The Sculling Championship.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 179, 20 November 1886, Page 2

The Sculling Championship.

The race on Saturday for the Championship proved one of the moat exciting~ever seen Not only were records of all eorta beaten, but the circumstances made such a thing seem almost impo-'Hb'e Bor,h Beach and hie opponent (Gaudaur) showed marvellous pluck ; the changing piospects of ths race were most startling, and the uncertainty uutil the last ruomont kepc up a feverish excitement that Ishtll never iorget. G&udaur was thf> first co take the lead, but soon fell behind the Australian. For about seven minutes nothing lemarkable happened, but from that time onwards the poce became terrific. Gaudaur kept spurting again and again, but without rpsult, until the Champion scull touched a buttress of Hammersmith Bridge Both men were spurred by ibis to a freah effort, and gradually Beach drcv a\ray to the c.y, " Beach wins." But the American was oi.ly nerved by this to put forth all his strength, and with a grim determination steadily began to reduce the lead Each man'? pilot began to grow fi antic, and when Beach, seized with a &uddeu stitch, actually stopped rowing, the raco seemed over. Pulling himself together, however, he began a neck and neck struggle for a quarter of a mile, at the end of which distance he had Kuiued a slight load. Each hid now exerted his muscles to the utmost. Then came a freeh excitement ; suddenly, just as Beach seemed, to bo rallying, he fell helplessly over his sculls, and for a second time caased rowing. Four seconds Gau daur was allowed to forgu his way ahead, and for a third time I thought the race was practically done. But Gaudaur was dead beat ; his condition was almost pitiable. Green wildly urged the champion to a last effort. Neither man had any strength, yet each recovered himeelf with amazing pluck. Once again there was a magnificent struggle of endurance, and amidst first breathless excitement, and then the wildest en thusiaatn, Beach slowly drew away and won. He was utterly exhausted ; but before disembarking: he paddled up to hia opponent, shook him warmly by the hand, and eaid, " You are the best man I ever rowed ; in fact, the best man in the world." Hanlan is trying to detain the champion in England on the pretext ot another race, but the latter will not be entrapped, aa he considers Hanlan only a "gas bag," and puts no belief in the bona fide nature of the challenge. When he has rowed Ross ho will return to New South Wales, unless, after all, the prospect of a few more hundieds tempts him to stay. Perhaps he knows that he is getting stale. The other race of the weeK, in which a New South Walea man took part, was the leturn match between Kemn, of Sydney, and Bubear, of London. 1 did not see it, but I understand that although the Australian has improved since last they met, he was too nervous and lacking in strength to make anything of a raco out of it, so lhat Rnbear won easily, in 3pite of being a little stale.