ROWING

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 12

ROWING

(Br "Mkucukt.")

THE TACTICS OF THE TOP MEN. In Session—W.ll.C. Club Fours. To-day—S.B.C. Senior Fours, R.H.C. Junior Foure, 5.J1.0. Novice Pairs. Arnst Would Allow £500. Tho position with regard to tho ArnstISarry return match is much as it was before, as far as results go. Tho only cbnngo now is that it is Barry who is declining making tho voyago instead of Arnst. The change was brought about by the dispatch of a cablegram by Arnst to tho English champion, worded:—"Allow you .WOO row mo J'nrnunalta at Faster. Jtoscrvc nil gate money and picture rights." To this Barry replied that ho could not accept, on account of business ties. The Offer Examined. Tho champion's offer is a very fair one, although not so good as it l<;oks at first glance. In point of fact, it is doubtful whether it is as good as his previous ono of ,£l5O for expenses without any reservation. In the latter case it is to be presumed that the usual rule with regard to tho division of the gate-money would have been followed—that is, that it would have been halved by the scullers. Now it is a fair assumption that if Barry were. to come out to row, tho interest which his appearance would creuto would result in a .£IOOO gate. The recent ArnstIVarcc match realised .CSOO odd from this source—so it will bo wen that. "Master Dick" is still taking care of his own interests. Of course, in offering Barry i'.WO, ho is assuring him of a handsome margin in case of defeat, even though the deciding day bo a wet one. That, of course, won id have a very decided effect on tho takinjs. Still, Barry evidently does not consider it tempting enough, or it mav be that his backers will not put lip the stake for a raeo nut of England. Thus things are still "as they were," and it is beginning to look as though tho task of bringing tho men together is a hopeless one.

The stories which "Jack" Arnst and Fogwell have broiifrbt back to Sydney of Barrv's prowess on tho Thames are not likely to make Arnst any tho mora willins to risk his title by Taring in England. For this ho cannot bo blamed. If Arnst will not go to Barry, and Barry won't come to Arnst—well, that is nil there is to it. Is Barry Entrenched Goliind Humbug? There is one expert who is not at all perturbed by tho reports of Barry's form on his own course, and that is tho votornn Harry Floyd, Arnst's coach and preceptor during his training operations. A Sydney paper sots forth tho old-timer's views thusly:— "Barry must be rowing a groat deal better than when I saw him pnll Arnst on the Zambesi to cause the English critics to declare that he is a finished sculler," 6aid Mr. Harry Floyd, referring to recent press notices from T/ondon concerning tho English champion. "Billy Fogwell must have been rowing very badly to be beaten so easily. It surprises me to hear that Fogwell was rowing tho shorter stroke all through the race. I consider it rot.. Barry was pulling tivo (itrokes to Arnst's four when they rpwed on tho Zambesi, and Fogwell never had to do that with Arnst, no matter how well tho champion was rowing. "Tho comments regarding Fogwoll sticking his elbows out at the end of this stroke in comparison to Barry's stylo of keeping his elbows close to his sides amuses me. How can auy man got his sculls out of the water suuarely and cleanly with his elbows close to his sides? They should know that from the time than Hanlan was here. Our judges considered that because Tlanlan ■winged his elbows ho did not know how to row, but ho ma-raged to show all our crocks a lot.

■ ■'• "My contention is that 'food" oars- 1 ' manship produces speed. Now;"why'' oan't Barry row fast? His rowing is not as good as Fogwcll's. Barry rows with his knees together, and scarcely swings back beyond th« perpendicular, and keeps bis elbows to his sides. It. is impossible, under these circumstances, to bo a good waterman, which Barry proved bo was not in Africa, because he could not row in the rough water. No, I can. never believe that Barry is the scientific sculler the English judges consider him to be, and I am not giving my opinion without seeing him." Arnst's Second String Snaps Too. Arnst's second string—tho projected match with Durnan, the Canadian—seems to have snapped 100. The challenger in this case, when approached as to terms, calmly announced that ho was prepared to give tho champion .£l5O to row in Toronto, which, seeing that he had stated that he would not go as far as England under .£IOOO, was hardly in accordance with Arnst's own ideas on tho subject. So that appears to bo the end of Edward Durnan as a prospective competitor in a world's championship sculling race. A side issue has arisen in Harry Penroo's invitation to Barry to come out to row for the Australian championship, but if the Englishman cannot arrange his affairs so that he can make, the trip for tho big title, be is hardly likely to do it for smaller fry. Tho Star Club's Crews. The Star Club is' scheduled to commence its club racing to-day, the events to bo contested being tho Senior and Junior Fours and Novice Fairs. Sinco writing last week tho weather has persisted in Us evil courses, and consequently there is no moro to bo said about the form of the crews than was said then. Some of the men engaged aro training assiduously, and some are not, and as it is apparent that general condition rather tbnn exportness in tho boat will make for victory, should tho weather permit of racing, tho latter cla-ss will have cause for sorrow and tribulation beforo sundown. In boat work there is but little to choose, between the crews. Tho weather has permitted of so little being dono that thcro has not boon, opportunity for any of them to acquire a great deal of combination.

However, on general form nnd condition, there are differences, nnd counting these up it appears that tho issue in (ho senior division should lie between Alexander's and "Dick" Brewer's combinations. Little's crow lias given evidence of possessing a good deal of pace, but the stroke is still very short of work, and looks unlikely to soo "a hard race through. Moreover, a rearrangement of tho men has upset what littlo combination (here was in the boat, and this should militate against winning chances. W. 11. Brewer's quartet has not do no enough fast work to have acquired a racing stroke, tho rowing done having been of the slow and ponderous order, nnd although tho men are training well, they will lack tho snap and dash so necessary for successful racing. Holmes's crew has not been doing enough work, cither in or out of tho Iwat, to be labelled "dangerous." For which reasons this deponent looks to Brewer and Alexander to fight it out as aforesaid.

Tlie junior combinations nro harder to deal with. So nnich of tho material is untried in racing that it is hard to say how it will shape under the whip and spur. Two crews appear to oiilsland somewhat, Hnckworth'.s and Robinson's, by virtno of more experienced strokes and bis. husky No. 3\s. Ncwlxdd is getting a good deal of work from his men, «nd tho winner should como from one of this trio, with a shado of odds on Haclnvorth.

Tho novices, being such., are an unknown raring quantity entirely, so any anticipations of probable results would be so much guesswork, and thereforo will not be attempted. Wellington flowing Club. Tho Wellington Rowing Club is at timo of writing still waiting, with rather less than more patience, for an opportunity to begin the racing of its Club Four fixture, which tdiotild have been started upon last Monday.

The Star" Club has gained two useful recruits this season from Canterbury clubs, namely, K. J. Dingle, from tho Avon li.C, and \V. Hum, from the Canterbury K.C. lloth the new arrivals have rowed in youths' regatta crews, and both nro still available for this class, so the Star Boating Club's Youths' lour should profit accordinifly.