SCULLING CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 711, 10 January 1910, Page 6

SCULLING CARNIVAL

Webb Ceases Rowing.

■■:'■■■ .ARNST;/ WINS. ; ' : HOT PACE SET BY HAQNEY. '."'.' •'.-,, • -.' ■.'/ WEBB FAILS TO LAST. ; (By Teleeraph —Special Eoporter.)", ;.■:." •'".'. January 9., " Youth,' in tho persons of E. Arnst.,.the champion of the world, and F.S. Hag-, ncy, fthe young"-" Australian, ;'weis pitted against experience and seasoned skill,' as.personified by W. Webb, ex-champion of tho world, in. the final for the Wanganui Sculling Handicap, rowed on Sat-' urday, and youth prevailed.' The day was perfect, a light breeze just raising, a ' • ! ■'•'•.• ~ ' fow •' lumps on the

?faier, and another meeting ' between

Webb and Arnst, with" the additional fact that Hognoy, an unknown quan- ■ tity.-'was ' thrown in, roused a. great deal of interest. .Locally there. was a hopa ':■' that Webb might win through .if . he: .could only . strike his best form. Throo rivergteamors loft town , crowded with spectators, and a fleet of launches also car:ricd 'heavy .freights, . while '.several .'hun::dred' people lined the river .banks .at'; .'the finishing, post,' '' making their, way • thither, by horseback, ' cycle, cab, arid every conceivable, class of. ! vcriicle; Crowds also climbed the heights to see tho raoe, and, on■':; both 6ides ;of ■ the riveri calvacades of - horsemen followV'ed the scuUers.from - start; to finish. ■,■;'• It. almost seemed, as if ,-Wanganui; i surfeited' with- ;champioris, v.had, m ; 6pite of it- ' self, been compelled -'to-.interest.'.itself in ; handicap ■ racing.'. ■ Even;with the larger attendance, how.'ever, the" promoters ; of.the-handicap will : '.. have, .to" meet =;" a ".heavy ; deficit,': 'although! V tho ainount .'which; each indivi:dual guarantor .will be called on for will :'to; smalt ,--v- :'■ •The,, .course ;• for the big finali'was two ' miles, and the - pace : . sot" from ;■' the' i time" Hagney:. ,•• left; '.'the .mark was,' a "crack-. er." - The limit inan ; had' "stated'.-before -the race, that ' ever 'beat; him would ■ know had been ~ soulling, x - ; arid,' ■: al-; ,:.';though; many took: ;this.as;being' -.only: ,inikeepin'g with'.tho" .-'Australian's ■ ■■ ''style,; . it _was:,'proved; to'be. . quite, i co'rrect Hag--v: ney has been'- losing' weight; of: late,' and :■ is' ;-ndw. ".nearly;, vstone under '.'his rowing weight,; but his

sculling: was a -_dis< . —: —. tinot improvement.on.. Ilia preyious.'-perfdrmances,.' though'.- there was f.'.stiU .'.roughness/:' more' particularly: Jwiti.tiie.irightariri:,) Still; the'tall'.sinewy proved; that lie has. grit; and' can stay|.and: fight, a. finish;, and/: even'iwhen: beaten,'.rcpm'e ( .up.;.smiling. ::„-.With 'only Su: : ;pr; soyen .months';:experience' behind him he must beUdmitted'to" 1 have'-done '; '~;'.'" -' 'iq'- ';■.' T - ; Webb', although'': his' supporters : claim' that he is not.in the best of form;'rowed beautifully .for. the"'first 'mile, bub'the .cracking :pace :Hagney,. in: front' and.Arnst astern'was.too;'much for liimj and he. pnUed;,up -for: when' a hMe .over,: a: .quarter ; of-'-a.'nifleVfroni •homo,.after a.special,effort toipass'Hagney, ;l :Many of TVebb's:supporters maintain, that the Australian' was in-.Webb's, .water, and fouled.him,: but 'both? Arnst : and-. Hagney.state .that,' although': Hag--' . ney', hadj,: Webb's >; watery tie Wanganui man was.:.never: within -five', feet of the •Australian. Up,to the tim'elof his temporary break-down,'-Webb: had been doing, capital work.' ■;',, v. .:•'•.'': -. ;•'.-.'

i- Arnst,rowed, a'fine, course tiroughoutr and had,to; wort hardlto.win what-was a"punishing race..:-He had,.to fight out every/, inch of the ;pourse, ; and . showed signs of wear, at the'end; of.his big performance;': .The,, time'.for ,;the: first -milswas. 21J seconds quicker. .;than, the fastest mile done during the' first I ;day's, heats■'■■■ i: -The' , Farewell. Handicap., resulted >. 'in'" a ,win.for Kemp, who! took.the load at on 1 early,stage, and held it'far the 'rest of the/ joirney,- stalling. off, a challenge : from: ; Dick" ■ Green; hear'.the ■ post,', and getting home by ia. length'arid'a quarter.'... !'/. ' ,■'■ The officials-for i the gathering ■ were, ai follow:—Handicapper,'Mr. J.' Blackman; starter, Mr; v T. H.' James;, judge,-Mr. B;> • Day;'.umpire,..Mr.' C.'/A.:BartonjvtimV keepers,'. Messrs.'. J. Gr Bwan and 'A'. E. Nixon;, hpn. \secretary,: Mr. W, - Corby! The result was.'as'.iollbws-r— '-■■•■•

