The Washington times., 1901-07-06
LEANDER KEEPS THE CUP.
The Pennsylvania Crew Defeated in
IA Closely Contested Race.

| HENLEY. July 5.-THe Lcander Club
| eight-oared crew. composed of the crack
| oarsmen of England, today defeated the
| University of Pennsylvania eight in the
final heat for the Grand Challenge Cup,
thus retaining that trophy, which they
have won at every Henley regatta since
| 1897. They defeated the Americans today
after very close and exciting struggle
/ by a length in the fast time of seven min
utes four and four-fifths seconds.
| Leander won a terrific race through
| strength and seasonedness. The Penn
| sylvanias finished evenly and unexhaust-
| cd. 1t is scarcely to be doubted that the
fact that the English crew were working
in their own climate helped them The
time for the race was below that made by
the Americans on Wednesday when they
defeated the London Rowing Club, but
this is ascribed TO an adverse breeze,
In the concluding days programme of
the Royal Regatta. comprising eight final
| heats, deciding the award of all of the
regatta prizes, opened at 1890 with the
most keenly and widely discussed Grand
Challenge race in the memory OF the row.
ing public. The feeling was strictly ma
tional. 1t is certainty that no English
man backed Pennsylvania, otherwise Le-
ander would not have ruled favorites in
the betting, but Americans have taken
such a lead in all branches of amateur
sports that there was some uneasiness for
the Grand Challenge Cup.
From an excellent start Penn
sylvania struck up % strokes in
the first half minute and 43
in The minute, Leander rowing q the
first half minute and IL in the minute.
The Americans had a bare lead in the
first few strokes and had forged about
six feet ahead when they were about
half way to Temple Island.
They kept this lead while emerging
from the island and striking with mar
velous precision, they drew smoothly
ahead, until they had half length lead
at the Rectory. Here Leander, stroking
80 and splashing somewhat. pulled up on
the Americans by sheer individual force
until at the Cottages, Pennsylvania ad-
vantage was only few feet
Even this was wiped out at the quar-
ter mile, and before they reached Faw-
ley Court Leander had a noticeable lead.
At Fawley which they reached in 8 min
utes % seconds, the Englishmen were
quarter length ahead At the three-quaf-
ter mile and half a length opposite the
clublaud enclosure they We're still splash
ing badly. while Pennsylvania rowing
continued smooth.
At the bottom of the reserved enclosure
it seemed as if the Americans had done
their utmost but could not prevent the
Leanders from lengthening their lead.
As they passed the grandstand the Eng
lishmen were a clear length ahead. and
they maintained this distance to the win
ming post. Both crews were the recip-
tents OF tumultuous applause at the I'm
ish.
Prior to the distribution of the prizes.
Colonel william, the umpire of the re-
gatta, said that competitors from the
United States and also the Continent were
welcomed, but the results convinced Eng
lish oarsmen that they had no need as
yet to alter their style of rowing. That
was the undoubted deduction from Lean
ders victory, which. for good or i'll, con-
frmed conservative trainers lifelong be-
liefs.
The opinion Of rowing men is summed
up in an article in the Sportsman which
says that the Pennsylvania are good and
plucky sportsmen. If they had won they
would have been warmly cheered.