World Champion
After failing to get a match with the former World Champion Ned Hanlan, Searle challenged the then champion Peter Kemp (rower). On 27 October 1888 the match took place on the Parramatta River. The usual £500 a side was at stake as well as the Title. At the start Searle took the lead and although Kemp made great efforts he could never overtake the leader who won by about twenty lengths in a time of 22m.44s. Thus Searle was World Champion. See also World Sculling Championship (Professional)
Searle, Matterson and other 'cracks', including Bill Beach, next competed in the 'Grand Aquatic Carnival' rowed in Brisbane between 5 and 11 December.
In a heat Searle and Matterson continually and deliberately fouled Beach, for which they were disqualified from the heat but not, to the public's annoyance, from the carnival. Consequently they finished first and third in the final after Beach refused to row.
Read more about this topic: Henry Ernest Searle
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