Page:Boating - Woodgate - 1888.pdf/270

 William Beach, had heen rapidly improving his style in New South Wales. He took hints from his conquerors until, when he was about forty, a time when most scullers are past their prime, he could beat all comers in his own colony. Ifanlan was persuaded to visit Australia to row him, and the first match between them came off August 16, 1884, on the Paramatta. To the surprise of all, Beach went as fast as Hanlan, and outstayed him. Excuses were made for this reverse to one who had been reckoned inyineible : Hanlan had been unfairly washed by a steamer, and some fancied he had held Beach toa cheap, and was not fully trained. Another match was made for March 28, 1885. Meantime Beach easily beat, on February 28 of that year, another colonial challenger, ‘P. Clifford. In his return match with Hanlan he fairly tired the Canadian out. Beach scales a trifle over twelve stone, and proves the truth of the old saying that 2 good big one is better than a good little one.

Tn December of 1885 Hanlan beat Neil Matterson, a young and rising Australian candidate for the championship,

In the summer of 1886, a large amount was subscribed for a series of sculling prizes on the Thames. Beach was in Eng- land, training for a match against Gaudaur of St. Louis, U.S., who had lately beaten the best American scullers, Gaudaur did not row in this regatta of scullers, but Beach did,

The trial heats of this regatta were rowed in stretches of about three miles each, following the tide over different parts of the tideway. In the first heat Neil Matterson beat Ross. In the second, Teemer, U.S., beat Perkins, a London sculler. Bubear rowed over for the third heat, and the fourth was won by Beach beating Lee, U.S. (once a pseudo amateur and an unsuccessful competitor for the Diamond Sculls of Henley !) Next day Beach beat Bubear, and Teemer beat Matterson. The final heat took place over the regulation course of Putney to Mortlake. Beach won as he liked, on a tide that was not first class, in 22 min. 16 secs. The racing occupied August 31, and September 1 and 2.