ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 5

ROWING.

OLD RIVALS AND NEW PHASES. (By "Mercukt.") October 9—Albany v. J. Arnst (Thames). Opening of Our Season, Tlie local rowing season is to bo declared "open" to-day, with tho customary pomp and circumstance. A programme of inter-club races is to ho rowed off as the circumstantial part of the ali'air, whilo afternoon tea at the boatliouscs, following the formal jlocljiratioji, will constitute .tho "pomp aiid ceremony." . .

They Wish to Drag Arnst Out. In a recent Sydney "Daily Telegraph" "liigger" discourses interestingly on tm event of importance that may eventuato shortly, lie says: With tho Jiarry-Fogwell race over, tho attention of the sculling community of Australia will now revert to tho question of tho possibility ol' a further match between Arnst and Harry for the championship of 'ho world. Harry's performances on the Thames, as compared with his showing against Arnst on tho Zanibssi, naturally lead one to ask himself tho question, "Is Harry better on the Thames course than he is elsewhere Obviously ho is. All tho races lie has rowed, both oil tho Thames and on other courses, point to this fact, while the London critics who probably know what they arc talking about also say the sanio thing. And is it to be wondered at? Ho commenced rowing on that course when 1 quite a lad, and has kept cn sculling over it till ho became champion of England, lie must know every detail and peculiarity of the course that there is to bo known. He must know just where to keep in or out fioni tho shore as the'case may be; ho must know where to husband his strength, and where to lot himself all out; and ho must know where the, most critical portion of tho whole stretch is to ha encountered. It could not be otherwise.

Let us recall Barry's race with Gcorgo Towns on the Thames Kivcr. In that event he established a new record in time for the course, yet did he emulate or even make a pretence of emulating that performance when ho met Arnst on the Zambesi? l'ar from it; he never gave Arnst any trouble, according to all accounts, and it must also be remembered that there was no record in time put up then. Rowing on the Thames course against Towns he passed the Australian at a point where tli.; latter had always won his races previously, that is, at tho two miles or thereabouts. Besides this his record was not a racowi below the previous time, but seven or eight seconds lower, the walch registering 2!min. 12 2-ssec. . In his race with EogwclHiis time was 22min. 'lsee., notwithstanding that ha is reported lo have just paddled over the last part of the journey, and allowed his opponent to catch up live lengths on him, which reduced his win to three lengths. Considering all these circumstances, it seems beyond doubt that ho is a considerably more formidable'opponent on Father Thames than he is elsewhere.

What Arnst Thinks of It. Apropos of the above, it is beginning to look as tlioupli Barry's local knowledge is not to bo allowed to stand him in such good stead after all, for the simple reason that Arnst lus practically put Ihc possibility of a mutch on the 'lhames out cf court. The following from the pen of a Sydney amiatie authority explains the new turn which events have taken:— "Dick" - Arnst is not prepared to meet Barry at all now under tho eld terms. I saw the champion in town, and asked him what his intentions were so far as Who Englishman was concerned. "Well, it's this wa.v," said Arnst, "I am eugaged'now in nfairly lucrative same, and am making plenty of money; so I don't sec why 1 should throw it all up to go to (he other end of tho world. As the challenges' rest at present I wouUl not watte cable money 'replying to them. I am not even prepared now to take ,£750 expenses, f .shall not go for less than .£IOOO. You see, 1 am the champion now, and thcxe is no reason in the vjorld why 1 should go cartimr Iho title all over the place if it stiiL-j nio better to stay wliere I am. Barry wants the Tace, and I am quite prepared to row him. It is his place to come here, though, and if he does not choose to do so ho must either go without a race or make cood anything I may lose in going over there." "Then, again, I am thinkins seriously of settling in a certain business in Sydney very shortly, and if I do so wild jiorses will not drag me from it to the other end of the earlh. Lot liim pay mo .CIOCO io go, or wmo here and row mo. lie can please himself, If ho comes he.ro lie will be allowed moderate expenses, but lie will not get too much. However, that is my feeling about Barry, and you may rest assured that unless my turms axe complied with tlicro will bj up race."