THE BEACH-HANLAN RACE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 78, 10 December 1887, Page 2

THE BEACH-HANLAN RACE.

THE DESCRIPTION. HANLAN’S EXCUSE FOR DEFEAT. The race for the aquatic ohamplonthin hi* been rowed and won and lost, and Iftir of the most desperate and between the two fi nB *t oar* m . n who dipped loull in wafer, ha* again been William Beach on behalf of Australia! 11 Te spite of the inclemency of the weather the race wa* witnened by several thousand* of spectators, whose interest in the result seemed to be as keen a* that evinced on th® two when Beach mat Hanlan on the I aramatta. Notwithstanding Beach'* two previous def ats of the ConadLn, that* wa* as much enthusiasm dhplaysd on Satur- ?» ls , eva,, ’ WM the Sf»»t prestig* of Hanlon, that there were thousand* who confidently believed that he would one* mote achieve the coveted ohamplon.hip i and it wae not until Beaoh passed the poet a winner 2 18 Canadian s friend* gave up *ll hope. At twenty-two minute* to four o'clock th# men, ami >st great excitement on the launch, etarted off as by mutual consent. Hanlan had chosen the eastern or Sydney side of the river, Beaoh thus being on hi* right-hand

THE START was a very even and fair one, the men striking the water almost simultaneously, and Hanlan r>,! n £„ ng Wa ? fil # to ,e et fn‘o full swing. The pace was terrific, the men dashing off at a very cleanly pulled stroke of 40 to th* minute each. Thi* rate, however, was main, tamed only for the first minute, as the reooifi o- r ‘S? ,eoo , nd minute showed an average of appeared to have been gained by the Canadian but wa* *0 Slight a* to ba imperceptible, indesd. *• the launch wa* more than 100 yard* behind men, opiniun* differ a* to whioh actually had the advantage. The almost unbroken water was favorable to clean, scientific pulling, and an exhtbition in sculling wa* given perhap* rarely excelled. When the men hail travelled the first two hundred yards they Zhhln eB !v. t? b ° b “ 6 d<!a<s leTO1 ‘ b “ th P ulllb ? within their own water. Hanlan glanced nervously at his opponent several times, but nt V A r k On< L e Blte . red his P erf « ot style of pulling. Beaoh, whose face seemed to have determine* “ o “A mpr r, ed A U <P° n ifc ’ °°eaßionally turned lua ’ to<!k °. 11 o PPon®ot. but still kept on with a powerfully olean stroke. The men 7,™ 7u-\ tetOu t' y 2. heered ind from the launch. Before the flrit quarter of a mile had been completed they both HanUn an ‘n " l'’ I’’ 1 ’’ Bnd oBmB “ OWn M bUimi 36, Beaoh 36, H * n, » n Pu* on a * nd •PP®» r ® d to get up lA i? th l *; hanl P lon ' but Beaoh who wa* „ , po , werlul Pulling, quickened hi* stroke Ban away ’ le * din g by fully It length. Shout* then went up, and Beach continued td bold Hanlan safe, and before the first mile was reached he was leading by a length and a half and giving an exhibition of sculling equal to the best form he ever showed, and exciting the warmest admiration from hl* admirers on the launch. The first mile was negotiated in smin 55*ec. Beach was then leading by fully a length and a-half, and was apparently holding the Canadian safe, notwithstanding the brilliant form displayed by the ex-ohampion. After the first ,?. ob e,owed down his stroke to thirty; stfll pulling well within himself, and showing not the slightest sign of fatigue. From thi* point out the race was virtually a procession, Ihe crowds along the river sides cheered the men vigorously, and it was evident that the situation of the race was very favorably received by the onlookers. Notwithstanding Beach s lead, Hanlan persevered gamely on but eould never give out a spurt that was not satisfactorily answered by the champion. After the second mile had been pulled, the rate was: - Hanlan 31, Beaoh 80. Thereafter, except an occasional game but hopeless spurt ou the part of the Canadian, the average rate was: Hanlan 31, Beaoh 28. The men passed the residence of the Hon. G. B. Dibbs, about a mile and a-half from the winning-post, amid great cheering from the large number of gentlemen there as well as from the crowd* assembled on the other bank of the river. Reach was then leading by two lengths, and it was quite evident that the race was then ail over, as Hanlan had not a spurt left in him. Brom this out the contest needs little desoriptlO?k Bmroh contffiußd rowing In great fcna, and holding his lead without much exertion. Beach eventually passed the winning poet, amid tremendous enthusiasm from those assembled on the bank* end on the bridge*, by about three clear lengths ahead of bi* op. ponent, The official time wa* 19min fiMsee, Beach rowed in the "Tom Muir," and Hanlan in the "R. A. Watson.” The time, In view of the rain, mu*t be regarded a* exceedingly fast, and the performance on the part of both men a brilliant one. Tbe desperate nature of the race might be judged from the appearance of the men at the finish. Beaeh if anything looked even more distressed than Hanlan, but he wa* evidently much excited | and it wa* evident that both men had under* gone a severe ordeal. Beaoh immediately came ashore and was triumphantly led away by his enthusiastic admirers, and shortly after left for Sydney, Hanlan wa* also met with a cordial and kindly reception by hit m*»y friends and admirer*.

