THE SPORT OF ROWING was sure of his man, to shake his head from side to side, but not to go in front until he got a sign from Spencer, who was in a boat following the race. “The race had barely started when Searle’s head was seen to wobble violently. This caused loud laughter among those who had never seen Searle race before. They chaffed Spencer so unmercifully that he assumed a deliberately anxious look. “Meanwhile, his commissioners were snapping up every bet offered, with Woolf still leading and going great guns. Suddenly Spencer waved a red handkerchief and in a hundred yards Searle was a length ahead, and the issue beyond doubt.”6229 The Times of London: “In a race against Henry Ernest Searle medalist: “Backed by John and Thomas Spencer, Sydney brothers who a decade earlier had backed Ned Trickett, Searle began his Parramatta campaign in a match against one Julius Woolf. “Woolf had been defeated by Stanbury6228 a fortnight earlier, so he was not much in favour with the betting public, and it looked as if Searle’s backers would have to be content with the bare prize- money. John Spencer refrained from betting at all before the start of the race and instructed Searle to hang back and ‘feel’ Woolf in the early stages, and, as soon as he 6228 Jim Stanbury (1868-1945) 5’11½” 182 cm 172 lb. 78 kg, from Sydney, New South Wales. “Contemporaries described Stanbury’s rowing as rough, with most of the drive coming from his arms. Bill Beach claimed he had never seen so much power gained from such bad rowing.” – adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs. He would go on to be World Champion 1891-96. Stanbury on July 13 [1888] Searle won and broke all previous records over the Parramatta champion course, the time being 19min. 53¼sec. He then challenged Hanlan, but the latter would not accept, and he then met Peter Kemp for the championship of the world on October 27, 1888, winning easily in 22min. 44½sec.”6230 The Grafton Rowing Club History: “In October 1888, after only five professional races in outriggers,6231 Searle defeated Peter Kemp at Parramatta for the World Championship and a purse of £1,000.”6232 Searle: “A great day that was for me, for, after a pretty good race for a mile, I went ahead, and when the post was passed I was left in the proud position of champion, and the dreams of my early boyhood had come true.”6233 Searle biographer Scott Bennett: “The fact that they were probably the two best scullers in the world at the time added much 6229 Kevyn Webb, qtd. by Cleaver, p. 43 6230 The Death of Searle, The Times of London, December 11, 1889 6231 and a couple of accusations of double dealing. This was professional sculling, after all. 6232 www.graftonrowing.asn.au 6233 Qtd. by Palmer, p. 641 1734
