ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1551, 21 September 1912, Page 12

ROWING.

[Bi "Mebcust."] THE FUDDLE OF OEDIPUS. The Eailest Part Of It, The status quo is being maintained with regard to tho sculling championship. Arnst has withdrawn from the argument, Pcarco is waiting for next season, and there remains only Durnan as a possible opponent to Barry for this year. , At latest Durnan had accepted Barry e terms and was to have rowed next month. So far, however, wo have, received no definite '.word of any. date, having.-.been fixed, aud there the "matter stands.' The Hard Part—Harry Poarce. With Harry Pearco and his Australian championship it is different. Nothing has actually happened yet, but there are indications that matters of interest are coming to pass shortly. The position, at present is that there is a likelihood of Pearce being challenged for his Australian title very shortly—in fact, according to the Sydney papers it is not unlikely that.two claimants for a race wiUbe forthcoming. • Now Pearce has settled down to steady consistent work in anticipation of his "go" with Barry and, in order that his eystera of training should not be disorganised, has announced that ho will not accept any challenge for tho local title until after tho big race. If Pearce Is Challenged? It is this determination that has given ri6e to the present awkward situation. If any sculler issues a challenge Pearco must, by tulo, cither accept it or forfeit his title—a very profitable l asset. - The regulations governing the Australasian championship distinctly state that "the holder of the championship must accept a bona fido challenge within two months and must race within four months of tho acceptance of tho challengo or forfeit his title, which shall then pass to the challenger, but in the event of tho holder being at the time of tho issue of the challenge more than 2000 miles from Australia ho shall bo allowed four months in which to accept the challenge." There is no getting away from that and moreover Pearco was a member of the committee eet up to franio these rules.

How Pearce Says He Will Solve Things. Now, however, the Australian cliampion announces that ho will be bound by no rules until the settlement of his little affair with Barry—an attitude which it is easv to understand and sympathise with, for a world's championship preparation is enough in itself without haviup to bother about lessor races "on the side." Still it is easy to see that if the situation foreshadowed did arise it would cause a tangle that would tako a lot of straightening put. Pcarce's chief claim for acceptance by Barry nnd the English public as a worthy opponent of the champion lies- in tho possession of his Australian title. Should ho lose this he has nothing to lift him out of the ruck at all, for, be it remembered, he iae twice- been beaten by Arnst, : Further Complications—Arnst Returning. Apropos of tho ex-clioropion, a friend of his in Sydney has received tho following cablegram: Will arrive in Sydney October 10. Kia Ora. Arnst." This may possibly be a portent of fnrthcr complications. Supposing ■ that Arnst decides, as he can do quite legitimately now, that he will challenge Pearce for tho Australian titlc-What thenf He is a professional scnller with a living to make, and naturaly can be expected bo look to sculling to provide that But' so long as Pearce sticks te the terms of lu's ultimatum there will bo nothing doing for Arnst, wherefor in that cose, according to rule, the title should pass to him automatically-a- bloodless and unsatisfactory victory with no. emoluments attached for Arnst nncl having 4ho effect of stripping rcarco of his ono elnim to consideration in England—a very, unsatisfactory position. , ' On the other hand, supposing that Penrce wero forced by public opinion into aocepting Arnst's challenge and were bea-ten-What thenf And this is not a remote pofwbility nt nil. There enn bo no doubt that, if the ox-cliaaipioii cures to, he enn get right back to his old form—ho is not yet thirty and it is only a question of linio.'troublo and application—and ns ho.has already beaten I'carco twice it is probable he enn do so ngnin. And how would that leave Pearce? ~,.,., Onoo again stripped of nis claim to considonilion in Knqland- l'oov I'earea apppni'9 to be fairly upon tho horn. , ; of n dilemma—and development's will bo watched for. They should bs> interesting—ncw.dhißlv so if everything occurs as promised at present.