BEACH V. GAUDAUR

Kumara Times, Issue 3097, 6 October 1886, Page 2

BEACH V. GAUDAUR

GREATEST SCULLING CONTEST ON RECORD. [SPECIAL TO SYDNEY EVENING NEWS.] London, September 18. The race which took place today on the Thames, between William Bfach, of Sydney, the champion sculler of the world, aud Jacob Gaudaur, the Canadian oarsman, resulted in the finest aquatic struggle which has ever been witnessed. Beach in his last race lowered the record for the championship course, and he has now brought the time measurement for this distance to a phenomenal minimum. It is impossible to describe the excitement which was occasioned by this match. This event was looked forward to as the one which was to decide whether •>r iiot h.' '■' AustTa'i.-Mi wonder," a;, Beach is now styled, should retain the distinction he has so far protected against the muscular assaults of the

British and. American scullois. Never have Huch scenes been witnessed on the Thames as those caused by the aquatic contests which have taken place during the present season; and never has there been witnessed in the history of the aquatic world such a sight as that produced by this contest. Sporting London seemed to have gone mad, and the Thames was alive with excitement. The whole length of the championship course was fringed with row upon row of excited partisans. It was a wonderful sight, and the combining circumstances stam"p Beach as the victor of a race the particulars of which will be handed down to posterity. Beach has by his marvellous powers and his indomitable pluck and tenacity won for himself a great name. This is the substance of what has appeared in the London sporting press.

The race was phenomenal not only from the fact of the extraordinary fast time in which it was rowed, but also from the fact of Beach having twice stopped during the race. It seemed as if the champion was dead beaten. Then, as if electrified by the cheers of his supporters, he fell to his work again, and with the courage of a conqueror he wont in pursuit of his foe. This occurred twice. In the first attempt Beach failed to put his enemy behind him; but, encouraged by the promptings of his coach, and the wonder-working calls of, "Go on, Beach!" from the boats which followed him, he pulled, with the result that he completely " wore dowu " the Canadian.

Soon after the time appointed for the beginning of the race the two scullers made their appearance. Both men were in splendid trim. Beach,' who sat high in his boat, seemed the much bigger man. His opponent, however, appeared to be in grand form, and seemed, as he took a few preliminary strokes, to row like clockwork. Beach made no pretenco to show form. He quietly pulled to his mooring station, on the Surrey side, and there awaited the completion of the final arrangements. Both men were received with loud applause, which seemed to be taken up by the almost countless masses along the river; and as the first flush of excited demonstration died away at the starting point, far away down the river low subdued cheers could be heard by those on the press boat. The betting at the start was 5 to 1 on Beach; but there was no great amount of money on the race. Beach was so strong a favorite that only the staunchest supporters of Gaudaur could be induced to put down any money. The weather was gloriously fine. The sun shone with. Australian brilliancy, and the surface of the Thames was unruffled. The tide was moderate.

The start was by mutnal consent. Beach began with a stroke of 38 to the minute, while Gaudaur, who seemed to hare made up hia mind to row well within himself, put in 36 to the minute. Beach at once took the lead, and Gaudanr, having found that he was being left behind, quickened his stroke. Thi«, however, had no effect upon Beach's powerful mode of progression; for, still maintaining his measured stroke, he forged ahead of Gaudaur. When the Star aud Garter was reached Beach was leading by nearly half a length. Gaudaur then made a terrific spurt; and, in spite of the wonderful pulling of Beach, the Australian could not arrest the progress of his opponent. Slowly but surely Gaudaur brought Beach back, and at the Soapworks Creek, Gaudaur had reversed the order of things, and led Beach by a third of a boat's length. The excitement now grew intense; and, to add to the growth of feeling, a slight foul occurred. It seemed as if there would be a disaster when Beach gave way a little. This gave Gaudaur the lead ; but the incident passed with nothing more than a collision of sculls. Cheer after cheer rose as the two men continued their terrific struggle. Beach, having found that he was losing his opponent, made a grand spurt. Gaudaur answered; but, notwithstanding bis quickly struck and powerful strokes, he was not in it with Beach. Strange as it may seem to those who know the course, and did not see the race, it was, nevertheless, a fact that from the Soapworks to Hammersmith Bridge Beach had not only recovered the third of a length by which Gaudaur was leading him, but he was actually leading the Canadian by three lengths. Beach shot under the Bridge in Stains. 58secs. Gaudaur's time for the same distance was 9mina. 3secs. A loud call was then made to Gaudaur to " Show your form !" He did. It was wonderful. Beach could not hold him. Gaudanr plied his sculls with fine effect, and seemed to be run--ai djwu the champion. Stroke by Mtroke ht) gained upon Beach, and was just upon him. Then there came, a great sensation. Wheu the scullers

were opposite, to Thornycroft's boathonse a wild cry was raised, " Beach is done!" It seemed to be only too true. Beach was rolling, and having faltered, he came to a dead stop. It was now Gaudaurt opportunity. It was seized. In a few strokes Gaudaur was leading. Beach stopped for three seconds. A long and exulting cheer went up. This seemed to give Beach a lease of new life, aud he resumed his task; but it was only to falter again. His strokes had lost their power. No words can picure the effect produced by the turn of affairs. Enthusiasm had turned to consternation; and one of the occupHi.ts of the press boat shouted out, " Another Renforth episode !" How. ever, Beaoh was still game, and he resumed his task. On reaching Chiswick, Beach had got on even terms with Gaudaur. He seemed to be pulling with all his old force, when the' e came another sensation. Beach again faltered and stopped. The excitement was tremendous. Call after call was made to Gaudaur and Bench. Thonall upon Gaudaur was answered. He rowed grandly, and went to the front. It looked as if tbe race was all over, when

Beach's "coach" yelled out, "Now then, Beach ! now is your time J Gaudaur is done !" Beach heard this, and, encouraged by the cheers of those on the boats which followed, and the roar of demonstration, he again went to work. The "coach" had spoken truthfully—Gaudaur was done. Every stroke which Beach put in told; and he was soon on level terms.

The betting, which at the start was 5 to 1 on Beach, had turned to 20 to 1 on Gaudaur. Then it turned again to 10 to 5 on Beach.

The Australian seemed to be endowed with resources of almost superhuman power; for after faltering and stopping, he resumed with all the dash of a fresh man. He went to the front, and won by four lengths in 22min. 29sec. Beach has beaten all records to Chiawick Church. His time for that distance was 18mins. 56sec». The race was a tremendous struggle from start to finish.

The win was very popular. Beach receired an oration the like of which has never fallen to the lot of any victorious sculler.

Both men were completely rowed out j and Gaudaur was almost unable to move.

Gattdaur, in an interview after the race, declared that, in his opinion, Beach was the best oarsman the world had ever seen.

Beach says that when he stopped he was thoroughly exhausted.