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Kumara Times, Issue 930, 23 September 1879, Page 4

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sculling-match between „o and Laycock was pulled on .august 29 th, on the Parramatta river, and the race is thus reported by the correspondent of the Melbourne Argus : "As they took their preliminary spins, the condition of each was eagerly scanned. Trickett, -whose long body seemed to tower over that of Laycock, was a trifle thin in the face, and his skin, as fair as a woman's, presented a striking contrast to that of Laycock, which was brown as mahogany. The muscular development of each man was simply perfect, and as Laycock weighed 133 t., and Trickett 12st. 71bs., Victorians can imagine what a pair of giants they are. Without much delay, they started by mutual consent. Laycock having a slight advantage as they dipped their sculls, and also having the best of the course, in a few strokes placed the stern of his boat slightly in advance of Trickett's. Both men were rowing at the rate of 40 to the minute, and the form of each was unexceptionable, Trickett, however, reaching out the best, and using the slide to perfection. As they proceeded, neither seemed inclined to slacken, but though both were going at a tremendous pace, Trickett was sculling the neater of the two, albeit the play of the swivel caused many to imagine that he was not rowing so much cross-handed as usual, and that his sculls were shorter, but in reality they were not. As they approached Weir's Point Trickett got upon level terms with Laycock, and, for about 100 yafda they rowed scull for scull, each man still rowing at the rate of 40 to the minute. Inch by inch, however, Trickett began to drive his boat to the front, and slowly but surely he placed his craft half a length to the good, which advantage he held three-quarters of a mile from the Btart, but, shooting over to the northern shore, he lost a trifle, Laycock keeping a direct course, and for a few strokes he appeared to be level with the champion, but the equality was only momentary, as Trickett put in two or three vigorous strokes, and as they shot past the mile post, in 6min. 13sec. from the start, Trickett had placed a length and a half to his credit, 5 to 1 being offered on him. Trickett was now rowing in magnificent style, 38 to the minute, and though the eeverity of the pace began to tell its tale upon Laycock, he neverrelaxed his efforts, but kept pegging away at the rate of 40. At Walker's Point, Trickett had increased his lead to two lengths, and at Putney, where he was rowing at 36 to the minute, three lengths separated him from Laycock, who kept a straight course on the southern shore, while Trickett hugged the northern shore. This enabled Laycock to slightly decrease the distance between them, though, as the men were quite 100 yards wide of each other, it was difficult to say how much advantage Trickett had until he approached Gladesville wharf, which they passed in 17min. 20sec3. from the Btart, and Trickett quickening up to 38, he soon placed a gap of six lengths between them. Just after passing the Sydney Rowing Club Wharf, where thousands of people had congregated, Trickett stopped rowing, pulled in his sculls, and deliberately wiped the perspiration from his forehead. This enabled Laycock to draw a length or two nearer to him, but Trickett at once went away again, and though he was rowing only 35 and 36, he was going faster than Laycock, who still bravely kept up at 38 and 39. One hundred yards from the goal Trickett quickened up to 38, and drawing away at every stroke, he passed the judge's boat 12 or 14 lengths in front, the time 22min. 35sec, Laycock being exactly 31sec. behind him. Trickett was loudly cheered by the occupants of the numerous steamers and row-boats, and as he rowed up alongside the umpire's boat he met wit a perfect ovation. Mr Richard Driver acted as umpire, Mr George Curtis as official time-keeper, and T. Mulhall, a well-known waterman, acted as judge."