Major Goodsell
| Major L Goodsell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 July 1900 Hunters Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 31 March 1988 (aged 87) San Diego, California, United States |
| Nationality | Australian, later American |
| Title | World Champion sculler, Professional |
| Term | 1925–1927 |
| Predecessor | Jim Paddon |
| Successor | Bert Barry |
Major L. Goodsell (1 July 1900 – 31 March 1988) was an Australian who five times won the professional World Sculling Championship. ("Major" was his given name, and not a military rank.)
He was born at Hunters Hill in New South Wales. His parents were Charles James Goodsell, born 1874 Sydney, and Ada née Lang. In 1917 he married Ruby Myers in Sydney and they had at least one son.
Goodsell’s first attempt at winning the Single Sculls World Championship was on 20 September 1924. Goodsell was an up-an-coming sculler and had won the New South Wales amateur championship before turning professional. He challenged the World Title holder, Jim Paddon, for a match with a stake of £200 a side. The race was held on the Richmond River, North Coast district, NSW, Australia. Goodsell was known to be fast over the first mile or two and a good race was expected. He was trying to break the Champion by a fast pace but evidently tried too hard as he capsized after just a quarter of a mile. Although he got back into the boat and continued, the race was effectively over and the Champion just paddled home to win.
Jim Paddon was next challenged by another Australian, William (Bill) McDevitt, but Paddon had retired and declined to race, so McDevitt became the Holder by forfeiture. Goodsell challenged McDevitt and the race was run on the Clarance River near Ullmarra on 21 March 1925. The stake was £250 a side. Goodsell won easily by fifteen lengths although the time was a slow 22m.20s.
Very shortly afterward, Goodsell was challenged by a New Zealand sculler named Pat Hannan. The race was run on 27 June 1925 on the Parramatta River, Sydney. Goodsell led all the way and easily beat the challenger. He was never fully extended and won by about three lengths. The time was 21m.31s. A crowd estimated at a quarter of a million was quoted to have seen the race.
Jim Paddon came out of retirement and challenged Goodsell for the Title. The match was agreed to be run on the Parramatta on 7 November 1925. Paddon at age thirty-nine was nearing the end of his career and failed to make any sort of "come-back" and the Champion won easily in a time of 22m.50s.
The next challenger was Tom Saul, also of Australia. The race was again on the Parramatta this time on 3 May 1926 and the stake was £500 a side. The day was fine but the wind made the water choppy. Bill Beach was the umpire. Goodsell won the toss and took the favoured southern side of the course which was about three and a quarter miles long. After the start Saul soon took the lead by a length. Passing Mortlake he tired and Goodsell went to the front and established a two length lead which by the finish was increased to seven lengths. The Champion had won easily in a time of 23m.11s.
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