GREAT BOAT RACE ON THE TYNE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 459, 8 May 1880, Page 2

GREAT BOAT RACE ON THE TYNE.

[Sporting and Dramatic News,]

In wretched weather Robert Watson Boyd, of Middlesborough, and William Elliot,.of Blyth, confended over the Tyne .Championship Course for stakes of £2OO a-side. The men were old rivals, and both- underwent very careful preparation for .the struggle, Boyd training from the Ord Amis, Scotswood, and Elliot from private quarters in George's Road, Elswick. Fourteen steamers accompanied the men, and they were for the most part crowded with spectators. Boyd, on strip-' .ping scaled list 31b, and Elliot list 51b, the. former being shown up river from the .bow of the umpire's boat by John Bright, of the Mushroom, and the latter by Ralph Hepplewhite. Betting just prior to the ■tart" ruled 11 to 8 on Boyd. Mr William Oldham,, of .Newcastle, officiated, as referee. On. the. toss for positions taSing place the Middlesborough sculler won, and he selected the north station/which gave him little, if any, advantage, Elliott finding the outside, or south station, probably the better of the two, as he thereby gained the full advantage of the tide. The latter's first stroke was a light, dipping one, which' scarcely moved his boat-six inches forward, and his' second was not much better.'. Boyd, on the contrary, got a fair and full grip of the watered immuch power to his stroke that he aUnce drove'her quite half a length ahead of that of .'his antagonist. '"Elliot quickly realised liis position,'and bendinij well forward he exercised his enormous strength to pull witfrlhree;or four huge d r iri,;prpn9lling :

hiahght omh well alongside of that of his opponent* and maintaining his exertion ,he ; soon showed slightly to the fore. H.s~rto|fere highly delighted by W Bo Ks#win with the greatest ■ heard: Both were striking about.4ojp,th'e minute, but Elliott had decidedly the best of the pace. The critical-onlooker, however, : could discern that::.the .!'.pitman"' •could'-'not -tifrsiblj keep up tys exertions long., H e -lai burying the:blades.bf' his. soullHVfar' \L deeply in thewater,and ■through with a tfem'ehd6'uTßw'e% T must .have muscles to the utmost. Boyd, on |H other -hand, quickly ; Bettled J 'dbwriVtmlffil long, rather dragging, but wonderfully. \ serviceable; method, ttnd as'-he drove his boat along much reminded theihlookers of Banlon's style,.-;-.- Just beyond Wylie's Quay he began.to-draw ..on Elliott, and but a few yards more sufficed,to' place him on even terms, reiult Elliott was beyond all'ddubt'- : badly ;bea'tefc l ' : !Ai the men passed the Higli 'Elswick'''gang. way Elliot's head'dropped'ovwis right shoulder, : a sure.sign that ; his-exertions were telling on.him the two miles were respectively il2min. 57,secs., after which affairs-degenerated into a mere procession, Boyd taking jiiatters Tery coolly. : At the head bf<the Meadows-time, 14min. 4Bsccb.—he eased down rapidly, and shot past Paradise Quay in 17min.-',305e0., allowing Elliott .to draw up. Soulier eventually reached Scotswood suspension bridge in 22min. 17sec, from; the ; start, with abjout four lengths to the good,' Elliott's time being 23min. were loudly applauded'as they,..rowed ashore to dressy Elliott, perhaps,' doming in for the greatest; bvatidn, as it seemed to be felt that he had rowed a game though losing race,: ■ ... ( l