The Sculling Championship.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 234, 24 December 1887, Page 3

The Sculling Championship.

The "Evening News" says: — "It is greatly to be regretted that the unblemished and brilliant career of "William Beach should, at its voluntary termination, bo sullied with the suspicion that he is mixed up in what appears to be one of the meanest and most discreditable arrangements that has ever characterised what is commonly called the sporting world. _ It was known, on tho authority of Beach himself, that whether he lost or won the late race with Hanlan he would not row again, and it was taken for granted that his retirement, whether he was victorious or vanquished, would leave the championship available ior, if not possessed by, the best man. If Hanlan had won, of course it would have belonged to him. He did not win, but he had a right to expect that after his straightforward and manly conduct in coming to Australia to measure oars with Beach for the third time, he would have been treated in an equally sportsmanlike manner. Instead of this he finds himself ' tiddly-winked ' out of even an opportunity of competing for the championship until two men — neither of whom dare meet him — haAe settled their claims to an honour which neither of them could obtain while Hanlan remained in the colony, except by a hocuspocus or hole-and-corner arrangement, such as that by which Kemp has become the nominal champion sculler of the world — and this while Hanlan, Gaudaur, and Teemer are in existence ; and one ot them on tho spot to do battle for the position. Hanlan lias offered to row any man in Australia for £500 a side ; but instead of meeting him, the man who has had the championship made a present to him by Beach accepts a challenge from Clifford, and if those who are conspiring to wear Hanlan down by making him waste his time and incur expenses by waiting in Australia for a chance to regain his lost laurels, play their cards in the same discreditable way that they have cemmenced the game, Hanlan will have to wait twelve months before he can get the opportunity to prove Kemps inferiority, and his presumption in accepting the championship, or make a public exhibition of Clifford for the second time. The friends of Kemp and Clifford meet to-day to make final arrangements for the contemptible spectacle of two third or fourth-class men meeting to row for the championship of the world; and, unfortunately tor himself, the retired champion is in the triangular arrangement which is so unpleasantly suggestive of the adroit performance with three thimblos and a pea. The reputation of "William Beach is not, however, the only thing concerned ; for in the estimation of all fair-dealing sporting men throughout the world, the treatment Hanlan has received will be a reproach to the sporting community of Sydney, and tend to displace New South Wales." The Sydney "Telegraph" says: "After the announcement of the Kemp-Clifford match was made an informal discussion ensued. Hanlan, who justly felt aggrieved at the way lie had been shelved, claimed as ex-champion to have the prior right of challenging, when Mr Deeble replied : 'We were sharp" enough to challenge first ;' and then a long and somewhat heated discussion followed, Hanlan offering to row Clifford for £1,000 or either Clifford or Kemp for £500 a side, match to bo made then and there. This offer of the Canadian's was an uncalled-for one, but it was met in a most sportsmanlike way by Mr F. Punch, who offered at once to close a match between Hanlan and Clifford, whether the latter won or lost his race with Kemp. Hanlan then asked Mr Deeble, who was acting for Peter Kemp, whether he would also then and there close a match with him for £500 if Kemp either won or lost^ the Clifford race. Mr J. Deeble declined to do this, saying it would be no use rowing if his man was beaten. So far Hanlan had decidedly the best of the argument, but he somewhat forfeited hia position when, on Mr Punch again offering to make a match with Clifford, win or lose in the Kemp race, the Canadian repeated his previous offer to row, naming £500 as the stake. He added [ that it cost him £10 a week at least for expenses, and that £200 a side was not sufficient to recoup him. " Later on, during a friendly chat at the bar of the billiard room, Mr Punch was asked outright by our aquatic reporter if he would name a date when Tom Clifford (no matter what the result of his match with Kemp) would meet Hanlan on the Parramatta River for £200 a side and the championship, provided, of course, the Illawarra man had gained it from Kemp. Mr Punch at once replied that he would say definitely that Clifford wouldrow Hanlan within two months from February llth. The same question was then put to Mr Deeble with the option being given him of making the race £500 should Kemp beat Clifford, and after a little hesitation he agreed to the same date and amount. So far, therefore, the Canadian has nothing to complain of, for had Beach held the championship six months, and then retired, Hanlan would not have been able to get a match on nearly as soon as he now can. "In accordance with his first challenge Hanlan was afc Mr R. A Watson's Hotel last night at 8 o'clock waiting for somebody to turn up. However, no one arrived, and the Canadian has accordingly empowered Mr Watson to put up two £25 notes to-morrow with Mr Punch and Mr Deeble respectively to bind the matches proposed yesterday with Clifford and Kemp. Hanlan ia further prepared to increase the Clifford match to £500. "On Sunday night Hanlan wired to Tricketfc at Rockhampton saying he accepted the latter's challenge to row on the Fitzroy River, but so far he has heard no- ! thing of his offer." i