Sculling Championship.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7880, 24 July 1905, Page 2

Sculling Championship.

STANBURY DEFEATS TOWNS. LKAUS ALL THE WAY. (Received July 22, K. 31 p.m.) SYDNI'JY, July 22. The sculling race for the championship of the world awl £s*lll aside, was rowed on Hits Parramatta River, this afiernoon, between George Towns (holder ol ilia Championship) and Jim Stanburv, an ex-champion. l,oih oarsmen hail from New South Wales. The course was 3 miles 309 yards. The weather was fine, and the water smooth, and there was a light breeze with the men.

Owing to the previous records oi the competitors great interest was centred in the event, and every point of vantage, as well as the steamers which followed the race, were densely crowded with eager spectators. Towns had the call in betting. The men started by mutual consuit, and at the word "Go'' Siaiiifiry at once went front. At Ryde Bridge, a point 300 yards from the start, he had secured a lead of half a length, and before reaching Uhrs Point, and recovering with apparent

ease, he increased* his advantage to * length and a half. At this stage Towns livened up somewhat, but his efforts made no impress-ion on the leader, who passed Blaxslands Point with three lengths to the gjood, and this distance separated the men as I hey shot past the mile post, Stanbury's time for the distance being Cmin lsec.,!From this out there was little change in the positions. The champion rowed a game stern chase to Putney, but Stanbury responded to every call, and at Gastooks

Towns was four lengths astern. Towns spurted time after time, tut failed to make his leeway. On reaching Gladesvillc, Stanbury looked to he tiring, and dropped one of his sculls, but after very little delay got going again, eventually winning by two lengths. Time, lOmin 47scc.

(Stanbury held the championship flora 1891 to 1896, .when Gaudaur defeated Mm. Five years later Towns defeated' the 'holder, retaining the honours until the present time.) WITNESSED BY AN IMMENSE CONCOURSE. (Received July 24, 0.43 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 23. Probably the largest concourse ever seen on the river witnessed the sculling race; it was larger even than in ■the palmy days of sculling. Craft of all descriptions lined both side's of the course for its whole length, and the banks were black with spectators. Many thousands were massed in the vicinity of the winning post. A scene of great excitement was witnessed at the finish. When near the end Stanbury's scull fouled a couple of floating bottles, one striking his scull, and the other the'boat causing him to lose his stroke, and almost upset. Stanbury rowed 12 stone 81b, and Towns 10 stone 121b. Betting at the start was 7 to 4 on Towns. The opinion is freely expressed that Stanbury could have widened the winning margin bad he desired.