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Image Not Available for Official programme for the Sculling Championship of the World, 1906
Official programme for the Sculling Championship of the World, 1906
Image Not Available for Official programme for the Sculling Championship of the World, 1906

Official programme for the Sculling Championship of the World, 1906

Date1906
Object numberANMS0270[009]
NameProgram
DimensionsDisplay Dimensions: 253 x 102 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from John Cowie
DescriptionThe official programme for the Sculling Championship of the World, 28 July 1906. The Cover has an oval photographic print of William Beach in his scull and advertisements for the Veteran's Parade, Ladies' Double Sculling Championship of New South Wales, famous ex-champion scullers of the world handicap and ladies' double sculls. Inside the programme are printed page-long articles on famous/champion scullers, including James Stanbury, George Towns, Peter Kemp, Richard Green, etc. The programme also contains information on the history of sculling races, events listing, championship record, and other photographs.HistoryThe Sculling Championship of the World had orginated as the The Championship of the Thames in 1831. It remained a British institution until 1863 when an Australian, Richard Green, entered. From then on, various other countries sent representatives and although Australia dominated the international scene for many years, it was still seen as the Sculling Championship of the World. "Professional sculling was the biggest sport in Australia for most of the 60 years prior to World War I, particularly up to about 1907. Due to the need for water transport and hence professional watermen, the sport was centred in Sydney and the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. Rowing in general was also of great interest as it was reported that the Victorian Football League always made sure that football matches were not played on the same days as regattas because the regattas would always draw the crowds. Professional sculling drew huge crowds which would stop whole cities. The race between Edward Harlan (CAN) and Bill Beach (AUS) in 1884 drew crowds of over 100,000. This equated to half of the Sydney population at that time. It is reported that special trains were put on to get the crowds to the event from as far away as Goulburn and Bathurst."SignificanceIn a world before television, live sporting events attracted huge crowds. Sculling was one of these events and Australia produced a number of world champions who captured the imagination and support of the whole country.