SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. SEARLE V. O'CONNOR. AN EASY VICTORY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 411, 16 October 1889, Page 5

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. SEARLE Y. O'CONNOR. AN EASY VICTORY.

American papers receive 1 by the Frisco mail contain exhaustive accounts of the race for the Sculling Championship, rowed between Searle of Australia, and O'Connor of America, on September 9bh last. The description of the race occupies many column? under bold headings such as—, 41 Champion Searle," t4 The Canadian no match for the Australian," "One of the most exciting aquatic events on record," 44 G100m in Toronto," "The defeat of O'Connor falls like a thunder-clap," etc. Prior to tho event the backers on both sides were very confident in tho prowess of their champions, and some very heavy wagering was done.

BEFORE THE RACE. On the Saturday prior to the race Chris Crane, Searle's backer« ottered publicly to bet £1,000 or any part of it on dearie, bub there was no response. Bookmaker Joseph Thompson offered to bet -Cl,ooo to £800 that Searlo would win. Rogers retorted with an offer of £400 to £600 on O'Connor. " Why, you hare got the champion," said Thompson. "He is only the champion of America; you have the champion of the world," replied Rogers. Suddenly Massop called out " £1,000 to £1,500 on O'Connor." Quick as a flash Thompson said, "I'll take it." Before the money was put up Carmichael of Toronto repeated the bet, when Thompson accepted it again. Immediately beforo the race Hanlan, exchampion, stated that O'Connor would win by from a length to a length and a-half. The finish proved that he who ought to have been one of the best judges was woefully astray. Just before the start Joseph Thompson laid £500 that Searle would lead at Hammersmith.

DETAILS OF THE RACE. The start was made at 1 o'clock 17 minutes 30 seconds. It was by mutual consent. O'Connor in ten seconds gained more than a boat length, and his admirers rent the air with their cries. "A* hundred to fifty on O'Connor," yelled an enthusiast. A cold-blooded Australian grabbed the bet as if he were afraid it would pet away from him, and he grabbed it none too &oon. Five seconds from the start O'Connor looked like a sure winner ; ten seconds from the start he looked like a winner ; thirty seconds from the start he looked like an almost certain winner ; two minutes and thirty seconds from the start he looked, to those who had seen him row before, a beaten man. The men had not gone more than a half mile before it was patent to all who knew them that Searle was the winner, and it %vas just as patent to those who had seen O'Connor in other sculling matches that he was not in championship lorrn. Three hundred yards from the start ihe men were pulling a long, steady, clean <-troke, bub at every stroke Seaile gained a few inches. Jusc as O'Connor was approaching the point opposite Walden's wharf he made a mistake with his right scull. This was followed by a stroke that was as bad. He was ahead when this happened. When he had laid down to his work again Searle was ahead, and, once ahead, Searle stayed there. When the Crab tree was reached O'Connor seemed to be simply exercising. His sculls swept through the water gracefully, and his style was quite as finished as his most ardent admirers couls have wished, but his boat did not glide through the water as if there was life in the sculls. There was an evident lack of •' get there " about O'Connor, so about the time the Crabtree was passed the bookmakers in the Fuchsia, began shouting, •« Thirty to twenty on Searle." The Canadian contingent made no more bets. They began to look anxious, but managed to smile when asked if their man was in difficulties. Before the race was half finished it was «een that there was something wrong with O'Connor, though what it was was difficult to imagine, as his stroke in the last four miles in the race underwent hardly any change. Hammersmith Bridge was a sight worth going a long distance to ccc. The people on the bridge and on the Surrey banks cheered until the lumps in the water were driven out of pight by the din. They were cheering Searlo, who shot the bridge more than two lengths ahead Searle's time to Hammersmith was Bmin 38sec ; O'Connor's was Bmin 44sec, O'Connor looked tired enough to drop his sculls, bub did nothing of the kind. He kept up his steady stroke of thirty, dropping occasionally to twenty-eight, but showing no signs of giving up until the race was rowed out. At the Downs, two miles from the start, j Searle was three boat lengths ahead. Searle passed Chiswick Church in 13m. 585., pulling the same long, powerful stroke, but at the same time not distressing himself. At Bullshead, Searle was a woeful distance ahead, and he completed the journey in 22m. and 425. When O'Connor crossed the line the gun was fired also. O'Connor's time was 23m. and 2s. Ib is estimated that §400,000 of Canadian money was lost on the race.