ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1575, 19 October 1912, Page 12

ROWING.

[Bi "Mercury."]

WILL BARRY COME OUT HERE? Durnan Fulfils Expectations. Ernest Barry's first race in defence of his tiilo of world's champion passed over with a minimum of excitement. In fact, tho event was perhaps remarkable for the lack of public interest taken in it— it certainly wos remarkable for nothing else. The reason for this is not far to seekespecially in Australia and New Zealand. It is to be found in the fact that the challenger, Edward Durnan, has never shown himself to be anywhere near the championship class, and that, therefore, the result of the raco was, bar accidents, a foregone conclusion. Durnan raced George Towns in Australia some five or six years ago, and even, then ho was never taken seriously. Ho was on that occasion trained by "Jim" Stanbury, and the ex-champion summed him up "by saying, "Durnan is not much good on the first half-mile; he isn't so good on the second; and he is no use on tho last half-mjle"—a scathing indictment of a candidate for world's championship honours. An Australian critic who studied his mothods then says of him; "110 has peculiar leg work, keeps his knees close together, and docs not push straight from tho clogs. His body work is also peculiar, and he labours a lot with his shoulders; in fact, there are many faults of style. He ca.n bo relied upon to row 40 strokes the first minute, and about 35 afterwards for tho full distance, but there is no length in the strokes, for he does not reach out much, nor docs, ho swing at the finish of tho stroke." f Such was J. E. Durnan, of Canada, when he may have been at his best, so Jjis chances now, when forty years of age, were not hard to calculate by a more or less discerning public. They wore rightly Tegardcd as hopeless. Still Hope of Arnst's Return. The next championship race for Barry is with Harry Pearco next April, and after that, should he win, time only will show, . Arnst certainly seems disinclined to commit himself in the matter. On arriving in Melbourne early in the week he is reported to havo made a plain statement that he had met a better man, and had no excuse to offer, and, further, that he intended going in for sheep farming in Queensland. From this it seemed clear that ho intended giving up tho sport entirely, but right on top of this news came another cablo advising that the "Morning Post" had stated that Barry would probably give Arnst another race in New Zealand waters. This led to another interview with Arnst, in which he was made to say that he was still considering the question of another race, and also of settling in New Zealand. This gives ground for 'nope that he will yet have a try to secure his lost honours, and that, maybe, New Zealand will be the venue. The Rumour that Barry may Visit New Zealand. Wo hare yet to learn tho circumstances connected with tho "Morning Post's" assertion anent Barry's possible visit to the Dominion. With the exception of the Zambesi venture, the Englishman has steadfastly set his face against the idea of a raco oft' his beloved Thames, and the sudden chango of front is puzzling. Wo .can only hope tliat there is a basis of truth in the report, but at present it seems too good to be true. The Tale of the Times. One matter in connection, with last Monday's race calls for comment. The cabled report of the event shows that Barry won easing up after a very "soft" lace, in 22min. Slsec.

Now, the Tace against Arnst, in which tho present olmmpion did not get the lead until nearly three miles had been covored, took 23min. Bsec., and even allowing for a possible difference of tide, and for, the rough water over ,the last mile, the] fact, that the first race was the slower of the two is significant. Taking the difference in class between Arnst and Durnan as a criterion, tho difference in time only goes to show how much below himself Arnst must havo been on tho day of tho race. The Time is Ripe for a Change. At its annual general meeting last Saturday night, the New Zealand Rowing Association gave a decided fillip to the reform movement in connection with the amateur status question. The delegates present approved tho principle that the time was ripe for a chango by passing this resolution:— . • "That in the opition of this meeting of delegates, tho present rule giving the definition of an amateur should be amended to allow of Now Zealand oarsmen competing in Australia and elsewhere, and that the council go on collecting data with a viow to bringing the matter before a special meeting of delegates in Wellington at the time of the championship regatta." This makes it very plain that tho delegates representing the various centres consider the chango would bo for tho gqod of the sport, and such a straightforward statement of their views should carry weight with the centves by whom they are appointed. A Bogy Laid Low. One of the chief objections—if not, indeed, the only one—that has caused opposition to tho proposed change, is the fear that under the suggested amendment a serious decreaso in the membership of tho Towing clubs would immediately result. Some timo ago "Mercury" took the stand that this contention was an erroneous ono, and suggested that the clubs bo circularised by the council to ascertain exactly how many club members would bo affected. This course was followed, and tho result has shown conclusively that the fear is utterly groundless. At the meeting, in response to a query' as to tho offect of this circular, the secretory reported that clubs with a total membership of 1457 had replied, and that out of this number only 55 members were professionals in other branches of sport. Fifty-five out of ono thousand four hundred and this does away with this objection. Moreover, it is quite feasible to suppose that out of that 55 there are quite a number who aro not now actually engaged in professionalism in other sports, and who would be eligible for reinstatement as amateurs.

A Suggestion, Now that the body governing the sport in the Dominion has so emphatically expre.ssed the personal opinions of our legislators on this matter, "Mercury" would respectfully suggest to tho council that it goes even further. No harm, and a great deal of good in the direction of procuring absolute amateurism, could bo effected by the introduction into tho N.Z.R.A. rule book of a rule decreeing that in future all persons desirous of joining rowing clubs under tho council's jurisdiction be required, as a condition ot their joining, to take the usual amateur declaration, or, if necessary, to sec are reinstatement. As such a measure would not be retrospective in its effect, it would not affect any club member, but its result would be that, as those oarsmen who at present cannot conform to the amateur code, drop out of the sport through effluxion of time, in a very short while the rowing clubs would bo composed of bona fido amateurs, an! so the desired end would bo attained. "Mercury"' commends this suggestion to the authorities for their earnest consideration, and in the firm conviction that such a rule would make for the advancement of the sport, and co a long way towards removing the disabilities under which our oarsmen labour in not being able to compete outside our own waters.