ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 984, 26 November 1910, Page 12

ROWING.

(By MEncnmr.l

FIXTURES. December 16.—Akaroa Regatta. December 2G — Webb-Pearce- Match (Wanganui). January I.—Picton Ecgatta. February.—Championship Kegatta (Wauganui). Quietly, and Well Done. Now that tho Australian champion sculler, Harry Pearce, is in New Zealand, matters may ba said to be fairly under way with the big match at Wanganui on Boxing Day. Webb is reported to be getting into training in his own quiet, undemonstrative fashion, and with the arrival of his big opponent no doubt he will get right down to solid work. In getting, such a match Pearce ma; well consider himself fortunate. It is

but Ecldora, especially in those . days when nearly every big athletic, contest is presaged by weeks of bickering Mid haggling over purses, expenses, etc., etc., and preceded by columns of newspaper recriminatiou, that a sculler, or indeed any other athkto, can get the sporting fraternity of one country to put up a sum of money to inducts the champion of another part of the world to como and do battle- with their own champion just, for the sake of the contest. For rhat- is what the present case .amounts to. There is no championship issue involved in tho Pcaree-YVebb match. If the Australian loses he still iN»tain9 his title of champion of Australia. . He stands to win .£2OO aud lose nothing, ex,cept a little prestige, and as it is more than.likely he will also pick up his expenses, ho is, to borrow a similo from a sister sport, in on a decidedly good wicket. About the only expense he will be put to will bo tho cost of a new boat, which the chances • aro he wants anyhow. "William" and Pearce. : As to the probabilities of tho race, !t would bo ■ an. adventurous "picker" who would try to select a winner just now. Even collateral form, not a very reliable guide nt tho best of times, is missing, or nearly so. About tho only lino that can bo drawn is through the performfeats were, some time ago, and under greatly different circumstances. Arnst teat Pearce on tho Parramatta before the latter had wrested tho championship from Thoroughgcod, and boat him easily —but this was lieforo Pearce had "arrived." In tho sanvo year Avnst came across and won tho .world's title from ..'lib, also easily: Then, as is known, ho beat the AYanganui man again, but not Eo easily as he beat Pearco by a good-deal. This makes a good casa for, Webb. On the other hand, Pearce is known to havq improved considerably, while it is considered extremely doubtful whether Webb can reproduce Jus form in the second championship race. Moreover, Pearce has a great advantage .inweight and strength, and in his recent work is reported as having surprised competent judges by the correctness of his sculling. All of which looks good for • the Australian. .. Pearce, by tho way, has "Smiliiy" Billy Fogwell, now well and favourably known on this side, throucli his association with Arnst, as pacemaker and traincr-in-ohief, and in Wanpinui has been offered tho use of the Wanganui Club's shed as his baso of operations. The New Role of Jackson, Marlborough. Good reports are to hand. from Maryborough as to Arthur Jackson's work in his new Tolo as sculler. "Mercury" also learns that "Toby" Anderson, stroke of the AVanganui Club's champion doublesculling combination of last season, is training for tho "singles." ' These aro both , big husky men—both beiug well ov-er Cft. in height ami list, in weight, and their presence in the champion&'iip fixture will, add greatly to its interest. Jackson's showing will be especially looked to by boating men, as it is very freely stated . that if he can "mako good" in tho big amateur event ,ho intends going after tho bigger honours oi the professional world.