FIRST-CLASS HANDICAP;, first' prize . , ;, second, £&))'. third,"42s. Two ','■ miles. 1 . ;' , : .v, .'• ",..■. . ;.. rAENST; set. [ -'il ■■'. HAGNEY, : 10seo.- ; ; WEBB,|3seo. ' -^ '- '"'"', .-'. i ;.'A;!-Warm;Opening. V:.'':■;•;■' ; ; ,v■'..' , Webb Relayed the start for; about .ten minutes; but, when he • did com© out, the i inside/ position fell" to him,'; with- Arnst in. the centre,, and Hagrioy outside.-' The competitors presented:.three''- strilringlydjfferent types of well-developed " man-' hood as'theysat .their'boats; at the start,? ■Arnst, a'young, 'sun-tanned: Hercules,: dp-; peared as ' calm 'and cool as : though he had;no;nerves; Webb, ■ strong;and' lithe,. but marked by time; and greying, much' about Hagney; a: young, giant, keen and | alert oarsman spare and sinewy.;', ; ., ';' :..■•>.'■».■'■';■■ . ■:■"',•; ■••-.. •■:+

As j»on' as the word was'given Hagney sot off, andmade good-', use': of his.ten'seconds start,'which gave him- a clear sis •lengths, to-the good, while Webb v got a length.aiid a half break on .to Arnst.beforo; the:: scratch- manv'was...'' given;',' the' ■wo™; : Thcn : began a solid two-mile ping.. Webb started, out at 32 .strokes'.' to .'■ the minute, ■' as; against, Arnsfs': SO./: It .was ■plain that: the • pace was a trying one, each of the- men laying overy; pound into his work. 1 Webb at this stage was' going exceptionally: well, his sculling being almost perfect, while Hagney.. was roiling immeasurably .better'.than ho had, done :on: Thursday; .;'•/;.' ■'•.•'''-■'X- ■ Withfhalf. amilo covered,':' Hagney's lead was i about five lengths, ■ and: Webb 'and iArnst,.; both: of; whom were steering i V woro * n m uch the same: position as at.tn6' start At;tho threc-nuartcr-riiilo post, Webb was rowing 27 strokes to the lnmuto,; and Arnst had slowed down to .a steady 26, and later-to 25 as lio began to provo his position, and. tho backniarkers wero mtddng a decided impression :on Hagney's ■'■■ lead,'which had been clipped by- about three, lengths; at tho 'mile post. •At.tho same tuno. Arnst, '.who, was being ;set. a : great pace by Webb; had. managed to- draw up, a little on the ex-champion.' The timo 'fiir tho' mile, was Gmin.- sisoc.,'' and, a littlo: further:'on the journey, Webb, who'was: still going in his best style, ; was . racing almost stroko-for stroke with Arnst, and both wore bearing down - on. Hagney, when .suddenly • Webb spurted, dashed away from, Arnst,-and camp .within: a' canvas. length of Hagney. Tho effort, however, appeared to take the final pound 'out', of -tho ..Wangariur niari, ; who - stopped immediately and dropped' his sculls as ~, tho. leader drew away. •, It seemed at tho.timo- ais-though tho muscles of Webb's legs had failed him in •■-. tho strenuous going, .and ho' lost . three, or *»*itrokes before; he recovered.-. By.

