In the very early days of development along the river, rowing was incorporated into sport days or carnivals. Amongst running races and horse jumping, river rowing was just one of the events. The popularity of competitive sculling on the Northern Rivers began on the Clarence River at Grafton. They had well-attended regattas for many years before it reached the Richmond. Around the mid-1880s, the Benaud brothers who had been competing at Grafton, came to live on the Richmond and enthusiastically promoted the initial introduction of organised races alongside Captain John Storey and the McKinnons.
Courtesy of Trove Richmond River Herald 30 August 1889
REGATTA MEETING. — A public meeting is called at the Club Hotel for to-morrow night to consider the proposal to hold a public regatta at Coraki. The Prince of Wales’ birthday — coming on Saturday — would be a suitable day, and as there are now a considerable number of young men giving their attention to rowing, a regatta would give them a chance of trying their ability with each other. The meeting will take place at 8 o’clock, when we hope there will be a good attendance.
To attract good attendance from surrounding towns, the prize-money needed to be enough to attract decent rowers from Grafton and beyond, thus encouraging a competitive atmosphere. With the propensity to “bet on anything that breathes”, the bookmakers were always active and the side-hustle of taking a cut from the steamer passenger fares increased the popularity of amateur handicap sculling regattas at all ports. By the 1900s there were annual regattas at Ballina, Broadwater, Woodburn, Swan Bay, Coraki and Lismore.
There were no consistent rules in the early days – the courses were different lengths and the (mostly handmade) boats were different weights. Each town established a Rowing Club to formalise regulations and select umpires and control handicaps.
Professional scullers began to compete at the Northern Rivers regattas around the turn of the century. These men were backed by wealthy betting syndicates and “champion” titles were attached to the winners. A person wanting to become a Champion would issue a formal challenge to the existing Champion and nominate the “purse” – usually not less than £100. These contests drew large crowds with local businesses and hotels doing a roaring trade.
It was in this way that James Paddon from Evans Head shot to meteoric heights. Standing 6ft 4in and 26 years of age, he competed in a few handicap races alongside his brother William, and then, just two years later in 1913, challenged the current Australian Champion at Parramatta. He won the race and tried for the World Champion title in London in 1914. He was not successful and did not row again for the duration of WWI but held the Australian Champion title for 13 years. In 1922 he challenged again for the World title and this time was successful. He retired in 1925 but went on to train a number of scullers who have won championship honours, including “Snowy” Burns and his son, Evans.
After the Second World War, professional sculling as a sport waned and the last “challenge” issued was in 1954. Amateur regattas continued on the Richmond River but were mostly combined with other water sports like water skiing, sailing and speed-boat racing. Schools continued to include it in their sports programmes but it never enjoyed the same popularity as it did in the early years.
EVANS PADDON IS NEW CHAMPION
Courtesy of Trove Northern Star 21 June 1937
TITLE CHANGES HANDS AFTER ELEVEN YEARS
EVANS PADDON, the 23-years-old son of the ex-world’s champion (James Paddon), is Australia’s new professional sculling champion. He wrested the title from Alf. (“Snowy”) Burns on Saturday afternoon in one of the most exciting championship matches decided on the now historic Woodburn course.
Paddon appeared to have the measure of his opponent from the start and was rowing strongly when he passed the winning post a length ahead of Burns. The time was officially announced as 20 minutes 18 seconds.
The race was a triumph for youth and marked the close of a brilliant sculling career. Burns, who is now 33 years of age, announced this retirement. He was Australian champion for 11 years, and he said he would not challenge again for his lost title.
Woodburn was crowded with visitors from an early hour and the attendance was estimated at between 7000 and 8500 when the scullers took the water.
THE WEIGHTS
Burns maintained his odds-on favouritism to the start of the race. He took the water at 11 stone 4 lbs. The challenger rowed at 12 stone 12 lbs., but his reach of 5 feet 2′, inches was only a quarter of an inch greater than that of the title holder.
The weather conditions, although unfavourable during the morning improved later. There was scarcely a ripple on the three miles course when the men pulled down to the starting point. Paddon took up a position on the northern bank.
A mutual start had been arranged, but the pair did not get away before three breaks.
Paddon shot to the front with long sweeping strokes, and over the first 100 yards was striking the water at 40 to the minute. Burns was timed at 36. Paddon had a lead of one length in the first 100 yards, and at the end of half a mile was two lengths in the lead.
The challenger took Burns’s water nearing the three-quarter mile point, but rowed out of it again. The pace had been slackened at that point and both men were going along at 28. Burns had slightly reduced Paddon’s lead nearing the mile, which was covered in five minutes 32 seconds.
RACE HALF OVER
With half the journey completed Paddon led by a length and a half, the time being 9 minutes 47 seconds. There was no alteration in the positions during the next quarter of a mile, and both men were steady at 26 to the minute.
They were off the best course nearing the two mile post and Burns was valiantly struggling through the challenger’s wash.
Paddon pulled away again at the two mile, which was reached in 12 minutes 30 seconds and was leading by two and a half lengths.
Due to his position, Burns had a difficult task at this point, whereas Paddon was rowing cleanly and confidently. He was getting plenty of power into his strokes and was definitely making better progress than Burns.
GRIP TIGHTENED
Paddon turned the corner into the home stretch about two and a half lengths ahead of Burns and it was obvious that nothing short of a superhuman effort could loosen the challenger’s grip on the title. Paddon increased his stroking for a short distance and led by three lengths.
The race up the home straight was exciting. The scullers hung closely to the southern bank of the river while the thousands lining the banks on both sides of the stream were roaring their encouragement.
About 300 yards from the winning post Bums issued a determined challenge. Paddon responded, but It was obvious that Burns was still the fresher and he was gaining. Paddon, however had an undisputed lead and rowed over the line a comfortable winner.
The judge said the distance separating the two men was a length. The last mile was covered in 7 mins. 48 secs.
CROWDS APPRECIATION
The crowd in the street acclaimed the scullers after the event and Paddon was carried shoulder high. Both men broadcast their appreciation for the reception.
Burns and his veteran trainer, Eddie Larsen, were still smiling when seen after the race. Larsen said that neither he nor Burns had any excuses to make. Paddon had proved the better man on the day and deserved his win.
Larsen said that Burns was in excellent condition and that was proved by the manner in which he had rowed. Had either man been out of condition the race would not have been completed in such a satisfactory time and the finish would not have been so close. It was not often that a three mile race was rowed with only a length separating the men at the finish.
Larsen said he had followed the race carefully but did not see anything happen for which provision was not made in the rules of racing. Burns had rowed in Paddon’s wash throughout the journey but exception could not be taken to that. Paddon had rowed a well judged race and was slightly the better man on the day.
LOSER’S PRAISE
Burns also paid a tribute to Paddon. He said he was a brilliant sculler and had rowed exceptionally well. The former champion said he was well satisfied with the decision. He would not challenge again for the title and hoped the new champion would go a long way in the game. There was still room for improvement in him. He was only a young man and had plenty of ability which could be developed if handled in the correct way.
Paddon said he was pleased he had won, but it had been a hard struggle throughout. Burns was a splendid opponent and had kept him moving all the time.
James Paddon, the ex-world’s champion, who supervised his son’s training said he was delighted with the result. It had been a remarkable race and closely fought throughout. He had not made any plans for his son’s immediate sculling future.
