SCULLING Championship.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3428, 6 February 1890, Page 2

SCULLING Championship.

Wellington, February 4. The sculling match for the oharnpionship of New Zealand came off this morning. A. dean. start was made at about a quarter past eleven o'clock. The wharves, breastwork, and ships alongside were lined .-yrjtli spectators. The betting before'the start was two to one offered on Stephenson, but not -taken; .a few bets were booked at throe to one. As soon as they got away on their boats, says the Press, they settled down to hard "slogging," each pulling 86 strokes to the minute, After going a short distance at this pace they got steadier, and Stephenson" shortly spurted, putting about two' lengths between himself and his opponent. This raised a cheer from his , supporters, and Matterson at once laitl £SO to £lO, and other wagers of £IOO to £2O on Stephenson were taken. Hearn was seeii to be steering a very bad course, keeping 100 much inshore and in such a position that : a turn would be necessitated. Steplienson was, however, keeping well away from the wharf. This fact increased the. betting and; the foydfioy up stood the favorite at £loo' to £ls. This was about a quarter of a mile south of Ngahauranga. ■ Hearn appeared unable to straighten hipiself iir jiis boat, while Stephenson was keepjng" liis lieaiJ well irept and iieing to eli.ouldejs to great a^vau-

tage. The" swish" from his scull's showed the amount of power he was putting into his Hearn'was now, however, pulling a very clean, strong, swinging stroke.: fleam was still losing ground, and when off Dimock's was quite four lengths away, Ho was watching. his opponent, however, and it was thought lie was reserving himself for the final spurt. He began to improve, his course. He still labored badly, but Stephenson appeared quite at ease, Off Kaiwarra Hearn was seen tc be flagging, and the race was "bar accidents," virtually decided. He was still about the samp distance behind, but he'still had many warm i supporters on the steamer. Stephenson was then pulling at the rate of 27 strokes pur minute, and Hearn 80. Stephenson was" now seen to be edging in shore, and Hearn was gradually workingoutwards, (Stephenson's friends now laid £IOO to LlO, and the wagers weie taken up. Nothing of any importance took place until the kerosene sheds were abeam, \\ miles from home, when'Hearn began to go up. k scene of the wildest excitement then ensued, and cheers upon olieers, interspersed with "Go' it Hearn I" "Well pulled Billy!" " Hearn for ever,!" etc. resounded from the masses of people ashore, They had now been fifteen minutes out, Hearn again spurted at the corner of the Manawatu Company's reclamation, and following directly in Stephenson's wake decreased the gap between them by fully two lengths. As the competitors passed Barn's shed jind along Waterloo-quay, the crowds commenced running along with them, cheering them on. Stephenson was working hard now, and had again increased his lead to about five lengths. The railway wharf and tho ship toairi-Bhan was simply one mass of people, and as the scullerß came along Stexhenson's tanned skin was mistaken for . Hearn, who was supposed to be wearing a pink jersey, and tho supposition that the Wellington man was leading -was willingly seized upon, The excitement bocame intense, and from tho rigging and yards of tho shipping, which were black with people, came cheers and shouts of encouragement to Hearn. Hearn, although now hopelessly out of it, heard the cheering and responded gamely, with the result that he again got as near as three lengths to the Sydney man. The true situation was and the leader was lustily and heartily cheered. Heirn again flagged,, and Stephenson, with seemingly a. lot in hand, passed the flag-boat containing Mr George Fisher, judge, three lengths ahead, and was proclaimed the winnet of the coveted laurels. The exact time was 22min 22 8-oth sees, Three ringing cheers were given both from the immense flotilla of boats of all descriptions, and ashore, for the winner and his trainer and a second salvo for Hearn, who although beaten, it cannot be deneid pulled well and pluckily. The two men at once paddled up to one another , and shook hands, amidst thunders of applause.