AQUATICS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 404, 21 September 1889, Page 4

AQUATICS.

Once more the Australians have proved their prowess as oarsmen, Searle defeating tho Canadian rather easily on Monday last over the Thames course. As at the present time a history of the great championship sculling races would nob be oub of place, the following account should prove interesting :—: — The title of championship dates back to 1863, when it was won by R. Chambers. In 1865 Hany Kelley defeated Chambers, and held the proud title for a year, when he resigned, and Chambers again became champion by lowering the colours of Joe Sadler. Shortly afterwards Kelley won the title again by defeating his old opponent. We find no more " stars " coming forward till 1878, when James Renforbh at once made a leputation by vanquishing Kelley. Immediately afterwards Renforth visited America with other English professionals, and took part in their regattas. At one of these he was seized with illness in his boat and died. The cause of his decease is still a mystery, bub it is the general belief that he was drugged. Joe Sadler held the championship in 1874-5 in beating Robert Bagnall and R. W. Boyd, but in the following season Edward Trickett, of Australia, wrested the honour fiom him, and for the first time the title was taken out of England. The Australian held it until an evil fate tempted him to cross the waters again and meet the wonderful Canadian oarsman, Edward Hanlan, in 1880. The latter won, and succeeded for a period extending over four years in retaining the coveted title and astonishing all the rowing men in the world at his extraordinary dash and pace, by means of which he smothered his opponents in the first mile or so. He, however, met more than his match when he visited Australia and encountered the Illawarra blacksmith, William Beach, who, as is well known, defeated him on Augusb 14th, 1884, and again on two other occasions. Beach in 1888 handed over the championship to his friend and trainer, Peter Kemp, whom he deemed to be a better man than himself, and Kemp proved he was worthy of the honour by easily defeating Hanlan. Another Australian, H. E. Searle, who was unknown save on his own river, and there not as anything remarkable, paralysed his kinsmen by wresting the championship from Kemp in a very easy manner on October 27th, 1888, and on Monday last again proved to the world that he is well entitled to hold the proud title of Champion Sculler of the World. Frank Porrott, who will be remembered here as an old hand in aquatic circles, write!) me from Washington Territory, U.S. On the 26th of June I journeyed to Lake Washington, VV.T. , to see America's now famous oarsman, O'Connor, and his brother scullers Hamm, Lee, and Harry Petersen. George Lee is his trainer, and, contrary to expectation, is very abrupt in manner. He is the prettiest rower I ever saw, bub dies away quickly. I inberviewed Hamm, who, by the way, is a very gentlemanly fellow, a man of fine physique. He places the oarsmen of America as follows : — O'Connor, Gaudaur, Petersen, Teemer. I next saw Harry Petersen, Champion of Hie Pacific Coast, who rowed such a tighb race with O'Connor. He is a magnificently builb man, something after Beach's style. He hails from 'Frisco, is of Dutch descent, age 25, heighb 6 feeb, weighs, oub of training, 2041b ; in training, 1761b. He is very quiet, and very unassuming in his manner. His record is as follows : — Rowed 25 races, lost 2, won 23, one of which was to O'Connor. The other was a handicap race Avon by Teemer. He started rowing at the age of 13, and at 16 won the Championship of San Francisco easily against John Hughes. Next rowed Smith, the Pacific Champion, for $400, and won easily. He next rowed McKenny, of Boston, for £500, winning easily. His next contest was with G. W. Lee, at San Francisco, for $500, course 3 miles. He beat Lee by 2 minutes. Then challenged Ten, Eyeke, Riley, Gaizel, Plaisted, but they all declined. He afterwards challenged Ross, but he was not on. He visited England in 1885 and challenged anyone, offering lOsec. start, but found no takers and returned home disgusted. Rowed four - oared race at New Orleans, having for partners Teemer, Lee, and Plaisted, their opponents being Gaudaur, McKay, Hosmer and Parkins, and won by three feet. He generally starts at 36 and finishes at 33. In his race with O'Connor his boat was a 15-sec slower one bhan O'Connor's. He pushed O Connor to four feeb in splendid time in a handicap race at Tacoma in May last, ab which I was presenb. He pulls a longer stroke than any oarsman I ever saw. He tells me O'Connor lifted $7,000 over his race with him. It is hia intention to challenge O'Connor on his return from England, whether he beats Searle or nob, after which he leaves for | Australia, and has authorised me bo sbabe 1 he will row anyone in Australia, Searle preferred. He started for Sydney in 1887, bufc for private reasons deferred his visit. I am sure when he does go he will make a host of friends amongst the Sydney boys.