THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

Kumara Times, Issue 2489, 11 June 1884, Page 3

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

The following account of the sculling match for the championship of the world between Hanlan and Lay cock, at Sydney last week is from the Melbourne Argus:—

Arrived at the Gorge, both men landed and had a few minutes' rest and a rub down. Having been made cool and comfortable, Laycock was the first to Btep into his boat, attired in buff and blue trunks. He then went for a i short preliminary, to make sure that all was right and tight. Being satisfied, he took up his position at the j starting point, where he was shortly ! joined by Hanlan, dressed in his ueat dark blue rowing suit and red cap. Having placed himself in a line with Laycock, not many seconds elapsed j before both men dipped their sculls for the start. They gob away beautifully well together,.Hanlan pulling his sculls through the water at the rate of thirty per minute without the slightest flurry or splash. Laycock, on the other hand, went away at the rate of thirty-two. He seemed by no means so much at home in his boat as his opponent, and knocked up a good deal of water. Laycock steadied himself, and began rowing in much better form, but he was now half a length to the bad. Nearing the mile post both slowed down to thirty per minute, Hanlan leading by almost a clear length, and rowing in easy style, as if it were no exertion whatever to him. The same order was maintained for the second mile, except that Hanlan had increased his lead to two clear lengths. The pace from the start was now telliug on Laycock, who had reduced his strokes to twenty-eight. Hanlan was rowing abont the same. He appeared quite unconcerned and cool. The Australian was bathed in perspiration, and began looking anxiously over his Bhoulder. By the time the' third mile was reached, Laycock, by a little extra pressure, managed to reduce the gap between them to a boat's length. Approaching the bridge the excitement of the spectators grew intense, as Laycock was seen to be gaining on Hanlan, and a hundred yards from the winning post they were almost level. But Hanlan did not allow affairs to remain long in this state. With three or four powerful strokes he shot away from Laycock and won by a bare length amid the greatest excitement in '22min 45sec.