The SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. A, Homeric Struggle.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 178, 13 November 1886, Page 3

The SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. A, Homeric Struggle.

Left: do's, September 11.' Talk in sporting circles' is all' about the, Homeric struggle for the aculling champion ship betWeen Beach and G&uda'ur last Saturday. The tussle with Matteraon the previtkis week wan,' in all conscience, sensational ouough, butltsexcitisg incidenteare entirely thrown in the shade by the occurrence at the more recent affair. A gentleman who was on board the press boat tells me that when Beach tureed all colours and stopped rowing only half a mile from home, 20 to 1 was laid on the Yankee, though ten minutes earlier twice the odds would have beeu taken about his chance. For a few seconds the champion seemed entirely demoralised, but the energetic shouts ot his pilot, Tom Green, coon re aroused him, and it was with indomitable pluck and desermination he set himself to overuaul the now apparently victorious American. Fortunately for the colonial " sport " who prior to the start had laid £6.000 to £1,000 on Beach, Gaudaur was even more " pumped oat " than his rival, and the Yankee soon succumbed again to the Australian's long swinging stroke; but the contest is worthier 3$ a fuller description than I can vouchsafe from mere hearsay. The following is from Monday's t( Sportsman," and gives a fair account of some of the most striking features of the race : — For the first mile the contest was a pretty equal one. neither man appearing to have much the best of it. Nearing Cheswick, however, Beach shot clean away to the front, and rowed on so easily within himself that "ten to one on the Australian" found no takers. The race was fully believed to be over, bar shouting. The American struggled gamely in tbe rear, ndver ceasing his exertions in the least, and from all appearances had made up his mind to keep steidily on the move and trust to something turning up, which said something camo off with a vengeance. Shortly afterwards, neariDg the top of Cheswick Eyot, there was a nasty «ddy on the Surrey side, caused by the ** flats" stretching over a considerable distance from the shore, and Beach, keeping too near in, was suddenly seen to falter as he got drawn into the awirl. Gamely responding to the call of his coach, however, Beach quickened up sharply in the attempt to hold his own, but when it wa° seen that Gaudaur was also answering to the signals of his experienced pilot, Harry K^lly, and commenced to draw up. a regular roar burst forth from the supporters of the men. Cheswick Church was passed by the leader in 3mins 38sec?, thu<* beating Brightwell'e record by five seconds, both being Admirably steered ; but despite the champion's hardest efl'ort the Yankee con tinued to gain, the Australian now appearing to lnse his customary dash and •* devil " The tremendous struggle was «ow watched with the keenest attention and the excitement bee 'me intense a? inch by inch the American steadily brought his formidable antagonist back until at tho top of Thorney • croft'" Torpedo Works Kelly called upon hi* rain for an additional effort, and Gaudaur pluckily responded, and at length brought hia craft perfectly level once again iv the race. The pair remained on 3trictly even terms for something like 100 yard 3 or so, neither apparently being enabled to draw away ; bu< it wan noticed that Beach looked very queer, and juet below the pumping-etation, to thp consternation of his numerous friends and supporters, the champion came to a full stop for a stroke The confusion can b«* more easily imagined than described at this unlooked-for proceeding on the part of the Australian; but the latter wa« by no meanf done with yet, and amidst a scene ef wild excrement, and erie- of " Beach is beaten," the .antipodean a^nin eot to work, and another severe struggle followed up to Lonsdale Road. Along the Duke'e Meadows Beach appeared to be rallying, but halfway " p to tho Bathing Station the an t.ipodean agnin stopped rowing, and on this occasion it really did a eem all over with him.'" If anything, though, the American was even in a wort-e plight than his ODDonent, and despite the fact that the Yankee pulled three e trokes whilst Beach took a blow, the Yankee only succeeded in gaining a length, at which stage ("50 to £o and £100 to £5 were laid on the leader ab;ard the Fuchsia. On re-starting, the champion progressed all the better for hP brief rest, and settling to work with grim determination, he again began to make his way to tho front. Both men were now struggling along with true pluck and bulldog pertinacity, and no sterner fight will ever be witnessed on the Thames or any other course than that which ensued to Barnes, while the two pilots worked like *• demons" in the cause amidst tremendous excitement Beach's vast strength now served him in good stead, and inch by inch he commenced to wrest the advantage from his thoroughly game opponent, and on passing Mr C. bmith's hostelry, the Bull's Head, the American's advantage was reduced to a bare rial ilength. Beach now took a look at Gaudaur, and seeing his pitiable condition he mustered up a little more vigour and the pair ultimately phot Barnes's Bridge in 18tnin 25Becs., being the best on record (s«ec? ) a=? nearly as possible, Gaudaur if anything having a slight advantage, but no more than a few feet at the most. Passing h's quarters at Tom Green's, the champion pulled moreinhisold form, agaiiihaving recovered his wind to a certain extent, and putting in all he knew, the Australian was a length clear above Mr Winchest's, the White Halt Hotel. Thence the plucky American appeared to admit his defeat, m»d slowed down towards the finish. Beach ultimately passed the distance judge (Mr P. Glad, of the " Sportsman "), stationed jn«-t above the chip at Mortlake, thus winning one of the sturdiest struggles ever known on the Thames by three lengths, the resppctive time being 22min 29?ec. and 22min 3Hsec. At the coi elusion of the race tho men rowed alongside each other and fchook hands immediately, Beach informing his antagonist that he was a very •« hard nail."

ORTHOGRAPHIC AX. AND ORTHOEPICAL. Thoro was r young man in Bordeaux Proposed to a «irl wlio said neaux, Now all day nhe sighs With teare in her eyes, ' Repentant for serving him Beaux, A girl in a moment of pique Gave her lover a Blap on tho chique ; Not a word did he Bay: But ho left her that day, And didn't go back fora wique, A eirl who had plenty of beaux A flirt, ns we well may suppeaux, Met a lover one night. Who kissed her on sight, And kissed her right cquare on the neaux. He (tenderly)—' And what do you think nf the engagement- ring I sent you, Gertie ? She (delightedly)— 1 Oh, it is beautiful— in fact, the handsomest one I ever had given me