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Kumara Times, Issue 2630, 10 February 1885, Page 2

The sculling match between Edward Hanlan, the Canadian, and Thomas Clifford, of Dapto, New South Wales, proved an easy victory for Hanlan, who, according to our own cable message yesterday morning, was "never asked to pull." Pievious accounts stated that both men were in excellent form, and a good contest was naturally expected. The result must be regarded in this light—either that Clifford's abilities have been much overrated, or that Hanlan, in his match with Beach, laboured under two disadvantages : first, that he held the colonial oarsman too cheap in uot preparing sufficiently for the contest, but enjoyed himself in the pleasures of society instead of training, till it, was too late ; and, secondly, that more significance must be attached to the fact of the steamer Tomki running close up to the scullers in getting under way, so much so that, as the account in the Sydney Morning Herald stated, she loomed up " like a great wall threatening to overwhelm them." But Clifford was just as easily defeated by Beach a little over two years ago, on the same course, as the following curt notice in the Australasian of December 30, 1882, will testify :—" A rowing contest in light fkifFs took place on the Parramatta River on Saturday last, between Thos. Clifford and Win. Beach, both of Dapto, lllawarra district. The stakes were ,£2OO a-side ; and the match was

rowed over the championship course. Beach led almost from start to finish, and although Clifford rowed a good stern race, ho was unable to draw up level with Beach, who won by several lengths." The length of the Parramatta course is 3 miles 330 yards. The time in which the race was rowed by Haulau on Saturday is given as 22min. ssec. This is lmin. 47secs. longer than the time of the HanlanBeach contest, which was rowed in rough water, whilst the race on Saturday was rowed in smooth water. The fastest time on record was the BeachTrickett match, which was rowed in 20mins. 15secs. Clifford has a match with Beach on the 28th inst., for £2OO and the championship of the world; bub we now regard this as a foregone conclusion. More interest will attach to the contest between Hanlan and Beach on the 28th March, for the championship, if held (as we have no doubt it will be) by Beach till then.