that time, however, Hagney arid,Arnst were lengths ahead. ' Webb continued on .;.- again, "and 'got into, a good siring in-a , stroke or'two, but,-, again;, faded! away ".:{'-, after a while, having'' apparently .lost,aU,,:' .his sting-in that first strenuous mile.',■'.'.>' '';:": ,';'•:: The Finish, 'f ; '•'.'■:"'■. meantime Arnst had set out in not pursuit of Hagney, who was labour- ■'•" ing a little at a milo and -'a." half, and,' ■ he ■ overtook, him. .Hagney,- however,.-, plugged on' in. a determined'way,. and '. i a fine race ensued over the final stretch. - i^JS 8 > w ? s 10 ™g superbly, but'- Hagney still.-, had-a.'good deal left inhim, and"' ' to tho 'champion right .to the ':.:■. math, weak manipulation of his left scull : being the'only'very obvious defect in< his .-'•■ work.. -It' was 'clearly ArnstV race,-but . the; Australian' made a.' fighf ,to the' '- : i Jimsh.; 'When thol'ichampion crossed the " ■ ■> > ' nno a.length and two" feet ahead -of'-.'-'r Hagney; -ho "loob-d as' though, he had ;'-'' been;- sculling/', as!tho Australian:i.had-'-.-'•'', ; predicted' that .tto' .winner':'-'would, have - "<i ■ vi do ,»!?- l,eilt him v Webb was something ' ' ; -.'.•■'■' like' fifteen' lengths away last. ' Arnsfs '-■-. -'' : time was, lSinin. 33sec.-j and the "gross -■ tuuei.was 13min.,:43sec;if- ;-..-/; "'..'-, ■:.;/.:'.,; •'. .;!;;; ■ FAREWELL ;HUNpiCAP';?i; :^:; :' ;/ ■/Ths Faiiwell'Handicap, fora first prize .5-. ; or .£l2, second of. .£B, -and : third^f. .£V ' which, was put. on .foK.tho; competitors, - ' not.engaged ta. t&o final,;drew.the'follow-': ;V : uig'£eld:-Fe ton,' scr.;' "Bob". .'Greqn, ■ . :; 2sec.j )j Mitchell, ■: 2soc. ; , Kemp, •'" ssec.; . -. ■•n ■~;. 8soc; Larcenl 1 9sec: Ta -■■ Eawhiti, 15sec.. ~::-.:,:.'.. . .Thevlimit men took good advantage of '•; .their start, and, when Felton gave chase,": "■' ■ f pelo n ad' bunched towards the left, side of the.river, making it difficult' for : " tho back-markers to get through. : Mif ' chell moved alongconvincingly, with' lone':'-' swinging •strokes,-; but'. Kemp's "stylo :ap- ■■■ ; ' peared even better.-' The. latter-tookup'£ '■■ V -'. running,- and, by'the' time a ■" quarter, of. a_ mile.'had; been' traversed. \ '' ."•' he wae'closcbehind'Te:Eawhiti.-With ttree-q'uarters of a milo thrown • : ■ Kemirwas leading with' the -limit; man. '.-, •:< and-Mitohell next..'Feltori at -this stage' '--' did not appear to be'at home, and, .'be--' .fore long, itwas.'eridimt that.-he was-uri.: ', :der-trained:',;;Larsen 'now. dropped "back, and a little later, with Kemp still -lead--ihg, "Dick" Green and', Felton 'mado' ''■ across for the 'water ;under" the'-. - willows on the right bank" of the course. ■"•' Green, who was moving well, now put in'--' a- special: effort, 'arid '.. dragged '•. Felton: '''■'■ along.with him, but. the latter' was "not' .--■' able to hang onto Greenjand eventually; dropped 'back almost used'-mj'i -•>.- ; A; quarter-of a mile from home, Kemp, who had also worked over to the right side,, still- led -the- field; "but: ,"Dick"' ~' Green was. within arcxrapli';" of ; lengths,-whilst iareen,' who ■ had::im-. '■ . , proved ! his position 'again: on-i.the leftr flank, was bringing Mitchell and "Bob" -: Green, along very clow to the'leaders: Despite a paal challenge from .'IDicW :.'!■. Green,' Kemp held ion to the lead; until, ' the;'end, .and. won' by,- a)length and'• a quarter. .-';; '."...'■.■.; :;,. ;-:;,",1,..- :^,; ;" ;'■■;ln the final: burst: : homß'.GTeerii ?wh'B'•'''.-, finished! seopnd,;. fouled;;the' 6hore,;,and.;-. lost, a stroke, or ; -the,,finish would-have. -' ';; been even closer. 'lareen; who took third :'"'■''..i prize, -was ■; three-quarters of a lengths be- , hind Green. - ; Mitchell was fourth, |"Bob" : " Green'fifth, both being close up, and Pel- i:•ton aiulTeEawMti were last, aboutthiee lengths- away. ' : ' -''"■•■''.'.-. .'■:■';'.","■ ' ;V" :} <:'' ■'■ ,;The time'taken at-the mile was'6min.','■': 15sec-,, and the gross, time for'the.'; jour-, ney, 32sec.,'.while' the' net,time' 13min.'22seo. ''■ '- : .:r-v , '-:- : .-; ; ,rv-i-''"- '■/ ;>■; ; Afte£:the: races had;concluded, i'it'- was,- ■ ,dennitely-.as^itainedith^;tie;'ciause;^)f' ;; .Webb's stoppage: was, a - gensral' , crack-up,' •"-'-. brought i' on,;, probably,■•■!|jy- : ':thi,: special;". - spurt to/ catch Hagney after,.the anile. ; ,': ;Webb\has decided,, that vhe'.wiH do.no:/ .more.;6culling'',for'•',twerve„; months'.- at;'*"' least,., At the "end .of. that,'time,.how-'':';' ever,.'he •will'resume 6culling, if he can" , : 'get back ito his old'; form.; /Hagney, " complairis.'of being. stale, and-is/going: to ''. ■■ have a couple ,of months' holiday....--Mit- '- chell 'will; return, to Sydney 'on Friday, '-' arid Kemp, the .two Greens, ,imd ; Felton, ,' - ..will-visit Botoma./.and,leave:-New; : Zea-''.'•?■■ :.'■ land on; Friday week;;:; The {sattling-up'-..' .. forthe'.race will take I place, on Monday ';;•'"'.. •■■' night.--. ■-:'-■-'.■.".-.--;-■ ;.•■'■'• .-'..';,, ••: