The Champion Oarsman.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5079, 25 April 1885, Page 1

The Champion Oarsman.

The following account of , the life of Wm. Beach, the champion oarsman of the • world, will be interesting to our rowing men : William Beach was born in Sussex, England, in 1851, but at a very early age . he left for Australia with his parents, who took up their residence in New South Wales. His first rowing wiuof any consequence was at the Woolcomooloo Bay Begalta, in 1881, where he beat three others in a light skid' race. Subsequently he commenced rowing in an cut rigger, and ; in the Punch Trophy he was second to Michael Push, beating Trickett and Laycock, As the three opponents were the greatest of Australian scullers, his performance brought him into notice, and he was looked upon at that time.as a coining champion. Having beaten Clifford easily in light skiffs, Beach suffered defeat at tho hands of M'Donald in the National -Refiatiaqf_lßß3. ' Dissatisfied with the result-, rne^prtßTmr—unaTn-jmTTi—unrcro—&— private niitch with McDonald over the same course and beat him easily. Several scullers were now- ambitious of beating the new man, and Soloraan and Reynolds were beaten easily by him. Beach was beaten, on the Clarence by M'Donald, and after winning a race at Wooloomooloo, r be was taken in hand hy Messrs r Punch and Deeble, who subse* .. quently backed him against Edward Trickett over the championship course. . This was won by the ex-champion for the reason, Beach's friends said, that the de- : feated man was not accustomed to wager* boat rowing, Three weeks later, however, the verdict in a similar race was reversed, and later on again Beach beat Trickett easily for the second time. He was now looked upon as far and away the best man in Australia—a verdict which was justified by the manner in which he beat Trickett in the Hunt trophy in December, 1883. A month or two later Beach and Trickett fouled in the National Regatta, and the race was rowed again on February 21st,. .1884, Trickett winning. Yet another match was arranged between the two " great guns," and Beach won easily. From that time ho bad been tho recognised sculling champion of Australia, and indeed, since he beat Hanlan in August last, of the world. He is said to be a magnificent upecimen of a man, standing about sft lOin higb. fie ia a farrier by trade.