SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.
WEBB V. TRESSIDER. HISTOKI? OF THE IIILE. SOilK KAIUA I. HAMUHjNS OF B'.IAM). AISTKALIAN ,\.\l> AJU-JKICAX C'HAUJ-:M.KI(S. (Continued (roni page :<.) The laurels of piote--ioiiul -eulliiig practically came into existence in t-lie tiltiea. Ihe iirst holder ol the title ol* champion of Kugiamt \\a- .1. Messenger, who secured the honour in ls.*>l by defeating T. Cole ou the Thames. Three years later had to lower liis colours to Henry Keiley. who for more titan twenty jear* w,i- the line>t oarsman in England, and wlm-e prowess wapriiuarily the eau-e of giving the title ol champion of Fnglaii.l the value which it possessed.
As a matter of faet. Kelk-y «.i, not himself champion for very long. Two yearn after hi- defeat of Mc.-engvr lie succumbed to another very line suiller, Kobert Chamber-, viho held the title for four years. Then Keiley won it back, and twice neat llamill n>f America I on succeeding days on the 'l'yne. Chambers meanwhile had beaten a rut lire champion, Sadler, who had been lieaten again by K.elley before the champion went under to Kenforth on the Thames. Kenforth did not, however, hold the championship for any time, Sadler assuming it and defending it against several challengers, including It. W. Boyd, who gained the title after Sadler ii.nl been beaten by l'rickett for the championship of the world.
THE WEST OVERSEA CUALLIi.N'GKS. It was in the year lSZti that Kugland bad iirat to reconcile liei-eil to defeat in the professional -culling championship. lutil that time the title of sculling champion of the world had little meaning, since the honour had nev.'r been held outside of England, The first oversea oarsman lo challenge the holder of the Knglislt championship was B. A. \V. Ureen, of Australia, who assailed' the honour in IStW. The holder was liobert Chambers, of Newcastle-oil-Tyne. The match wa, rowed over the historic Putney to .Mortlake course, and Chambers had no difficulty in winning, although Ureen led tor the tirst mile and a half. Three years later, when the championship was held by Henry Keliey (one of the finest scullers of all time), James Hamill, of Pittsburg. L .S.A., crossed the Atlantic and rowed two matches on the Tyne. Keiley was easily victorious in Iwth.
Another three years elapsed, and J. il. Sadler was the champion, in the prime of life. Walter lirown then held the title of champion of America, and he i-.irne aero" to row Sadler on the Thames. He -u!fere.l in health from the change of climate, and wa- unlit to row when the time of the race arrived, ■.<> Sadler rowed over the cour-e alone and held tlie laurels. Itr.nwi via- not, in any case, a very formidable opponent, as subsequent race- in England proved.
TRICKETT'S <ll ALLKXiJE. The honours remained uuas-ailed for some years, and Sadler was on the decline of his powers when, in 187t>. an Australian. Edward Triekett, went home to England to meet him. Sadler was now thirty-seven years of ajie. having rowed his first race in ISIII. At the
same time the English rowing world did no! e.\|KHt him to succumb to the Australian. Some time ljefore the race the Ixnidoii "Times" wrote of the Australian challenger:— He has been in tlii- country upwards of ten weeks and has improved considerably, as he has bj?en under the care of Henry Kellev. by whom he has Wn taught to s|i,|e. He is lift. tin. high and weighs a little more than list., but his style doe- not lind much favour in the eyes of fre<|iienters .if the riverside. Sadler is sculling as well as ever, but he is much older than his opponent. Tn this historic race Sadler was piloted by his younger brother from the bowof an eight-oar cmter. « bile hi- old <■;>- ponent. Ilenrv Kellev. iH-rtorined 11;-• same lirticc for the elm Mender. Sadler caught water llr-t and sot a lead, rowing throughout fa-ter than the Australian. hut Triekett"s -trokes had mo'c )K)Wer in them and he forged ahead a:il won rather comfortably. THE ADVENT OF HAX I. AX. 1 ricKeit s Mvtory crrji\ t'rn 11 uic vni n
pionswp v i fcngjami iiitu liie iiiiiui(>iv>! -Hip 01 tIH- WolM. >ill'.tj men illUollol' litis lU'ViT !>,> 1| rceovereu tor 111; Old Country, though ii ha-. ..u ,everai occasion- been delended on tut- : n.ini •>. Hemming to Australia with jjis huii-hi,-. il'iikett iiefemied it on llii- raiuiiial-.,, agaiust llu-li ami Uncock. In ISSo i-,-i war I llanlan, of Canada, the pretlic i sculler of all tiuie, and at that time i'liau>i>iuii oi Canada, the United Stat->.
and lingland. challenged Triekett, ami a match was arranged to be rowed on the Ilia nil's. Jrickelt was twenty-nine years of age and weighed list." jib.; Hanlan was four years his junior and weighed KM. 121b. The raee was the easiest of nius lor Banian, who provided much amusement for the spectators. lrickett, who appeared to he overtrained, held to his opponent for some short distance and then graduallyfell awav.
