ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1091, 1 April 1911, Page 12

ROWING.

(By JlEitcußT.V THE HUNDRED-AND ARNST, Tho True Hundred Handicaps. The Parramatta Hundred is now over, and the result was shown that (as was freely stated at the time) the handicap limit was far too big. Tho allotments in the finals, as given .us by tho cable on .Monday morning, are strangely at variance with the figures in the Sydney papers. Thus we were told that the handicap of the winner, \Y. Ripley, was 65 soconda, whereas, according to the Sydney iiles, it was S3 seconds, and so on through tho list. The correct list of starters, and their times, according to tho "Daily .Telegraph," runs: W.-.Ripley, (S3sec), Theo. Towns (48sec), Geo. Day (lSsec.),, Norman Towns U-fsec), W. "West (78sec), S. M'J.enn (755e0.),.P..5. Hagney (18sec), V. Simpson (70sec), W. Paddon (45sec), W. Fog.wcll (18scc), 1\ Matterson (dOsec), and C. Matterson (7oscc). These men aro each named as they came in their heats, one, two, and three respectively. This is twelve starters, as against nine advised in tho cable, Day, Hagney, and C. Matterson having been omitted therefrom, The Winner arid Two Others. Ripley's display was n, good one, and his victory the, easiest thing possible. He was not extended, and so did not have to disclose his true form, but there is no doubt that he caught the handicappers napping. A largo section of tho public were "on to" tho good thing, and report says that the bookmakers present were heavily hit over his heat win. Of' Hagney's heat showing, the "Daily Telegraph" critic waxes quite enthusiastic. Ho writes: "Tho feature of tho afternoon was Hagney's display in tho third heat. He started from 18sec, and was among the bunch almost before the mile was reached. His work, too, was splendid to, see. With long, powerful strokes, and beautiful blade work, he shot through the crowd, and soon had the lot at his mercy. He was never seen to bettor advantage than in that heat. His catch, drive, and finish weie faultless, and the easy rhythmical movement and clean work were good to see. i'ogwell, too, comes in for a word of commendation, as under:—The last heat was responsible for some excitement also, i'ogwell, from scratch (18scc), repeated Hagney's performance, by racing through .to first place, but ho did not have such an easy time as the latter. He had to race all the way, notwithstanding which he seemed strong enough when he had finished. Ho took longer to get to tho front than Hagney, and his short tusslo with C. Matterson to got there was firstrate. I'ogwell was much the stronger sculler, and Matterson was rowed out. So, Arnst Was 111 I Of Dick Arnst's disappointing display tho "Telegraph" says: Of course, one cannot expect Arnst to do all that is asked of him any more than any other human being, but, nevertheless, many hopes were entertained that he would bo able to repeat his accomplishment of 12 months ago. Such hopes, however, were dashed to tho ground long boforo tho caurso was anything like covered. The champion got up fairly well at tho start, but while there was still a big gap between himself and the bunch ho went right off, and never afterwards made any pretence of being able to get a place. That there was something radically wrong was emphasised by the fact that 'Messenger, who was late on the mark, got away just before Arnst, and was rowing level with him at IJhr's Point. From then out Messenger kept pace with Arnst all the way, and towards Gaharita ho spurted and raced away from the champion. This was enough for Arnst, and he gave up there and then, and returned to his shed before the rnco had finished. It has since transpired that Arnst had been seriously ill for a week or more, and that he could hardly sit in his boat when ho came out to start. Ho lacked clash and laboured very hard to get tho paco he did. With tho exception of Fogwell and Day none ~of tho scratch men in tho heats managed to get a place. Syd. Kemp, who is matched to row Harry Pearce for the championship of Australia, made a poor show, as did Pearce himself. Day, who has already been defeated by Pearce, beat Kemp easily off the mark. Tho pri/.cs for tho event were: First, .ElfO: second, .£SO; third, .£10; and fourth. £o; while a gold medal has been presented by "Trident," and a pair of racing sculls by Mr. George Towns. The placed men were: W. Rinley (83sec), 1; N. Towns (discc), 2; F. ■S. Hagney (18sec), 3. A Confidant Young Person. An Australian file has tho following:— P. .Shepherd, one of tho best amateur cyclists in the State on the road and track, recently took to rowing. His first appearance with his club—tho Enterprise —was in a maiden "fours," and his crew 'won. Tho same afternoon he was a member of the crew which won the maiden "eight." At his next appearance in tho Senior Eights, at St. Ignatius's College, Shepherd was too strong in the arms and br6ko an oar—the first occasion upon which u member of Ihe Enterprise shed has achieved such an honour—and his crew, as a result, finished "absolute." There aro no more rowing events for some time, and Shepherd is back again on his bicycle, and will bo a racing cyclist again at the amateur carnival ou Monday, night,,

Asked how he liked rowing, Shepherd replied that it is "child's play." He is obtaining a 'rigger of his own next week, and will then go in for sculling in earnest. "Dick Arnst was talking nonsense when he staled that sculling was severe on a man," said Shepherd yesterday, and he added, "he must have wanted to keep cyclists out of the sculling game. You can lake it from me it is child's play, as I said before. Cycling is much harder on a man." Methinks Master Shepherd is talking too soon. He has not. gone, far along the road towards big sculling if his experience is confined to maiden rowing. As to his feat of breaking his oar on account of tho great strength of his armswell . Now that the rowing season is over the Star Club members are diverting their energy into other channels. One outlet is to lie given them per medium of a boxing tournament on May 2 and 3. Entries are now being invited for three, classes—light, middle, and heavy-weights.