Sculling Championship

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1922, Page 1

Sculling Championship

HADFIELD DEFEATED

PADDON WINS BY 9 LENGTHS

WANGANUI, April 18,

In the race for the sculling championship of the world. Paddon (Australia) defeated Hadficld of Wanganui, the holder by nine lengths.

PADDON WINS BY BIG MARGIN WANGANUI, April 18

The race for the world’s sculling championship was held on the upper course of the Wanganui river to-day, tin? result being that the challenger, James Paddon. of Australia, defeated Darcy Hadfield by nine lengths, a result which came as a surprise to the

majority of the large crowd that lined the banks of the course. The fixture proved extremely popular, and drew a large number of visitors from outside Wanganui. The weather held up wonderfully well, and was lino, with hut little wind. Right up to the starting time of the race, there was heavy traffic to the course, the roads, launches, and steamers all contributing a big quota, to the gathering. The majority of the spectators concentrated near the finishing post from which the lasi, mile of the race could lie viewed, hut others followed it right from the starting point. The visitors included the Prime Minister -Mr Massey), the Minister of Public Works (Mr J. G. (dates), Sir John Luke. Messrs Stratliani, Glenn and Veitc-h M.P’s. Sir Joseph Ward was also a spectator.

THE RACK. Paddon and Hadfield were afloat ii]) to the time the latter won the toss, and he chose the inside position, under the left hank, hut it gave no real advantage, as there was an absence of wind. The conditions were ideal.

At the start, .both went off together at a very fast clip, Hadfield striking .‘l6 and Paddon .33. The Australian soon got the lead. At half a mile, both were striking 30 strokes to the minute. Paddon had three lengths of a lead at the mile post, and was striking 26, to his opponents 28. Over the next, mile, Paddon maintained his lead, although on a couple of occasions lladtield slightly closed up the gap. Paddon !i;id a four lengths lead when the two mile Hag went liv, ind was rowing 21, to TTadfield’s 26. The procession from the very start of the race became more so as the distance grew, and the crowd on the following steamers began to speculate on how many lengths the challenger would win by.

Entering the last long reach for home Paddon had too much of a lead to be overhauled, although Hadfield stuck to his hopeless task gamely. Paddon was still drawing away when the gun went to announce a win by nine lengths for Paddon, and tho fact that the rowing crown had passed from New Zealand.

The first mile was covered is five minutes 40 seconds, two miles in 11 minutes 31 seconds, mid the full distance in If) minutes losecs. Immediately on finishing Paddon appeared distressed, hut although Hiulfield must have also lelt the strain, he gave no striking signs of it. A flotilla clustered round the two scullers, and cheers were given foi each.

A FTER THE II ACE. "There was a scene of great enthusiasm is town when the scullers appeared on a hotel balcony. Sir .Joseph Ward congratulated Paddon, and paid a tribute to Hadfield’s fine record. He spoke of the bond of kinship and sentiment between Australia and New Zealand, which would he cemented h,\ these contests.

Paddon had a great reception on coming forward to speak, lie said he v,as the proudest man in the world, and he thanked the people of M anganui for the way they had treated him. Hndfield also had a splendid reception. He congratuated Paddon, and said he was beaten fairly and squarely. He had no excuses to make, although lie did not think he rowed up to iorm. The Prime Minister also spoke congratulating Paddon, and paying a tribute' to Hndfield.

A NEW CHALLENOER. BLENHEIM, April IS. The supporters of Pat Hannah, sculling champion of New Zealand, have telegraphed to Paddon challenging him for the world’s championship. The onlv condition is that the race he rowed' in New Zealand. A deposit has been lodged at the “Express Office.

THE NEW CHAMPION. Paddon, who has spent his life on the Richmond river, New South Wales, is 35 years of age, stands 6 feet 41 inches in bis stockinged feet, and weigh 13st. 81b. Tie has always been interested, in rowing and bis success ;us an amateur sculler was most marked. His first big race in the professional world was the Coraki Hundred which was rowed on the Richmond river. “Dick” Arnst competed in the same event, which was won by Casey, Paddon securing second place. He competed in several other races without success, until be rowed Felton for the Australian championship on February 15th, 1913. He won the title which he still holds. Since then he has only bad three big races. The first was in November 1913 when he defeated Arnst. He went to England in 1914. and on September 7th he contested Hip world’s title with Barry on the Thames and was beaten. He had to defend his Australian championship title against MoDevitt, but he bad no difficulty in retaining the title. Paddon has bad a long spell in between races, but wherever he has appeared in his boat, be has shown that he possesses a wonderfully good driving force. On the Wanganui river he used sculls of 9 feet 8 inches in

length, which is two inches longer than auiy other sculler in Australia uses, with blades 53 inches in width. The set back of his riggers is' four inches from the square. The length of his sculls and peculiarity of his rigging will be an eye-opener to rowing men, but Paddon’s great height and length of his legs and arms, enable him to do what seems the impossible. He has demonstrated to his own satisfaction that he can get the best results from such rigging, incredible as it may seem to those who make a study of the science of sculling.

THE DEFEATED CHAMPION. Darcy Hadfield was born near Nelson on December Ist. 1889. He started work on a farm at the age of 13* years and later served a portion of his apprenticeship as a shipwright with his father, going to Auckland m 1910 to complete his apprenticeship with Charles Bailey. There he took on rowing, and for two years was very successful' in fours and double sculls. Late in 1912 he tried single sculling, and in March of the following year won the l’earee Cup and the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association’s championship at Wellington. Later in the same vear he also won several handicap races at Auckland. In 1914 Hadficld retained the amateur championship of New Zealand at Mercer, and also the Pearce Cup at Wellington. and in 1915, at Picton again justified his claim to be amateur champion Early in 1916 Hadfield went to the war, and was wounded at Passchondacle. After two months in hoswas attacked by bronchitis, which sent him to England for several months. He joined the Codford rowing party, and won a sculling race at the Hammersmith service regatta, also having a seat in the winning four. The next couple of months saw Hadfield win a variety of rowing races. As an illustration of his staying powers, it may be mentioned that one afternoon be covered a mile eight times in exhibition races, winning on each occasion. After the armistice he represented England in the eight-o&red race against- France, rowing No 7. In June of the same year Hadfield won the single sculls at Walton and Marlow regattas, and in duly /excelled himself hv winning the Kingswood Cup at the Royal Henley peace regatta, defeating some of the world’s noted scullers, including Kinnear. the winner of the 1912 Olympic sculls and the chief sculling contests in England, France, America, Italy, Belgium, and Australia. Back in New Zealand, Hadfield in 1920 once more won the amateur championship of New Zealand and the Pearce Cup. while with A. White he secured the champion double sculls. Hadfield represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games at Antwerp, where circumstances conspired against him, and on his return again he retained his championship honours, with his eyes on the world’s professional Championship. Hadfield turned professional, and challenged the winner of the Arnst-Tlannan race. He gained the coveted world’s title by defeating Arnst on the Wanganui river early in January last.