ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 12

ROWING.

[By "Memory."] BARRY AS MACHIAVELLI. How he Blocked a Challenge from Pearcc, The latest intelligence about tho championship arjulling situation is that Barry is willing to deleud his new title against Albany, Durnan, or l'earce, the race to be rowed at the end of .September, and against Avnst next season. At the first glance this offer seems very complaisant on Barry's part, but on inspection it seems to show that tho champion tin addition to his sculling qualities) tian some of tho attributes of a politician or Jlachiavelli. In tho latter part of his assuranco he has promised to_ do something that he must do, willy-nilly, if Arnst challenges him, and in tho former, has effectively muzzled tho only likely torious opponent, Harry Pearce, by tho timo limit which ho imposes. His offer gives tho Australian champion about six weeks in which to raise his stako and expenses, make tho trip to England, and get into condition to race for the world's championship over il miles. Evidently all that I'cnrco has to do is to throw his tooth brush and any old racing boat ho has about tho r ouse into a/ bag, catch a tram down to tho wharf, and away for Memo England. Ono suspects that Ernest Barry is a wag. Certainly his proposition may suit Albany and Durnan better, but the former has shown that he is not iu Barry's ciass as a sculler, and the former, al'iiough he must- have attained a certain an ciint of condition from his recent lacing in America, has yet to show that he is a serious claimant to championship honours, both financially and as a sculler. Poarce up and Doing. Apropos of Pearce, tho Australian has wasted no timo since Arnst's defeat in endeavouring to make good Lis expressed desire to attempt to bring tho title back to Australia. In addition* to his stako money, he wants .£250 expenses, .£750 in all, and has already raised more than half this amount, and it is beginning to look as though it is to Pearce that we must look as the hope of tho 3 utsporlcs. Arnst Hints at Giving the damo Up. Last week, in discussing Mtely hr- ripenings in tho future, "Mercury" voiced the possibility that Arnst might atlnrpt to regain his lost honours. This contingency is now rather moro thun a possibility—it might even now be c.llcd a probability, lie has stated in London when questioned as to his future movements that ho intended to. rive pifeccn shooting on the Continent a try, and concluded by saying that l.e might abandon sculling altogether, "it being tcri'itly hard work. Thero was a time, and not so long since, that hard work, in the athletic sense, was not only meat and drink to "Dick" Arnst, but the very breath of lifo itself, but, as with many another, the sojourn in Easy Street has sapped ' his energies. However, there is this to it—tho cxchanipiou's sculling career has been a brilliant one throughout, and, although ono would not like to see him retire without a. try to "com© back," there is no gainsaying the fact that he has earned his retirement if he considers the timo for it lias come.

Tho Talk of' Reviving William Webb. The.ro is talk of Wauganui's William Webb getting back into the game again as a championship proposition. Just howfar the report is justified by fact it is hard to say, but rumour hath it that his old backer, Mr. W. Tuck, retains full confidence in his protege, who has been doing a littlo quiet boat work of late incase of eventualities. There may or may not bo anything in this—probably not—but, if there is, it seems rather a waste of time and money that both Pearce and Webb should journey .to England, the more especially so if Barry's reported assertion that ho will not allow any expenses to his future ckal-: lengers, of which moro.anon," holds .good. A good deal of time and money could be saved by organising an- elimination test between these two, provided always that Webb is put forward again, somewhero in homo waters—that is, cither on tho Parramatta or the-Wanganui. Tho winner could then go Homo as the accredited Australasian challenger, and would be assisted in his crusado by the pecuniary outcome of the lest race, which could be held early in tho New Year 60 that training could be carried on for.the subsequent match with Barry next season. In any case, it seems probablo that whoever it is that meets the Englishman next will liavo to wait until then—tho present season at Homo is too for advanced for anything to be done this year.

Barry Puts his Foot Down on Allowing expenses. Reverting to tho cable 6tating that Barry has decided not to allow expenses to any future challenger, it must be said that while directly within his rights, tho champion's action in this respect is not likely to add to his popularity. The .£SOO stake in itself is a very small bait to draw a man, say, from Australia. Passago money, trainer's fees, and three months' living expenses in England and loss of time would leavo but a small margin even to a winning challenger, whilo for a loser the cost would be great indeed. >

"Dick" Arnst's Ghost, Some rofcrenoe has been made already in this column to Harry Floyd's opinion of Arnst's condition at tho timo of his recent defeat. Tho veteran cannot bo ..accused of adopting a "wisc-after-thc-event attitude," as he was ono of tho very few who, on the cvo of the race, counselled caution to those inclined to bo over optimistic about Arnst's ' chances. It is to this warning that the veteran refers in tho following subsequent interview. Had wo on this side seen these first remarks df Mr. Floyd's, which by tho way wore printed in tho "Sjin" tho day before the race, before wo heard tho result, our disappointment thereat would have been considerably tempered. Mr. Floyd's later comment runs: "Many people thought that because I did not go to England with him I was prejudiced when they read my remarks in tho 'Sun.' As a matter of fact, had lie have done what I advised him before ho left here a? to what it was necessary for him to, do—that is, two months' rowing at least, so that ho might get practically down to his weight—he would have had a much greater chance, as he bad been so long out of tho boat. It was impossible, for him to have got well in the timo, he had from what I havo seen of him before. "A Sydney sportsman offered to put up all his stake money providing I would go to England with him, and that Arnst should carry out my suggestions as to his preparations before, sailing for England. That was the only condition upon which I would eo to the Thames with him, and upon which the backing would be found in Sydney for him. However, instead of doing what ho was advised, and after really agreeing, to it, ho only went out in his boat once, and consequently ho was told that ho would have to find someone else to back him. I didn't think he would get a man in Australia to find tho money under the conditions which ho was leavini here. He has to-day to thank his kind friends for his defeat. "Stanbury did nearlv three months' rowing before ho left Sydney for England to row Harding, notwithstanding that he had just left hard work; and other men have done likewise, and still been beaton. Though Arnst is an ex-champion now, T still think that Barry has beaten only 'Dick' Arnst's ghost. The very fact of him having to stop proves that ho was not the veal 'Dick' Arnst we know when in condition. Three months were jj.linearly sufficient for him (o strike his best condition, and I understand when he left here he would n.it lako less than four months for his preparation. T know from the timo the dab: of tho race was fixed he could not possibly got well in I' 2 weeks, hence my opinion in the 'Sun' Hint there was :i good chance of him being beaten. "The Englishmen deserve, their win, and every credit for putting up so much money (about .C 1200) to try and recover the championship. They .-ire apparently only getting their own'money hack, os Arnst appears to have put up his £'M expenses, which they provided, as his stake money. Wo are nil sorry to see 'Dick' beaten, but doubtless it will give rowing in England and America a big lift, and it'might provide n chance for some of our young scullers to go to England and try to wrest tho title from tho now champion,"-