THE CHAMPION BOAT RACE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1555, 11 September 1886, Page 3

THE CHAMPION BOAT RACE.

The following special telegram was sent to the Sydney Evening News n the match between Beach and Tesmer : Amid a scene of the wildest excitement, and after one of the finest races ever witnessed on the Thames, Beach defeated Teemer. The umpire's boat snd the Bteamers allowed to follow the race were crowded to excess. Everything seemed to favor a fair race between the two men who had come through a struggle in the preceding heats. There was not a ripple on the water ; and, besides this, at the time set for the race, the tide was admirable. It had -just turned, and the water was what aquatic men would unhesitatingly describe as "fast." Altogether, the circumstances were regarded as propitious. Before the men made their appearance, fhe assembled thousands made up as large a crowd as could be wished for. Various estimates have been made as to the numerical proportion of the crowd present. I will content myself with saying it was one of the largest and most fashionable attendanoes that ever witnessed a sculling match on the Thames. It was for all the world lika a " 'Varsity day." Beach and Teemer made their appear, ance almost simultaneously. With the initial preparations little time was lost. Both men were ready for the fray, and both seemed anxious t<< get to work. Beach, although he does not cut an ideal figure in a boat, looked to be in the very pink of condition, but on his face there sat a somewhat anxious but determined look. His great broad shoulders and hardly set muscles seemed to stand out with more prominence than on the other occasions, when he was stripped at the tournament. Teemer was also stated to be in fine condition. He looked so ; yet with all the statements that have been made an to his ability to row the champion dowD, he betrayed a certain amount of uneasy nervousness. At last all wbb ready, and t he race began. Teemer was the first to catch the water, arid he struck out at the rate of 36 strokes to the minute. Although Beach was somewhat slow iD striking the water, when he did begin there was no mistake about his intention. It was clear lie meant business. He struck the water at 38 strokes to the minute. They were marvellous strokes of Dower.' Teemer by the first grip of the water got a slight lead, but Beach, when once he set his boat in motion, took the lead, and may be said to have led from the start. At the conclusion of the first •six strokes Beach had obtained a lead of half *a length. The race was a fierce one, for fceerrer was pulling in gr<*nd style,

awl showed if he won it would at the cost ot si hardly fought victory. However, in spile of the efforts of the American, Bench was more than his match, so that by the time Dukeshead was reached he had incren-ed his lend to two lengths. S'ill Teemor con'iimed to fight a splendid batth., and when passing Waldon'a made a very determined effort to overhaul Bench. The champion had slackened his stroke to 35 to the minute, but when he saw the effort Teemor was making he quickened his stroke, and with 38 strokes to the minute he successfully kept Teemer at a distance. Teenier continued the struggle, but to no purpose. This was his dying spurt, for having failed to lessen the gap he seemed to lose heart. Beach meanwhile continued to row in faultless style, and from this point the race became a water tour for Beach. Hammen>mith bridge was Rhotby Beach in Bmins<l69eos. From this Teemer was .entirely outpaced. He was hopelessly beaten, and the race so | far as the American was concerned, was a stern chase. Beach continued to paddle along in the eaisiest style imaginable, and paddled home a winner as he liked with a dear lead of more than than ten lengths. When passing Barnes' hotel, Beach stopped, and recognising Mrs Wentworth, the wife of Mr D'Arcy Wentworth, the well-known Australian, who was waving congratulations to the champion, he raised his hat, an incident that was responded to with deafening cheeks. The course was considerably hampered with small crift, and Beach had a very narrow escape from fouling a floating basket. This he managed to avoid, or the result might have had a serious effect upon the race. Everybody iB astonished at the splnndid form displayed by Beach, lie pulled amid deafening cheers, and hearty congratulations wvre exchanged with the winner of what must he regarded us .1 splendid race. The enthusiasm after the race was intence. Bench Beemed when he passed the ship at Mortlake to be as fresh as w hen he started. He looked as though he could have stayed ten miles.