The London "Times'' says:—"Opposite the Doves, Triekett, who had been taken wide by his opponent as they IWsSfd UilTen's yard, came in under Hailiau's stern, whereupon the latter, who was fully three lengths in front, stopped and looked about him. this being the lirst of several antics iu which he indulged, and which, though perhaps common in America and Canada, have not hitherto signalised sculling races on the metropolitan river. Owing to this st-ip Triekett reduced the gap between the boats. hut Hanlan, who. of course, had the race in hand, pulled a couple of dozen slurp strokes, and having regained his former lead, lay Hat down on Uis back in his boat opposite the Oil Hills, a, if to show that he at leas! was not troubled at the -pot where the Au-i.-rflian Uiyeock had recently rowed down his three opponents. When Trick■'t ~ iin.- within a length and a half of him. Hanlan -at up and sculled awiv
again amid general Uughtcr ashore and alloal. and when he had regained a lea,! I" 1 " 4 ',! lirst scull and then the other alternately csai-'lv as li,. )u,i j, ti! | l(l|ori , -(' aJ t i lltr !. water frolic whi-li. in many cases. wSnid t,J ;l ea p-izi'. The race had now become a mere farce. Hanlan stopphnot 1.-S than live minutes reacho<l H;»rn»"i HANLAN J\ A( yrii.Al.lA,
Hanlan again beat Tii,-keu over the s.liitt: cjlli-e in ls V Ju j hril the Australian l.a U ,„k. ., 11(e ou the I ha lues thl . .v,, 11; . iU , jtl . r 111 Ivil. With,,, :i few months, however he met hi- late. |„ t | l( . wjl|l l»eaeh. which was rowed on (lie I'arramatta. Hanlan caught water lirst and
f "Inch wa- si-o.i 111,11 ■' |,n - 11 '- lllaxlanii- liic >•■'.> I>r„k,.„. a„d i 1,,.,-.- ,.| t it, - lioa i - ),ei„, -".imped, lit-.,-;, ~,ha„t„y .„ roii.L'h \va:.-r to , 10-e up. w Idle llaiii.in ■" ' 1 ■! -I,Miller lll,|| i; u "■■"••i h- «oiiii i„. -unk. i' ur llaill.lll 1, id ]e.„| , u „ 1, ". t him with -in-ii de 1,.,inulai ion IV:| , ;M»<l (li.-Ii j.r'lll i-« V.o,'.U
pa--fcii 1.,-mvc.-,, then, n-eai.li,,. and -n.ldenly llca.l, -tu.-k |,j. M . ul | < and piillcl aw,iv. |,i- opponent 1,„i.,.. ■•Ollle -r..,11|.| liy lioidini; up |,i- |m„,| :o nppi-.11. lie ill,-II ion,-i[ „n uiilioai lim a lie.irt. ami lleaeli won. The urn pire di-;illo\i.,| ihe appeal. .it-idcri.f lliat H.iiil.in wa - io 1d.,,,,,. into Uiea.-li'- water.
THK r\IIKAT|-.'\ ( lIAMI'Ii l.\. l!- ,ich lii-hl tin- eh impi, in-hip for tliivo M-H-. lie ili'ieat,-d I lillord. N. Mailer--on. anil Ilanlan oil tln- I'arramatta rivfr in ISS.i. mid in the following yi'.n went to Knjrlainl lo nn-et dacoii 'oindaiir. 111.- Canadian, irlm li.nl ju-i ''"'-■'t otil on the Tliatne, coiir-e. \i iperh.ip- till- haide-l slrnngle for I lie ,-)i,iiiipion-liip oil r,'.„r,l. At one stay 1-mli in -ii were ih,,r"ii.L'hly i-xhaustc.l arid .1.--,i,-d to -1,, p. )leach, howevi-r. ] -'ri:.-_.|. i| on f,.r a 1.-w -trok,-. and. i
•u-in- i:.,ii,laur. ~„n ,-veiiliially a- i-c « i-'l' -l \\ i'll I lie e\. ,-p| i,,n 0 f ||| o Staiil.iu . Hardin- year- laier. 5 i! * rlo' 1.1 -1 < l liltle I ei-ordt'd -ill •he I*lll H- V to Moll lake com—-, till I,irctihn T.i An-lrali.i lli-.i'-li auain dcleal- ' 'hi- lime ,-n 11,,- \epe.in. Sli.irrlv afierward-. in ISss. Mead, lired. 1,,-ipiealliini: 11l - cli inipioii-hip I'. Kemp. | lITM-: I'l.'l->KN"TK!) TO KI-Ml'. Tlanlaii wa- -lill ill Aii-tralia. and ha I 1 Hot eiv. it lip hope of the lanr- j el-. < iiiror.l wa- the tir-t to cliallono" j Kem|i. and he wa- defealeil willicil | much difficulty. Tlicu Uaiiktu came fgr-
ward, and was defeated twic in the I'arraniatta liver.
