The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-28 00:00:00

THE GRAND HEAT

Thousands of anxious spectators were by this time assembled, and
were anxiously awaiting the struggle that should determine the
championship. The Claspers were in downright request, although
it was hinted that Newell's party had let them go by, as the posses-
sion of the first place was unimportant in the trial heat. The great
struggle was not only of much interest as regarded these two boats,
but of a corresponding one with respect to the merits of the picked
London crews themselves, which had afforded much speculation, and
about which there was a great diversity of opinion.
%hey at last moved to the station, and were in a short space of
time off like lightning. It was remarked by men of long standing in
aquatic matters, that they never saw such speed in four-oared boats.
They not only started at the same instant, but after several rapid
and desperate pulls they were oar and oar. As they neared the com-
mittee boat. Coombes' crew began to show in advance, and facing
the head of the committee boat, were rowing with all their might,
the Claspers and the Pocock crew being oar and oar, with their
heads level with Coombes' midships. At this moment it was ob-
vious to those in the committee craft that something was wrong, as
Mr. Bishop,the umpire for that race, was not accompanying the men,
but steering his cutter to come on board. On doing so he stated that
the crews, on his having inquired whether they were ready, went off
Of their own accord, without being started by him. He had fre-
quently called to them to inform them that it was no race, but his
intimation was altogether unheeded. It may be as well here to
finish the account of the racing at mice, and again return to the other
part of the subject. The Coombes' party became in every succeed-
ing stroke more closely pressed by the Newcastle men, who never
appeared throughout to relax their exertions in the slightest degree,
and having come oar and oar with them at about the Crab-tree, a
desperate push was made by the Cooinbes's for the lead ; but as they
approached Hammersmith-bridge, the Claspers were drawing gra-
dually away, and ultimately succeeded in clearing their boat's length.
Coombes' crew made a finishing and " plucky" spurt, but were un-
able to regain the enviable position they had once held, and the Clas-
pers came in first, at the winning post by one length and a half. Po-
cock's party were three lengths astern of the second boat.
Amateur Four-oared Race (Gentlemen) for the Silver Challenge Cup.

FIIIBT IIEAT.

Oxford University, purple • • • • • •
1. Stapylton
2. 31ilman

3 Conant
Wilson, strok,

Lewis, coxswain,

The Thetis Club, light blue
1. Robinson
2. Compton

3. Harrison
Porter, stroke

White, coxswain

The Neptune Club, pink.

_
1. Prior
2. Bowater

13. J. C. Walatsley, or Chapman
Walt-risky, struke.
Grant, coxswain.

The Neptune drew a slight lead immediately after the scarf, the
Oxford having the worst of it at the go off. They soon, however,
mended their position, and by some smart rowing, first passed the
Neptune and then the Thetis. Off the Point they had a decided
lead, and maintained it throughout. The Neptune made sonic very
po erful efforts to overhaul the Thetis, and just before ilammsmith-
bridge, succeeded in almost getting their oar up to their opponent'
stern. The Thetis then drew away a little, but at the four-and- a-
half mile-stone the Neptune put on a final spurt, and gained rapidly
on their opponents, but just upon arriving at the w nning post, with
every prospect of a dead heat ketw, en the second and third boats,
the Neptune lost their rudder string, and with it all chance of then'
second place.

SECOND HEAT.

Royal Academy Club, green —••• • • • ••• • • ••• • • •
1 Atkinson
1 3. A. D. Cooper
2. Howard H. M. Cooper, stroke
.._ _.. _ . .

. .
C. D. Smith, coxswain.
St lleo-ge's Club, red and whit., ..... ... .... ..
I. Wadham I 3. Coulthard
2. Ross I Smith, stroke
. _ .

A. Johnson, Coxswain.
The Waverley Club, light blue and white • • .... • • • • .... • • • • • •
1. Green 3. Strutten
2. Bennett A. Prior, stroke.

E. Prior, 'coxswain

The Reyal Academy took the lead and kept it. The Waverley and
St George's made a fine race, and were stroke and stroke up to the
Crab-tree. Won by a length or more.