Star.
London, England, 1826-08-23 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

GRAND AMATEUR AMA.TEUR ROWING MATCH.

The lovers of aquatic sports had a high treat yeste;daY, in wkt-
stewing a match for SOO sovereigns, towed by Gentlemen Ama.
teun, picked from the various crack clubs on the River.—The
wager was to be contended for, by six pair of oars, in wherries, to
start from of the Red House, at Battersea, and to row to a boat
moored at the New Bitdge,at Hammersmith, the first beat passing
that point to be declared the winner. The time appointed for starte
lug was half-past four o'clock, and before that hour, all the dub gal-
leys, and other principal boats, with a great many others, had as.
sembled at the starting point. The weather was beautiful, and dm
scene gay and animated. The plating and starting of the boats was
regulated by a Gentleman appointed, with the consent of all parties,
as umpire, and lots were cast for the several stations.
The contending boats were all private property, and were thus
distinguished :
COILQUILS. OINWIMIL COLOURS. ono:Ma
Green . Bainbridge Yellow • 6 Slaws
Light Blue . Gifford Pink, . . .A tt wood
Tartan . . Holmes White . . .
At twenty minutes past four, the signal for getting ready was
given by the umpire, and the boats took their several stations at
buoys placed for that purpose. At half-past four o'clock, a pistol
watt fired, as the signal for starting t but it did not seem to be p.
nerally understood, as some hesitated before they commenced pull.
log, and Mr. WeUs's boat, White, did not start at all. The rest had
rowed a few hundred yards, when all seemed in confusion, and
there was a general cry.of e a film start." The umpire decided that
it was so, and the boats returned to their respective stations. They
were soon again in readiness, and started at five o'clock in fine style.
White, at first, took the lead, and Mr. Wells, and his partner in this
boat, a beautifully constructed wherry, weighing only about 131
pounds, pulled with so much strength and steadiness, that the
general opinion seemed to be that they would win. Green, how-
ever, by great exertion, passed White, and was first boat through
Battersea Bridge White being second, Light Blue third, closely
followed by Tartan, and the other two close astern, *early abreast
of each other. Front this point Light Blue and Tartan gradually
gained ground, and from being third and fourth, became first and
second. The great contest was now between these two boats, and
a more determined struggle has seldom been witnessed. Bach man
pulled as though he had
" Ret his life upon the cast."
and it was for a long time doubtful which would be successful; but
Blue kept the lead, and eventually won the match, with very little
distance indeed to spare. Green came In third, closely followed by
the others. An immense barge, superbly fitted up, and decorated
with a profusion of colours for the occasion, was stationed off Hans.
mersmith Bridge, and from this, and numerous other points on the
River, and its banks on either shore, the competitors were warmly
greeted as they respectively reached the goal. None of the Gentle-
men appeared to be particularly fatigued on coming in. The dis-
tance (six miles) was rowed exactly In 39 minutes, and, upon the
whole, a better contested match, or one exhibiting a better display
of manly strength and grace, and thorough knowledge of the art of
rowing, could scarcely occur. A great number of bets were des
pending on the match.