THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Kumara Times, Issue 1334, 10 January 1881, Page 2

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

In his comments upon the race between Hanlan anil Trickett “ Anglo Australian,” in the European Mail, says : —- The day was one typical of the English November. There was not a single gleam of sunshine, and the dull, misty, heavy air was charged with the sulphur, the carbon, the thousand nameless noxious emanations from the chimneys and courts and diains of the giant city. Curiously enough, just before the race started both wind and rain ceased as if by magic ; and as the tide—which was a strong spring.—had almost ceased to flow before the word was given which sent the men upon their fateful journey, the race was really rowed in still air, over a perfectly smooth stretch of water. Trickett was the first to appear upon the river. As he shook Harry Kelly’s hand before embarking in his outrigger it was noticed that the Australian was trembling violently, and that his face .was pale and haggard. Hanlan on the other hand, stepped into his boat

smiling and confident. He touched his cap to the cheering crowd, and pulled away the starting-boats good humoured and light-hearted as a school? hoy. When the men got in front of the steamers I at once realised. the striking contrast they presented, Hanlan was the picture of rosy health. He was playful, easy, and self-JiOssessed, and appeared to delight and revel in the whole business—pulling about the river with supreme ease and power, laughingly striking the water first with one scull and then with the other, but even in this builesque fashion sending his boat along evenly and fast. Trickett, on the other hand, was pale, serious, and determined. He looked painfully aware of the serious nature of the business in hand, and was evidently in no humour to give his mind to anything but the most serious part of that business. Then the accompanying eight-oared cutters got into position; with Harry Kelly to steer Trickett, and Bright to direct Haitian's course. Then the men stripped—or at any rate Trickett did, for Hanlan rowed in & sleeveless j icket of some dark blue material, vvhicli, though it concealed his chest and back, showed off to great advantage the powerful throat and splerl-didly-developed arras of the Canadian, whose skin wore unmistakably the “ruddy hues of health.” I turned to Trickett; and there saw what to mjr eyes was an ovefr-trained man—a mail stale and fagged with too much bard work—a man whose pallor was unmistakable, and whose dull skin seemed to cover muscles, grand indeed in their size and proportion, but tdo wirjr—a man who in trainers’ language was “ too fine,” and had “ trainel off.” A moment more and Mr Ireland liad given the word “ Go,” and the race had commenced. Trickett caught the water first and got away quicker than Hanlan, who was more leisurely, and only rowed 35 strokes in the first minute, as against the Australian’s 41. Trickett had possibly a little advantage, but he neither used his slide so well nor rowed so cleanly or so long as the Canadian, whose style was perfection,:.and., whose power was superbly applied. Thus; amid loud shouting and immense enthusiasm, both on the steamers and on shore, the race was begun. Half a mile farther, and the enthusiasm had greatly abated. It was seen that Hanlan, without bustle or flurry, could hold his own and more; and it was seen, moreover; that the Australian Was working his hardest, and yet could not catch his adversary, who, still easy and light-hearted, a good lead, and held it with ease. Another half mile and the race was practically over, for Hanlan’a lead was in no danger, and Trickett was laboring hard. The explosion of determination on his sallow face liad been replaced by a look of pain and despair All conld see that Trickett the champion of the world was a beaten man; The last three miles of the course were covered in one way—Trickett rowed short and without dash or energy, but still in fair form, and with lots of pluck, while Hanlan went on happy and jolly, and as full of tricks and antics as a circus clown. Now he stopped rowing altogether for an appreciable time, and let his adversary come up to him ; now he kissed his hand to the applauding crowds, or waved his handerchief with delight; now he leaned right back in his boat, to the terror of his backers and friends ; and for the last mile or more he carried on an animated conversation with the English sculler Elliott, who was alongside in ail outrigger practising for the Hop Bitters Regatta, At last the winning post was reached, the gun was fired, and Hanlan was Champion of the World, having beaten Trickett by three lengths, or 7 seconds, in 20 minutes 12 seconds. The slowness of the race goes for nothing, as there was rto tide to speak of, and for at least three miles the winner simply played with his op* ponent. It does not look much of a beating, this three lengths; but, beyond doubt, Hanlan, if he had rowed his hardest all the way instead of indulging in tricks, which were risky and in bad taste, could have won by at least a quarter of a mile. Indeed, many good judges say he might, had he liked, have been half a mile in front at the finish. In its report of the race for the sculling championship, the Home News has the following comments on the difference in style displayed by the contestants. Referring to Hanlan it says:- “ He has a long reach forward, clips hold of the water well behind his rowlock, and instead of finishing his stroke in the cramped position now so common among professionals—and many amateurs, too—he rows his stroke through to the finish, sending his shoulders well back at the same time. His sculls leave the water fairly smartly and cleanly, but the.'e is room for improvement in that respect. His sliding (and to the use instead of the abuse of that

'invention ho owes mneh of his pace) is well done, as he never slides till his body is past the perpendicular. As a "result, his hokt travels steadily >ny ‘ bumping,’ and he is able to husfiand his powers with success. Trick'ett’s rowing was a contrast in every respect; his reach was fairly long, but lie seemed afi-Aid to extend himself, ! and in place of rowing his stroke through 'to the end stopped in his swing back, thereby sacrificing the advantage to be ’gained at the moment when the sculls We in their most efficient position at fight angles to the direction of the boat, .tinder these circumstances his great length proved of great disadvantage to 'him, and his short, labored style showed to the greater‘disadvantage when placed ’alongside the easy, swinging style of his successful rival.”