ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1515, 10 August 1912, Page 12

ROWING.

[Bt "Meiicurt."] CAN "RICHARD" COME BACK? Why Has Hβ Not Challenged Barry? Now that one has become- accustomed to tho fact that the man sealed upon the top rung of tho sculling ladder is no longer "Dick" Arnst tho question Hint persists in one's mind is: "What next?" That tho ex-chninpion would accept his defeat as final, and henceforth take a place- among the "has-beens" r.f the sculling world, was a phase of the situation that did not even suggest ifaelf at tho timo of tho startling news of his downfall. Moreover, any such suggestion would have beon received with scorn, emphatic and rude, had it been advanced, for it was plainly evident that, underlying tho shock, was everywhere present the conviction that Arnst would seek his revenge and that right speedily. "Oh, well, Dick will come ngnin" was the almost universal balm laid to our battered feelings. In fact, it would have been just what was expected had we been advised that Arnst had asked for another match, the third of the rubber, right away. Now, bo it understood thut "Mercury" is not advancing the suggestion re the ex-champion's "down-and-outness" aforementioned, but he must confess to a certain degreo of surprise that Arnst has not justified public expectation m this respect. In point of fact, ho appears to bo treating the subject of the "return" with some coyness. We are told that the matter was brought before him and he replied that he "would consider it." Barry Need Not Defend Till 1913. Of course he knows his own business best—and after all it is largely his own business—but, at the same time, it appears from this long distance ns though it wero possible that if he does want another mntch, procrastination might bring about much vexatious delay. It is true that, to ask for another race this year, would be expecting a good deal—too much, in fact—of Barry's good ; nature, and in any case, the new champion has stated that he will not defend his title until 1913, but at least Arnst could have asked for the first refusal. The trouble is that he may at any time bo forestalled with his challenge. There is Ed. Durnnn, whose challenging propensities are notorious, winning toccs across the Atlantic, and so getting into line as a championship proposition. Ho has already expressed his desire to raco and if ho were to get his defiance in first, with a reasonable prospect of raising his stake money, where would our Richard be then? Also we are told that Harry Pearce, the Australian champion, has announced that he is prepared to contest the title provided the sinews .of war can be raised for him. According to the articles which govern the holding of the title, which were drawn up in Australia during "Jim" Stanbury's reign as champion, and under which nil championship racos are now held, the existing champion has six uonfhs in which to deal with challenges. (This, bv the way, is the regulation which fives Barry tho right of declaring that he will not race again until 1913.) Presumably, too, the challengers, if bona fide, would bo dealt with seriatim, so it will be seen that dilatoriness on Arnst's pnrt may cost him many valuable months; and the point with. Arnst in such a case is that .the longer he is away from the boat the greater the chance of his forsakinj it altogether, i. Ono possibility—but one so small as to be hardly worth considering—is that the late champion will carry out his programme as arranged had he beaten Barry —that is, cross over to America and inept Durnan. beaten he would still be a "draw," bo there would probably be some small profit in such a venture, and moreover, more particularly it would give him what he evidently so bndly needs before he faces that bitter i\ miles again—plenty of boatwork and racing Into his old-time form and condition. The Tactical Blunder of not having Floyd. Last week "Mercury" remarked upon the necessity of the deposed champion doing his future preparation—provided, of course, that he intends to race aeain— under the argus eye of "Harry" Floyd. This view is evidently shared by the "Referee" aquatic expert "Nnuticlus," who writes:— It will probably be conceded now that Arnst made a mistake in not taking "Harry" Floyd with him to England. _ Floyd has been associated with him in all his matches, knows his peculiarities, and knows how easy it is for, Arnst to delude himself. Besides this, Mr. Floyd is a good judge of Arnst's condition and pace, and would have told him candidly and in no weak terms whether his work was, in fact, as it ought to be. It is always dangerous for a sculler to prepare for a race of this type without some standard by which to judge his improvement and speed, and the" probability is. that he' held Barry too cheaply. Additional Particulars of the Race. The Australian papers publish slightly fuller accounts of the recent race than did ours, but the extra details make no material difference, to tho story. They only go to emphasise the fact of Arnst's unfitness. Ho was beaten badly in 23min. Bsec—extremely slow time for the Thames course, over which the record is held by Jake Gaudaur—2lmin. lsec, established September 7, 189 G. Barry has rowed it m 21niin. 12 2-ssec, in his race against George Towns in October, 1908. Moreover, Arnst seems to have troubled Barry less than did "Billy" Fogwell Inst year, and who would compare "Smiling 'William" with Arnst at his best? The first cable we received advised that Barry won by four lengths. This was evidently a considerable attempt on the part of the cable man to break the news gently. As a matter of fact "Dick" stopped no fewer than 800 yards, nearly half a mile, from tho finish. This was tho real end although ho got going again. • and crossed tho line 100 yards astern of :Barry. ' ■ ,