WILLIAM BEACH.

Te Aroha News, Volume 64, Issue II, 23 August 1884, Page 3

WILLIAM BEACH.

The following, which appeared in the "Town and Country" on August 2, contains some interesting particulars concerning William Beach, the picsent Champion of the World: — As the time draws nigh for the great contest for the aquatic cham-pions-liip of the world, the interest in the two scullers htcadily increases, and next week we may expect to see a numerous company on the river watching the course of event.'-. With Hanlan, Beach, Laycock, Edwards, Mattcrson, Messrs Brett, Sluirland, and a score of our leading amateur scullers, there is a great gathering of aquatic talent at active practice just now,' and at the club wheels a number of members arc alw ays studying the practice. J 1 anlan's visit has no doubt dono a very great deal to promote rowing on our pleasant waters, and it is not too much to expect that many of our rising scullers w ill learn good lessons from his good examplo and skill ; and no one could possibly be more courteous or willing to instruct than tho world-champion has always been since his ai rival in Australia. Of course all Australia hopes that William Beach will win the race if ho is the best man, and this is just the point that cannot be decided until the race is over. That he will try, and try his level best, with all his heart and strength, is unanimously agreed upon, and no doubt as to the genuineness of the struggle is mooted tor an instant. He wins, if he is able. Beach, when fit and well, has never lost a race, and ho always has managed to score his wins A\ith apparent ease; at any rate for the greater part of the cour.se. lie has never been called upon to exert himself to the utmost to secuie victory, and we know that he can row a deal harder than he has had to do up to the present. The very look of Beach's determined features tells a tale of pluck and endurance. The muscles of his arms, back and legs arc perfect, and stand out boldly, not being hidden by flesh, and his dark bkin sets oil' the picture of a strong man. He knows how to row, too. His " catch " is firm and clean, the sculls being well bui-icd ; he rows tho stroke well through and finishes in first-class style, his boat going well of! his hands and keeping way well. As to tho movement of his body, he reaches a very nice distanco forward and slides evenly and well-timed, putting in plenty of backwork ; and as to his recovery it is very good but rather energetic, like all our Australian scullers. He will be well boated for a big certainty, as a choice between two such boats as built by Dodds and Donnelly and Sullivan must be about as good as a man could w ish. Ho now looks in tho best state of preparation, and will, undoubtedly, by the time Tom Kelly has done with him, be as fit as anyone can make him. Ho did a trial spin in Dodds's boat on slack water, and she proved fast and suitable in all respects, The full mile was rowed in about \ jfiuins. As to the time tho race will bo j rowed in by the winner, there aro many opinions, and some are vory absurd. Some expect tho winner (Hanlan, of course) to paddle down in about ISA minutes, but it is more likely that this time will be u.sed up before Gladesville Wharf is out of hail. It is more likely that the man who pulls the course in 20 minutes will bo the winner. Hanlan is doing well, and steadily and carefully preparing himself to hold his own against tho world and Australia. He evidently does not intend to throw any chances away, and will be about as lit as Beach may desire. The betting is at present 3 to 1 on Hanlan, and 4 to 1 wanted. Hanlan is said to have rowed the course on Wednesday slightly under 22min. very comfortably. On Friday week the celebrated boatbuilders, Messrs Donnolly and Sullivan, delivered to Mr Deeble a new shell, which our champion will use in his match against the Canadian on August IG. It is a beautiful piece of workmanship, and a perfect model as regards strength, lightness, and furnishing. Several improvements are shown, such as " V shaped" gunwales and " three stayed" outriggers, as used by Hanlan. Her length is 31ft. lO^in., beam depth, forward 3£in., aft 2in. As the builders have already supplied Beach with two boats fchat jjayp carried him to victory, they have groat hopes of doing so on this occasion. Other Australian papers speak in most eulogistic terms of the tine,

athletic appearance of Beach, who by birth is an Englishman, butwhilo a mere child took up his residence at Dupbo, about 20 miles south of Sydney. Ho is about 26 yoars of age, and stands about 6 feet in height. During the past few years Beach has attracted much attontion in aquatic circlos. Ho first mado his mark by dofoating both Laycock and Trickott in outriggois on October 7th, 1882. Since that time he has met Trickett six timos, and has beaten him on every occasion oxcept ono. Boach has also defeated McDonald, Clifford, and many others, so that ho was considered by far the best man Australia could bring forward against the renowned Canadian. Sydney, August 19, A large meeting took placo at Punch's Hotel yesterday, when tlio stakes in tho lato sculling match woro paid ovor. Hanlan admitted that hehadwiltully fouled Beach, becauso ho beliovcd that tho lattor had crossed over into his water. Uanlan expressed a desire to row another match with Beach within three months, but Boach positively refuses to meot the ex-champion within six months. Clifford also offered to row Hanlan, but tho latter refused to tako up the challenge The captain of tho steamer Tomki, who was presont, stated that ho was compelled to run closo upon Hanlan's boat in ordor to avoid running aground.