Great Sculling Sweepstakes. Full Description of the Race. (Special to "Sydney News.")

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 170, 18 September 1886, Page 2

Great Sculling Sweepstakes. Full Description of the Race. (Special to "Sydney News. ")

London, September 1, 4,20 p.m. Amid a scene of the wildest excitement* and after one of the 'finest races ever witnessed on the Thames, Beach defeated Teeaser. . The umpire's ■ boat and <the> steamers that were allowed to follow the race were crowded to excess. Everything seemed to favour a fair race between the two men who had come through the struggles in the preceding heats. There was not a ripple on the water ;,and, besides this, the time set for the race suited the tida admirably. Ths tfde had just turned, and was what aquatic men would unhesitatingly describe as faetr~ "Altogether the circum* stances, regarded before the men made their appearance before the assembled thousands, were as promising as could possibly be> wished for. Various estimates have been, made as to the numerical proportion of the) crowd. Of that I will say nothing. I will content myself with saying that it was on© of the largest and most fashionable attendances that have ever witnessed a sculling match on the Thames. It was: for all the world like a 'Varsity race day. Beech and Teemer made their appear*ance almost simultaneously. With the initial preparations little time was lost*. Both men were ready for the fray, and bothr seemed anxious to get to work. Beach* although he does not cut an exact i deal figure in a boat, looked to be in the very pink of condition. On his face there sat a somewhat anxious, but determined look* His great broad shoulders and hardly«s«(r muscles seemed to stand out with event more prominence than on either occasion when he has stripped in the tournament.. Teemer was also stated to be in fine form, and he looked co. Yet with all the statements that have been made as to his ability to row the champion down, he betrayed a, certain amount of uneasy nervouenese. ' All was ready, and the race began. Teemer was the first to catch the water.. He struck at the rate of 36 strokes to the minute. Although Beach was somewhat clow in striking the water, when he didfc begin there was no mistake about his intention. It was clear that he meant business, fie struck the water at the rate of thirty-, eight strokes to the minute. They were marvellous strokes for power. Teemer, by the first grip of the water, got a slight lead, but Beach, when once he set his boat in motion, took the load. Beach may be said to have led from the start. At th© conclusion of the first six strokes, Beach had obtainod a lead of half a length. The race was a fierce one, for Teemer wasr pulling in grand style, and showed that if Beach won it would bo at the cost of a hardly-bought victory. However, in spite of the Herculean efforts of the American, Beach was more than his match, «* that by the time the Dukes Head waa reached he had increased his lead to two lengths. Still Teemer continued to fight a splendid battle. When passing the Wai donß Teemer made a very game attempt to overhaul Beach. The champion had slackened his stroke to thirty-five to the minute. When he saw the effort that Teemer waa making, he quickened his' stroke ami with thirty-eight to the minute he Bucces 3 fully kept Teemer at a distance. Teemer continued the struggle, but to no purpose. This was his dying spurt, for having failed to lessen the gap, he seemed to lose heart. Beach meanwhile continued; to row in faultless style, and from thia point the race became a "water tour" for Beach. Hammersmith Bridge was shot by Beech in Bmin. 46secs. From this Teemer was entirely out-paced ' He was hopelessly beaten, and the race, po far as the American was concerned, was a stem chase. Beach continued to paddle along in the easiest style imaginable, and paddled home a winner as he liked, with a clear lead of more than ten lengths. When, passing Barnes's Hotel Beach stopped* and recognising Mrs Wentworth, the wife of Mr DArcy Wentworth, the well-known Australian, who was waving congratulations to the champion, be raised his hat, an incident that was responded to with deafening cheers. The course was considerably hampered by email craft. Beach had a very narrow escape from fouling a floating basket. This be managed to avoid or the result might have had a serious effect upon the result of the race. Everybody in astonished at the splendid form, displayed by Beach. He pulled, amid deafening cheers and hearty congratulations, the winner of what must be regarded as a splendid race. The enthusiasm after the race was intense. Beach seemed,, when he passed the Ship at Mortlake, to be as fresh as when he started. He looked a* though he could have stayed ten miles. " Pegasus," tho celebrated London aquatic cricic, considers that Renforth waa the best man that ever rowed on the Thames, until the appearance of Beach. Beach-, " Pegasus" saye, is far better than evar Ilenforth was. He also says that despite the efforts of Teemer, Beach was never extended. Critics, in speaking of the way in whicit the course was hampered by email craft, are unanimously of opinion that the course should be roped for future great matches. Banian Challenges Beach. toNooN, September '2, 5.40 p.m. — No little amusement has been caused in aquatic circles in' London at the latesb display of Hanlan's "front." Immediately after' the brilliant display that Beach made against Teemer, and when Beach is acknowledged by all critics to be the best oarsman that ever appeared on the Thames, it was announced that Hanlan had challenged the champion to row h«m on the Thames. Thechallenge was at first regarded as a joke. Such, however, proves not to be the case. The challenge has been made,and* B,oach i* willing to row Hanlan or any man in the world, but not when and where hist challenger may choose. Hanlan is in. America, and taking the time that it would be necessary for Hanlan to get to England*, and then to get into training, the cold weather would have set in, and Beach might find himself wholly out of condition. Beach etates that he is not only willing, but anxious, to meet Hanlan, and prove tothe world that he did, and .can, beat the American upon his merits. Beach Btatea that he has for Rome time been in England waiting for a challenge from Hanlan. That challenge did not come until Hanlaiv thinks that be will have the ' advantage in the effects of the climate. In these circumstances Beach has announced that these are the only conditions under which he wilt row Hanlan. The match must take place 1 on j the, Parramatta, ' Sydney, Hanlan ;tft ,bave the phoice >of , v time. The aquatic critics are- unanimous in. their opinion thafe Beach is ihe finest ecullorof modern days.

Hopeless Delusion l —^The editor of the "Woonsocket Patriot " makes merry -'overthe mistake of an old Shanghai ben of bis*. that has been sitting for five weeks upon two round stones and a piec9 of brick. •'Her anxiety," quoth hie, Vm no greater than ours, to know what she will hatch. If it proves a brickyard, that hen is not ftr eale," ;