CHAMPION SCULLER ARNST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 898, 18 August 1910, Page 5

CHAMPION SCULLER ARNST.

HIS FINE ATHLETIC CAREER, ' Tall and broad, champion sculler Richard Arnst is noted for.his splendid physique. In the matter of weight he is about 13st. 71b.—or over two stone heavier than Barry. His athletic achievements are so well-known that only a brief account of them need be given. Bom at Tai Tapu, twelvo miles out of Ckristchurch, on November 25, 1888,' ho was brought up on a farm. He took to sport at an early age, and made his first public appearance on .the racing track as a cyclist in 1901, when only eighteen years of age, securing two firsts and one second. Later in the same year he competed in the Timaru to Christchurch road race, finishing fourth. For so young a rider he displayed magnificent pace, slaying power, and judgment., In 1902 Arnst gained third place in this •important cycling event. Then he visited Australia, and competed in the Warrnambool to Melbourne road rate, in which he put up tho second fastest lime, the event being won by his brother Jack in reccrd time. In 1903 he won the New Zealand Wheel Race. When he went to Australia three years later ho appropriated the Sydney Thousand. Altogether Arnst's cycling record stands thus:—Sixty-one firsts, seventy-two seconds, ?nd numerous, thirds. At the-ad-vire of his friends, Arnst in 190G decided to take up rowing. He entered upon his ' task with enthusiasm, and everybody knows the result:

Arnsl's Meteoric Sculling Career. As an oarsman. Amst has been even more successful than he was as a cyclist which is saying a great deal; Within six months front the date when he first sot foot, in a rowing, boat, Arnst, who was then in the charge of Clias. Towns, the well-known Australian trainer, competed at the , Anniversary Regatta in Sydney, rowing second ,to S. l'earce. He would undoubtedly have won on that occasion but for the choppy ' water. A month later he won his first boat race, scoring it in the Rush Handicap on the Purramntta, off thirty-one seconds. As he result of the fine form which ho showed subsequently at Maclean, Arnst ivns pulled right back to scratch in sub«*o,uont events. . It-was not long beforo

he eclipsed C. Towns in a race at Woodbum. Arhst now.. (1908) challenged U'ebb, tlie Wanganui oarsman, who had defeated Tresiddor in a match for the championship of the world. In the meantime he returned to Australia, whore he beat Harry Pcarce over the l'arramatta course .for the championship of Australia. In his match against Webb at Wanganui in December, 1908, Arnst won as lie liked by about eight lengths. At the mile—completed in Sinin. 43sec.~ Arnst was over two lengths ahead of Webb. Half a mile further on he had increased his lead to four lengths, by. which time ho had settled down into a' long, .steady, swinging stroke. Just about the two-miles mark Webb made his great effort, but he could not reduce the. margin, which had now increased to fivo lengths. During the remainder of the journey Arnst still further increased his lead, and more than justified his claim to the title, "champion sculler of the world." For excellent training during the past couple of years ho has been indebted to Harry Floyd, tho well-known Australian expert. Retains His Title Against Webb and Whelch. This is the third occasion on which Arnst, has been challenged to defend his title. >In June, 1909, Webb again sought, . tho coveted distinction. This match, which also took placo on the Wanganui River, only confirmed the belief that New Zealand had produced a sculler who would take a lot of boating. After a magnificent contest, Arnst beat Webb by five lengths in . lfiruin. loscc, thus putting up the world's record for the distance. Ho was assisted, however, by a current in the river and a favourable breeze. For tho first quarter of a milo the scullers kept abreast, but at the half-mile Webb was half a length ahea<l. Arnst then, settled down to work in grim earnest, and by the time the mile post was reached was a length ahead, in the splendid time of smin. 51sec. The second mile was marked by a gradual widening of tho gap between the two boats. With a mile and a half covered, Webb was fully two. and a half lengths behind, and Arnst was going strong as y ever. A mile from the postj when Arrisb was four lengths ahead,' Webb put up a splendid effort. This, however, only tended to stimulate Arnst to greater endeavour, and he won as before stated by five lengths in record time. Then again in April, 1910, Arnst was called upon to defend his title against Geo. Whelch, the well-known Akaroa oarsman, at Akaroa. Starting off with a tremendous spurt, Whelch got a temporary lead, but Arnst passed him when a quarter of a mile had been traversed. From, that stage of the event Arnst had the race in hand, and the contest may bo baid to have been settled after the first distanco was .. traversed. The jobble severely; hampered Whelch, who was indulging in short strokes. ' Bowing pluckily,. Whelch towards the end put in several good spurts, but Arnst had plenty in reserve, and won with several lengths to spare. Before journeying to South Africa for his match with Barry, Arnst- also took part in the Parramatta Handicap, but although ha performed magnificently he was unsuccesstul, owing to being too severely-handicapped.