liut Kemi) »a, not to lie allowed [u hold the championship for Ion;;. Hct'ore the end of IBSS a new and brilliant -Ur had appeared in (lie sculling world, A XEW ST Al{.
11. Searle belonged to the Clarence river, and liad hitherto not liecn r-eri ou-dy regarded as a challenger. lIU match with Kemp. however, dcmoii»ir.ited al onee that he uai iu lie a I'ormid aide bidder fur the honour and an equally formidable defender of if. I! ■- lore tile boat* had gone 1.30 yards Searl" had hall a length's advantage "f his opponent. and al. tile half mile lie \vatwo lengths ahead. Kemp \v;i> altugeiher lacking in life im ri , ul ,| Searle had no dillieiilty in beating hi.it. Having won the title. Senile vveiii home to hiigland to'meet the Canadian elianipioli. W. O'Connor, defeated hiiii. and returned to Australia, lie <!ied o'i llie voyage just as the ship was enle,' ing Sjdney Heads. The line inoiiiiuiesii on the bank- of the I'arramalla rivr was creeled to his memory by public subscription.
THI-: AI'STItAUAX comhim:. j On Searlc's death Kemp again a--uiiuM ; the title of elianipioli ol the Uolel. i I his was the beginning of a pha-c in tiiQ.l hi-torj of the cliaiiipniusliip which ha- j been tin- -übjeet of iiiiieh it.lvei'-e eo >t- ! nient both at I lonic and in Au-iralia. I'.y ; an agreement between several Au-tiuii-an -cullers it was arrairged (hat w hca anyone sought a inateh with Kemp, an I wa.s considered dangerous. he wa- reierred to Stanlmry, already the -Hong e-l oaisin.-vn in Au-tralia. O'Connor, the Canadian, who had new hopes now that lieach wa- gone, was one of 'lie lirst to complain about this arrangement. He challenged Kemp, but was put oil by having to meet Stanbury. lie did so, and was lieaten. Kemp and Stanbury then promised to go to America in the following year, ISI.H. to give O'Connor an opportunity of contesting the championship. In .May, KSIH. Kemp had rather an easy win over a new challenger, John McLean, ol' the Hiehniond river. McLean wasn't satisiied and wanted to low again, but Ivenip put hint oil' by saying that O'Connor had the next call. O'Connor was defeated, and then .McLem came forward again, believing that the obstacle to his match was now removed. To his mortification Kemp put forward Stanbury, by whom he was defeated. The way was at lengih clear for Me-U-an to row Kemp, and the match took place on the I'arraniaita l'iver in 1S!I3. McLean got a lead, and pushing on, won the race.
STAXBUKV CHA.MI'KIN. Xu sooiior had McLean won the championship than Kemp's partner, Stanbiiry. came forward and challenged liini. Tli-e two oarsmen met twice on tin- I'arrauiatta liver in the name year. Stanbur.y winning both times. McLean then definitely retired frim tlie championship contents. In 181)2, the year after lie I secured the championship for himself, Stanlmry was challenged Ity a Xew /enlander. Tom .Sullivan., whom lie defeated on the I'arraniatta river. J'roili that time lie was allowed to enjoy the honour for some years without serious trouble. Indeed, it was not until IS!l(i that lie was really seriously challenged. Sullivan had ;jotie home to England to en gage ill lirst-class mat flies there. In I'SM.I lie defeated Unheal' on [Jic Thames, and two years later he availed ('. )!. Harding for the (hampioii-liip »f Hiuland. There were two matches, one on the Tyne anil the other on the Thai Harding won lMitli. and Sullivan, lie could not win the championship for himself, oll'ered to match Stanlmry against Harding, Harding weighed !1.-t. Slli. and St a ill ni ry l:lsi. The Aust rsili.tn won easily in the fastesi time ever pul up on the 'I lianies course. caidalt: defeats sTAXiiniv. Hut two months later stanlmry niei his \\ aterloo. .lacob Oandaur, tin- Canadian champion, had twice beaten Stanbury in turning races in America, an 1 lie immediately challenged the lirst honor of the world. Caudaur was now tliirt> - eight year- of age. and Stanlmry ten years younger; they each wciglic I 1 ahout l:!-t. Tlie match was rowed n.i the 7tli Se]itenilier on the Tlmne-;. I here were a number of fal-e -tar!-, and the spectators were beginning to I leal" a rejieliLion of a previoit- c\pcriI ence when a race had to be abandoned I fur this reason." At la-t a barge cam" lloaling on the tide -o i 10-e to tlie sni'ler- that they were conipelle.l to take some action and, they got awav, <; : i aur having rather the belter .if .he start, Stanlmry, of eoiir-e. iuimcdiale ly li'etilied this and went ahead, bu! liaiiduur came along -teadily and a! tlie mile had hi- boat clear ~l' hi- opponent. Stanlmry pulled several times I'm a foul. At length there wa- a bump, and lie held up his hand ami piacii-.illc slopped rowing. Thcrealler 1". went oil in a half-hearted manner, apparentiv rowed out. and (laudaur won as he liked. I lie pro) e-t was di-a Mowed.
I C.U'DAITi AND TOWNS. iiiK i;at i'oi:tai;i-: ha<;i;li-:, i ii„ Canadian held the championship for live year-, hi, (ille lieitijr secured tu a great extent by his claim iliat challengers should meet Jiim in Canadian waters. When at length Ueorge Towns challenged hiln in )!M| there was gre.-il trouble and delay over living the course, and it secured as if no agreement would ever be arrived at. The match was roived right at Unudaur's door, and was pul oil' lor three days owing to rough water. Towns got away with a lead, but CJaudaur, rowing his usual race, gradually forged ii]) alongside ami remained there for some time. Then Towns pulled away and won by four lengths. Towns brought (he championship once more to Australia, llis lirst challenger was I!. Tresiddcr. Tresidder was defeatel, but in the following year Towns sii.eumbed to Stanbury in a rate ihal was lowed ill record time. lu July again ol' the following year Town.s came lo light again, defeating his old rival and regaining the honor. Another Canadian. Kdnard llunn.i, a nephew- of Hanlan, and a linished senller, then came into the field, but Towns defeated him on the Nepean early hist year. Then in- handed the championship over lo his brother Charles, who. as is well known, lost it lo Weill, „ii the I'aramatta last August. On the nig lit of U el,),'- uj (1 vo-lvr-day's match was partly in-ranged! Treidder pulling , J, ; ,|i mediately.
SOMETHING ABOUT CHAMPIONS. i'acts and im-:i;s(inamtii-:s. Only two New Zealanders have ever contesteil ihe sculling championship oi (lie world. ioni Sullivan was the lii-a toaltack ihe veteran ;itiluir\- a tier he had de(iliitel\ wrested (lie honor Iron Mel.,-an. 'This race, rowed in IN!I2. wis the Stanbury rier rowed. lliwas pushed almost io a standstill, and linished victor, in the ,-.1 ti„„. „r lSlnin i"see. Sullivan afterwards 1,,-it liuliear in Knglaml. and made two it teinpt- to lower the colors of tin- chain, piou of Knglaml. C. I;. Hardin". Inn failed.
