Thanks to the
prowess of the New South Wales scullers, the Parramatta River course is
celebrated all over the world; and is
justly entitled to be called the champion course from the number of races not
only for the championship of the colony, but of the world, which have been
contested over this run of water. The
Parramatta is not as much a river as an arm of Sydney Harbour; and it is justly celebrated for the charming
views afforded by its bays and reaches.
The course is from Charity Point, on the left bank of the river, past
Ryde and Gladesville on that side, and the municipalities of Concord, Ashfield
and Five Dock on the right side, to the Brothers, a point jutting out into the
river just below Hunter’s Hill . . .
. . . The first great race recorded over this course was
between Richard A.W. Green and T. McGrath, for £200 and the championship of New
South Wales, which was won in 1859 by the first named in 26.5 minutes . . .
Edward Trickett
. . . Edward
Trickett, who, after beating all comers on the Parramatta River course, went to
England and in 1875 beat J.H. Sadler over the championship course from Putney
to Mortlake, on the Thames River, and for the first time brought back the
championship of the world.
From this
time the Parramatta River has been brought more prominently before the world as
a championship course than ever the Thames.
In 1885 a regular carnival was held on the river, when the ex-champion
of the world, William Beach, met and conquered the Canadian champion, the
redoubtable Edward Hanlan, for the first time.
Since then the championship of the world has not gone from
Australia; and, although an attempt has
been made to change the champion course from the Parramatta to the Nepean
River, it does not appear to have been very successful, notwithstanding that
there is a sufficient length of straight river admirably adapted for the
purpose on the Nepean.
William Beach
has proved his superiority as a sculler over the Canadian on both courses and
today (Saturday) a struggle takes place between Kemp (the Australian
representative) and Hanlan (the Canadian) for the championship of the world
over the old course of the Parramatta River, which is becoming historical.
Excerpt from a Sydney Morning Herald article dated 5 May 1888 (Trove).
(Note: Between 1876 and 1907 Australia dominated professional sculling for 22 of those 31 years and produced seven of the nine world champions.)
Our current display on Edward Trickett and the Parramatta River will be on display until mid-December.
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