THE XX-CBAMMON'S STATBItIKT. The race is now over, and Beach II still champion of the worll, and I have no doubt that Australia I* proud of this third victory he has had over me. Beach certainly bal proved himself oqe of the greatest sculler* that tbe world ba* ever seen in this great race on the Nepean. It was rowed and finished satisfactorily according to the rules and regulations of boat racing; and I think it will ba many a long day before such another exhibition of skill, speed, endurance and (tit will be witnessed. At the starting post I wa* very confident. I never backed up ts the score in better condition in my life, in fact I was never in such good condition, er mere confident of victory in my own mind. From tha start I thought I had Beach beaten, and therefore did not flurry myself to get away with any extraordinary speed, as I did not want to averdo myself at the commencement, while I used every possible care to row a race from start to finish; and I wished to win at the end of the race and not at the beginning, so to speak. At about half a mile from the start, I think I was leading Beach by half a length, and at three-quarters of a mile we were level. At this part of the race Beach pulled over into my water, at the same time putting on a tremendous burst of spesd to pull away from me. Had I extended myself at this particular point, I believe I could have held the advantage. But I did not do so. as I wished to finish strong. I now think if I had made a special effort just here instead of later on, I would have won. Other oarsmen would, I believe have fouled Beaoh here under the Circumstances for the simple reason that he was over in my water, and all I had to do was to row an extra pound or two on my left oar in order to come to a collision with him. But while I did not do this I never gave the race up until I had passed the winning post. Another fault I have to find with myself ia that I did not row bard enough at the mile end a-half post, at which I could have prevented. But I assumed that at all other things would have been equal, and never supposed for a moment that Beach would have deliberately given me the backwash from his sculls as he did do I assumed that he would row the race as we started from end to end. I feel confident that if Beaoh had kept on his own course and given me a fair field and net his backwash, I would have crossed the score the winner, and in considerably less than 19min. 55J*ec. I have seen a great many men finish races, but in all my experience of professional rowing I don’t recollect ever seeing a winner so fairly done up as Beach was. If the race had been but another half, or even a quarter of a mile, he would have won even then, taking all the circumstances and special difficulties under which I laboured into co isidor.tion. I have a ways looked on Beach as the greatest sculler I have ever met; and this opinion is not altered. There is no doubt, however, that I would have had a fairer con l so than I did have had I not had Beach's backwash to contend against. It was evident that, by the persistent, manner in which lie lined me. and kept me under his backwash, that he thought I was about towin. His doing so ■ would seem to show that ho had already attained his top spued, and .dread -d me, Had I been twice as fast and stronger than 1 was it would have been impossible for m", in view of the position in which I was placed,

to have peeeed the port first. However, I think the Anstislian public will acknowledge that we both rowed a great race, and that I have maintained my ref utation as a good sculler, I take tome credit to myself for having been Instrumental in prompting the great aquatic prestige now enjoyed by New South Wales. I oame here after a bri'lianj championship career,'with a long unbroken reooro/ bringing the championship with me, and placed it at the mercy of all-comers. I tm vain enough to think that had I hept the championship at home with me io Toronto, jfew Booth Wa!*s would not have gained the prominent position in aquatic sport which She occupies to-day, as It is not likely an Australian oarsman would havs been found to ooms forward to go to America in order to wrest ths championship from me. lam now in Australia tar the second time, with a view Of retrieving the championship, if possible, and re-gaining my lost laurels. The visit has cost me nearly £7otf. and, all things considered, I am of opinion that the Australian public will recognise that, in bringing the championship here for competition, and in seeking to recover it after I lost it, I have acted in a fair, honorable and sportsmanlike Banner.

rn esMutoN'a tumurrvi. Beach's opinion of the race was published at considerable length after the raoe. In the -bottle, confusion, and excitement which occurred, he then observed that the raoe was the hardest one he ever rowed in his life. He has, however, since qualified this by statingthat it was the best one he had ever rowed against Hanlan, and the hardest fought raoe of his Whole career with the exception of the eon. test with Gaudaur on the Thames. When towing ths French Canadian he states that he felt his wind going, whereas on Saturday he finished fast and well, the only special fatigue ba felt being in his legs. This he attributed to the length and power of his strokes. Although be thinks Hanlan rowed a grand and gallant rate, ba is of opinion that at the finish Hanlan was used up. He also admits that the time in which the raoe was rowed surprised him. as ha never expected it would have been rowed under twenty minutes. He is of opinion that the conditions were favorable to quick time, while the pate of both Hanlan and himself was good, and maintained throughout. He admits he was taxed to hie utmost to bold Hanlan at bay ; and though the Gaudaur race was, perhaps, more desperate at the finish, it was not a more determined or better raoe. Before the raoe all sorts of absurd rumors were afloat about its being arranged, end that Hanlan would not be allowed to win. The champion, however, laughed at the whole affair, and said that if anyone wanted to auare the race that person had better call on b, whan be would get a fitting reception. “He will probably be in bed for the next month should he venture to oome."