Star and Garter was breasted he was a length ahead of Lowndes, second. Still keeping up his rapid work, the London man was clear off the boathouse of his club, while Payne was half a length further behind. Lowndes commenced to draw up to the loader at the bottom of the Concrete Wall, whilst Payne also began to pash towards the front “ hand over hand.” So sustained was the effort of the latter, that the trio were on terms at the top of the new grounds. Payne from here, dragging through a ’long, tolling stroke of 38 to the minute, was showing the way by a quarter of a length at Walden’s Wharf, and bis time for the mile was Smin. 37aoc. White was by this time out of the hunt. The race continued a desperate one between the other pair, however, and the Derby sculler had again a slight lead off Bose Cottage. Payne then spurted, and at the Crab Tree he was once more to the fore. Lowndes’ steering was hereabouts very wild, but bis heavy work had the desired effect, as he was pioneer at tho Soap Works. Still Payne would not be shaken off, as striking up to 42 he had a alight advantage on shooting under Hammen-mith bridge j time, 9min. 52sec. From here, however, the Darby souller began to push steadily ahead, and at the Oil Mills he was leading by a length. Lowndes being now further from his cutter, steered wildly again—he is very short-sighted. Still he had a length in hand at the bottom of Chiswick Eyot, where Payne, with the utmost determination, spurted again. At the Bathing Place there was not a yard to choose between the pair, and a slight foul occurred. Lowndes being in the wrong. No claim was made by bis gallant antagonist nevertheless, and yard by yard the race was contested with the most determined courage on both sides. After getting under Barnes’ Bridge the Moulsey sculler, who seemed to have the most power left, gradually drew away, and led by a length at the Queen’s Head. Lowndes now suddenly stopped sculling, and it was evident that he was dead settled. Payne then paddled on, and won at his leisure in 24min. 2seo., after one of the most splendid and gamely contested races ever witnessed over the Thames course.

That time-honored trophy, Daggett’s Coat and Badge, was put up for competition on July 31st, the trial heat* having been rowed off some few days before. August Ist is the date fixed for the event except when it fall* upon a Sunday. This was the case last year, and consequently the race came off a day earlier. The course, as heretofore, was from London bridge to Chelsea, and of the six aspirants for the trophy, fonr hailed from Putney, two of whom succeeded in obtaining first and second place. The starters were— W. J. Cobb, Putney, 1; O. Gibson, Putney, 2; J. B. Larkin, Bermondsey, 3; 8. T. Peters, Putney, 4; W. J. Jacobi, Putney, 5 ; and O. F. Tuoker, Bermondsey, 6. Cobb started off with the lead, followed by Peters, Gibb, and Larkin, and by the time Blackfriars bridge was shot he was a length ahead of Gibson, Tucker coming third, six lengths behind. A desperate race ensued between Gibson and Oobh, the former of whom was the most fancied. Cobb, how ever, held his own well. Passing the Obelisk he quickened up, and by the time they reached Westminster bridge he was taking the rest along with a four lengths’ lead from Gibson. This advantage be had doubled on passing the Horseferry. Larkin and Peters were in the meantime having a good set to, and Gibson continued to make gallant efforts to overhaul the leader, but without avail, and at Yaaxhall Cobb was fully fifty yards ahead. In the end he won by Xmin. ssec. from Gibson, doing tho distance against tide in 30min. ssec. Larkin was third, twelve lengths behind Gibson, the others straggling in at various intervals.