OUR SCULLING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 544, 26 June 1909, Page 13

OUR SCULLING.

VIEWS OF MR. Hi COOMBEB,, OF SYDNEY. PROPOSED INTERCOLONIAL EVENT. Among the passengers for Sydnoy by the Ulimaroa yostorday was Mr. R. Coombos, oditor of the Sydney "Referee," and president of file - Australasian Amateur Athletic Association. Mr. Coombos came over to witness the contest between Arnst and.Webb, "What impressed me'most about tho race," i remarked Mr.'Coombes/to a Dominion re. porter, "was tho excellent spirit that marked it. , It was grand to see two opponents on such lino terms. There was an cntiro absence of the bitter rivalry which somotimes characterises important contests. Both 'Arnst and Webb displayed tho truo spirit. Of tho race itself, I havo littlo to add to what has already been said —both men did their .best. Ono thing which struck mo, howover, was tho cscollence of tho race arrangements. I have never seen anything to 'equal them anywhere in the world. From my point of view, they wero perfect. Every dotail aseomod to have been very carefully thought-out, and equally woll carried into effect. Regarding tho river itself, well—all I-can say is that it was ono of tho best I havo,ever been on." ' '

Tho informal conference at Wanganui, hold with a view to sustaining interest in the sport, was thou mentioned. ,Mr. Coombos re- , marked that it was practicallydecided to attempt to■ put on a fairly big sculling handicap at Wanganui somotimo at Christmas or New Year. Tho idea was, he-said, to get tho eight best scullers in Australia and Now Zealand to try conclusions. It was hardly likely that New Zealand would have four representatives, . as there wore only three prominent oarsmen in the. professional ranks in. iho Dominion. The Dominion would, therefore, be represented by R. Arnst, W. Webb, and W. Wholoh— tho champion of tho world, tho ox-champion, and a prominent scullor., The Australian representatives would probably be H. Pearce, the champion, B. Tnoroughgood, ex-cham-pion, J. Mitchell, George Day, and W. Fog-' well. It was, he continued, proposed to hold the first round—four 'heats of two men each -ou the first day, and a. final., or second round and final, on the second day. During furthor conversation, Mr. Coombos remarked that tho details would bo arranped by a committee of supporters of Webb at Wa- ' nganui. Thoy' would then bo submitted for approval to supporters of Arnst in Cantorbury. 'It was decided that n<? entry fee would be charged in connection with the proposed contest. _ The prizes would bo' as follow:— I'rrst prize, £60; second prize, £25; with £25 ■each for the other two men who get into the second round or'final. Ho understood that ft committee at Wanganui would extend tho , invitation to the Australian scullers. If that' worn so ho took it that tho committee intended'to'defray their expenses. 'When ho returned to Sydney he would interviow tho Australian oarsmen with regard to tho proP 03 ? 1 - f f of them wero willing to ,underta«o the-trip, it was'almost certain that tho handicap would come off. There was a supplementary schome'to put on another handicap with a view to unoarthing other first olass oarsmen. The course for the bic handicap would bo two miles. '

MATCH BETWEEN ARNST AND BARRY. AN ENDEAVOUR TO ARRANGE ONE. One of Arnst's principal supporters. Mr J. H. Parker, of Christchurch, was a passongor for Sydney by tho Uhmaroa yesterday In conversation with a Dominion reporter, ho stated that it was probable that bo would go on to England, where ho would endeavour to arrange a match between Arnst and Barry, tho champion of, England.. It was too late, he said, for Arnst to row Barry m England before tho next summer there' With too object of inducing Barry to row in New icnland, he had been offered moro expenses than Ariist was offered to go ,Homc. The general feoliflg was'that % contest, should take place m New Zcal fl nd,i hui it, pas. rooopmed>it 'jj'iSfly iyould not make, tho ii ip 'n i ' mhe . a E roat advertisement for the Dominion if Arnst rowed in England it f a "7, stall refused to como ■to Now Zca,fand, Arnst would most cortamly visit Eneland In that event' care would be taken to EJjJ'if i lO a /v" V6(I Bt Home a period bofore. the contest, so that he might bcoomo accustomed to the altered conditions Subsequently Mr. Parker said that it was believed that Arnst would do even bettor m the future than ho had done in his recent match against Webb It „«, quite true-and he did not uish to detract from tho fino norformance put up by Wohb-that Am"? l as not at his best physically. For some titno before the contest ha had been troubled ohallongo to Arnst It »„ untrue that Dnrnan had sent a challenge The fact *as that a friend of Duman'shad written that he rf^ST? 1 V i Uarantco Durnan '» Portion rJi? v'fT racß W6r « in communication on the ■ntbiMtrhad-boenvreceived; It;™ father 7 ' ,J Arnst is ;too.gentle for.T>oxing,» 'be' addel' ; ! .that- it: ■J^fi&iM er^ho » n eg e3te dto/Arn3t'that' •ho: ought to go,- in: for sculling. • About six years: ago Mmtm.m 'one % E?U p - a t : ??-^:P?rf?™ ? nco in/theTimnru' ,As, inclement on:the -occasion practically'.unrideSirHnn'?Tj h ° ? asjl !?P, r <*W with the con-. Ito have .been capable of.such a fino feat.'Not ; the present sculling champion: Sydney. Thousand in' splendid: tipic.: ? . When. Mr. 1 ' Parker 'first saw : SF;-M-VW^ rapresaeilywith . His "magnificent^ physique' andl.especially'with his long, strone*"ns. vArnst surprised, when VMr ; .Parker: suggested that -ho : would ,havo no' •W? a %:WoaptWPg\tbe'scnlling champion-: ship if; he.worO • properly trained.'; Not lone : afterwardsa: small committee,: including UpParker, Dr.Thacker; and others, was,set uii' to go ..into, the ..matter;,. .'Arnst' was sent to ; Sydney to'bo .trained; and- all know what has' since happened.;.: v■.i.. ; , : : ;,Hi'■. ■.-.■'■ .■■•,-;•■