Tin- < lln-i- New Zi'itliimli-i- j- William Weill,. Welil, h.iii Hi,- cliainpion-liip "I \cn Zealand liy di-leatin;; Slalilnr'\ "II ill,-- W,in;:alilli river in' December. l ,ll!l >. llicll In- challenged t lie Win-Id'-. clia ll I pn ill -11 ip t vvlii.-li l.enree Towns hand-i-.l in hi- ynuiiLii-r limtlii-,- Charles 1,1 ileiend. \\ i-lili deleated Towns on t]i.< I'uri-iiin.-tin river in An;rii-t la-t. I lui- .V'-ilson un-. tin' lirsi iniin :,i defeat :■-anbury. anil Searlc de/caled liim shortly atlenvards ~n i|„. Pairahi.ilia tiir a--idc. I'll,- latter wis inn- ot I In- jjreate-t race- ,-vei rowed ,m l.'iu I'arranintta. Scalle iva- noi aide j !' any -lay- In yt a liri-.it lu-r. anil 1 \\., i.-,"i,|- ,-ialili-lu-il tli,. Jii-t .""in 'I- fill- I lio mil,, ami t In- „t'< on-l '""'in -nl'/i-it for |]„- Cananuri conr-e. Stunliury wa- y.-tlin- ready t" ni« Si-arl,- ;il!:ii 11 when ill,, latter came k ''"i" alter , I. ■ l e a 11 n' <>Vi,iui„r. hm tin- ,1,-atli of Searli- |>i--u-iili-d ilii-. When llX.onnnr canu- lo Aa-tralia Stanlnirv ,-a-ilv 1„. ; ,t hi,,, „ M •wo (iira-inn-. When Ccoi-",- Tnwii- «a- in iln* o;.| • oimtry in tin- uiiii'ti.- In-. with („■„ Xi-tt Zcalaniler-. ,oued in a tn-l.li- -c-nl-l'J>" I';'"' '''"III ' 'Word t.l I'tiint-v. a dit.inci- ill Hit l ., mil,-, in |:| Inmirs ."jti inin | i ,< —■ -i ii-iniil which ),,,- !:i-ali-ii. Ili- nialr- wen- Sullivan and l.iillan. I'. Kunil l. who ua- ,-)i.iin]lion in ISSS ! anil apiin in IS'.m. won t|„. veterans' I race, lu-l I in Sydney in August. IS'.lii. I | Amongst hi- compeliini's on tlial occ.t- I ; -ion wen- hi- old rival MrU-aii. IVan :-. I l-aycock. Ilwii. liii-li. Ueynnhls. an! ■ licai-li. i Caudanr held the Anicrii-an ici-nnl tor : Hire,- mile— -llhiiin .'lllsec. j Keni|i mice laid Matti'ison tlnilll (o ! Wi>» anil den-,He,I liiin. ) lleaeli was the only eliain|iiun of the I world lo retire iitibeal,-n. lie rowt'd | -i-M-ii rai-i— for Hi.- championship au.l w on I hem all. 1 hi: ilratli ill I hi ilia n a few Meek. a:r> ca a- a year -lim-k lo An-I rali.i >is. 1 ,'ni I»' recent !y the ycai. oar-nian-nephew. l-alivard Diirnan. s oe tl,e 1,,.-I jro-itiWc uccuulils uf lih TuS
death wa- ipiite unexpected ill this par of the world.
Tn\vu> lvi-ently a li«»pe that hi' would be alilr to i-ona-across aiitl sre tho WVbh-TrcsitWcr iaeo. He is at present very lit suul well, anil is fully ■engayo<( with his busiaos-. » i-'or thirty yo.us tho scullers ui .New South Wales provided all the ehaiupious <H lite world with the exception t \\ ». Ilaulaii iiiitl tiiiudaur. N<»\v Walt 1 " M-nllers liave al) hn-jj pnor men, ini.ililc to help ihoniselve>. but all<T showing .-kili the;, have »m luul any dilVnuliy iu ba«-ker«;. 'l'hc title ol ehaiHpi.ill of the world I)i\< l)een held by Xt' \' South Wale?, lor twenty years out of thirty. Towns, who was defeated i>y Webb for l 1m- ili:iinpion>hii>. was born ill Newca^tU 1 iu ISSii. aiitl lie»;in rowing iu ISiiT. When nniler sixteen years oM h.' won a nuinbiT o.l' handicap-, ami gradually his han iieaps were redtie.'d until the tasks ><■( him wwi'e almost roucd hi-, lir-t match, with I>. TJi'tr-ouv-huood. ;i verv ]iowerful and fairly -kilful rowe)' of mer I'Nt weight. Thorfailed to eat eh Town-, al- - dei rea<( > il Ihe considerably. Two days later, in a handicap. detealed Town-, though the latter won by two seconds on time.
When Towns defeated Human la>( Mairh he thought it wise lo leiire. ami j'«rniallv torfeited lo his broth"! 1 . When Charle- Towns was defeated by Welili for the champion-hip he had - ed -14 I'iice- and won 17. Tresidder. like ('h-H'le< Town-, deleted early last year on the Hunter river, lie came down to Sydney Jo witiles-. the Webb Town-: maleh with a view to challenging the winner, and paid his Jir-t deposit the niirhl of the race to avoid heing forestalled.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 57, 26 February 1908, Page 4
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3,217SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 57, 26 February 1908, Page 4
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