SCULLING.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1923, Page 1

SCULLING.

[liv TKI.EGJtAPII —I’t'.U Pit ESS ASSOCIATION. J PADDON WINS EASILY. SYDNEY, July 2d. An unprecedented crowd lined the hanks of the Richmond Kiver, near the finishing post, to witness the sculling championship on Saturday. Nondescript conveyances came from all directions. some from as far away as Queensland, and presented a motley spec tacle for the northern rivers.

The weather was line. There was a strong fsmth-uest breeze. The tide was at its flood.

Paddon weighed l ist. 21b.. and Had held 12st 71b.

Both men moved off from an excellent start. lladfield rowed at 33 strokes to the minute, and Paddon at ft.',. The latter immediately went to the front. He led hy hull a length at fit) yards. The champion was rowing freely, but the New Zealander was disturbed by the choppy water.

When three-quarters of a mile had been traversed Tiadfieid endeavoured to overtake l.’addon. but the latter drew in front of the visitor, and give lum his wash. The New Zealander several times lloudered badly in the rough water. On one occasion he lost hall a long. ■ when the rough water reached Ipm.

Passing the mile, l’addon rowed 10 strokes and Hadlield -to to the minute with three lengths separating them. Hadfield at half-way pulled towards the centre of Iho course to avoal Paddon s wash, lmi the champion also pulled

Tt was noticed that Had field missed with his right several times, and from thence to the finish he relied mainly on his left.

At two and a-quartor miles, I’addon increased his lead to 10 lengths hut the New Zealander, striking smooth water, thi e:> tilled to creep up on the champ-inn. Bounding the bend of the river, the visitor again encountered lough, open water, and his boat rocked like a matchbox in mid-ocean. The champion did not experience the same dinieillty, as he knew the vagaries ol tue viver and he allowed his bout to ride the water.

lladlicld pluckily made a tinal effort to overhaul his opponent, when, nearing the finish, and lie reduced the lead to six lengths. On their entering tile straight, the crowd cheered when they saw Paddon leading. '1 lie champion then chipped on the pme and won bv 12 lengths. The time was ISniin lOsec. Both men were wildly cheered by the spectators. Paddon said it was a harder rate than the one lie had at Wanganui. Hadlield was at it disadvantage through the rough wter. hut he had rowed a game race. Hadlield admitted that Paddon was the better man. By had luck, be gof into rough wider. If asked to practise cu it. lie would have refused. 'Plie published reports vary greatly regarding llie number ol lengths ol I’addon's win. ranging from six to 12 lengths. (Received this day at S a.m.) SYDXFY, .July 2:k With the official pronouncement still wanting, live dill'erent estimates of the length of Paddutt’s win are circulated. Tl-.o ‘Tlerald” makes ii nine lengths, the "Telegraph” six. Alter the race 1 |h> umpire. Mr W. Beach, said it was :i olio mail race. Paddon wa ■ never extended. lie declared the course a good Vo no. I-ladtieid described Paddon as Die fastest sculler in the world. GOORSKI.L V. SHARPI-:. SYDXEY. July 22. Oil i.lie Richmond River the second sculling race resulted in Major Hoodsell I eating Sinope (S h.v half a length. The race was for Cl OB aside. The pair kept together for Hie greater part of the journey. A quarter ol a mile from the finish, (ioodsell had a length to spare, hut the New Zealander. in a line spurt, gradually ,-educed this margin by half.