and with most humiliating results. Not one of them could gain a place in the final heat, for which four prizes were awarded to the four winners of trial heats. The four winners of the contest were one and all either colonials or Americans, and the winner was one Elias Laycock, also a Sydney man, and undoubtedly a better sculler than Trickett, although the latter was the nominal cham- pion of Australia at the Lime. Laycock sculled in good style, so far as leg-work and finish of the stroke ; his body action was not cramped, but he had not so Jong 2 swing as should, if possible, be displayed by a man of his size. He scaled rather above twelve stone. Wallace Ross, who finished second to him, afier leading him some distance, had been the favourite, and had been reputed as only a trifle inferior to Hanlan, The forward reach and first part of Ross’s stroke was as good as could be wished, but he had a cramped, tiring, and ugly finish with his arms and shoulders, When Laycock succeeded in beating him a furore was created ; Laycock’s staying powers were un- mistakable, and many who saw him fancied that his stamina would enable him to give Hanlan trouble before the end of four miles. Taycock himself was not endued with so high an opinion of his own merits ; but he was too game a man to shirk a con- test when it was proposed to him, and the result was that he was soon matched to scull Hanlan.
The match came off on the following February 14, 1881, over the Thames course. Laycock stuck to his work all the way, but was never in it for speed. Hanlan led from start to finish, and won easily. A year later Hanlan was back in England to row Boyd on the Tyne. Boyd’s friends fondly fancied that he had developed some improvement, but it was a delusion. Never was an oarsman more wedded to vicious style and wanton waste of strength than the pet of the Tyne. The race came off on April 3, 1882, and was, of course, an easy paddle for Hanian. The knowledge that Hanlan was going to he again on English waters, brought about a return match between him and Trickett. This was rowed on the Thames on May 1 following, and once more the Canadian won easily.
