ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1204, 12 August 1911, Page 12

ROWING.

(By "Mehcukv.")

FOGWELL ON "FATHER" THAMES.

How Strainely it All Works Out, Now that tho Arnst-Penrco contest has been relegated to (ho limbo of tho past, the eyes of the aquatic fraternity will be directed from the Parramatta to tho faraway Thames, upon which "Billy" logwell is to make his onslaught on the English championship next month. Apart from its importance as a championship fixture and lrom its international aspect—both bi# factors in making tho event loom large ;u the public eye—tho race will have an immense, boating on tho aquatic situation. If Barry wins, it may mean that his nyich-talkod-uf meeting with Arnst on "old Father Thames" will come to pass, and if it should—but there is if) need to dwell upon the interest THAT contest would create wherever Britishers do congregate.

If Barry loses to Fogwell, then it is a. long farewell from Barry to all his greatness. Ho would bo "down and, out." But if Fogwell wins—what then? Echo answers "What?" Would it mean a championship rqfo between the grim and determined "Dick" and tho sunny, happy-go-lucky "Smilling Billy"? One hardly thinks so. Tho position is that New Zealand and Australia would like very much to seo Fogwell beat Barry, and also would like very much to see Arnst meet Barry on tho Thames, but the trouble is that this tbublo is such a bad bet—in fact, it is n.ot on tho card.

The articles for tho raco have been signed while the Australian is upon the water, and he will have about a month for his preparation on tho Thames. This is not much, but it was his intention to Kit in as much work as possible on the boat, and in any case ho is a man who strikes form very quickly. His chief difficulty will be in getting to know tho intricacies of Hie river . course. It is a particularly "tristy" one, with all manner of eccentricities in currents and shoals, and herein lies Barry's big advantage. Then again comes tho question of staying power. Fogwell has paw in plenty, ho is a fast, lively sculler, but. can ho stay a long gruelling race? It is a longer one than tho Parramatta course, for the usual English championship distance is 41 miles. He has yet to prove that he can, while Barry has already proved his ability in this department. In fact it is in tin's respect that his biggest powers lio. He is notoriously a slow starter, but a great finisher. An Arnst Foible Hit Off Prettily. The detailed reports of tho late championship raco .throw no new light, on the happenings of the day. All tho papers give Poarco every credit for his game struggle, and most of them indicate that, despite the gaps which the champion opened up between the two boats in the last mile and a half, he was pushed right out all the way. "Mercury" begged to differ with this view in last week's notes, for reasons then put forward, and finds corroboration of his opinion in the "Bulletin" account, which ends thus:—

After tho race Arnst indulged in his usual rodomontade about "tho hardest race of his life," Pcarco being much better than lie thought, ho (Arnst) bang fit only for bed, and all the rest of it. As a matter of fact, the big Maorilandor was never really extended after the first mile. Ho only came out of his shell once, and that was when ho took the lead. As a cool-headed customer, Richard Arnst takes a lot of beating. His eulogy of his opponents is due to genuine good nature, no doubt; but it is excellent policy all the same. Summed up, it amounts to this: "This man is a marvel. It is simply wonderful how ho scoots along. The way that he rowed satisfies me ho is one of the greatest scullers the world has ever known. His skill is perfection, his strength is gigantic, his pluck beyond human understanding. I had to row myself blue, to beat him. He is a wonder!" And so, by praising his opponent to ,;.the skies, he, gilds his own glory; for no matter liow great a man the vanquished may be, the vanquisher, which is Arnst, must he greater! But, in the Grand Chorus of Eulogy,this: In tho grand chorus of eulogy on Arnst's performance (given vent to by the critics who saw the race) is ono nolo that doss not chime with the rest. And, because of its source, this note (although not discordant) is disturbing, and is- well worthy of attention. It comes from wise old Harry Floyd, Arnst's guide, philosopher and friend, than whom no ono knows the champion better, either as a sculler or as a man. Said tho veteran :~ "Xow that it is all over, I can tell yon I was never more anxious over any race, and consfriuently I was never more pleased. But Dick is not half the man he was two years ago. He was not rowing well till after Tennyson. Then ho commenced to show his old form." "Tennyson" is at the two-milo post, and one cannot help wwidoring why Arnst failed to please his mentor until this stage was reached, and. moro than anything, why it should bo that ho is not the man he was two years ago. It is not that he is gettine past his work in years —he is mot 28 until next December. Is it that his run of successses has made him careless, or is it that his practice of going right out of training in between, his contests, with the result tint each time he races he has to take off that 2st. of superfluous flesh, is beginning to tell its usual story? One cannot help fearin.g that this latter solution is the correct one, and one wonders how far the deterioration in form will eo. Ono thing is sure, and that is that, once it sets in, it will go fast, and then some day perhap= Arnst will be beaten—not becaus? he meet-) a better man, but bccruis? he himself will not ho the man he should bp. For which reason his friends .would like to see him take to cvcling 'again, ns he is considering doiii? if onlv to k??D his unruly "too, too solid flesh" iu order.