ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1617, 7 December 1912, Page 12

ROWING.

9 (By "Mercury."]

SYDNEY SCULUNG TANGLE. December ■ IG—Akaroa Regatta. Decomber 2G—Port Chalmers R-egatta. January I—Fiction Regatta. January I—Lyttelton Regatta. January IG—Sumner Gala. February 22—Christchurch Regatta, Corsair Bay, lyttelton. A Little Less Tanglod Now. Matters in connection with the sculling tanglo in Sydney are rapidjy being straightened out, and now have reached a stago when a settlement of the point as to which of Harry Pearce's three challengers is the. most fitted to dispute with him the honour of representing Australia in a championship raco with Ernest Barry is only n matter of time. The latest is that a sort of elimination scries has been arranged between Felton, Towns, and Paddon, the three aspirants to Australian championship honours. The first-named is to meet each' of the other two in the order named, the first match, against Towns, being provisionally settled for January 11 or 18 next, ami the pecond, against Paddon, for a dato about threo weeks later. Each race is to bo i for <£200, and-oyer the Parramatta championship course and under championship conditions. This is a very satisfactory settlement of the difficulty as'far as the challengers are concerned, but it does not wem at all certain yet whether Pearco will consent to raco in defence of his local title, and also, of course, of his position as challenger for the world's championship. This latter matter has also reached a difinile stage of settlement. Barry has offered .£IOO expenses, and suggests July as the date, and Pearco has cabkd accepting these terms, and has announced his intention of leaving for England early in March, so as to have twelve weeks' trainins on the Thames. This would leave ample timo for Pearce to dnsposo of his local challengers, and it is becoming; to appeal 1 03 though pressure j>f sublig opinion will foioa him lata

dome this. In any oase the forfeiture of his Australian title is unavoidable should ho continue to eido-step the challengers. The Difficult Position of Being Pearce. The position which Pemrco is in is undoubtedly one calling for sympathy. At a time when an. Australian representative was badly needed, ho came forward with his challenge to Barry, and, since that tamo, has worked hard at his preparation, and the collection .of his stake moneys, of which he has actually raised about £500 to date. In addition ho has proved his anxiety for a fling at the champion by accepting very inadequate expenses, and, generally, as regards Barry, he has adopted, a sporting attitude throughout. Latterly, however, there has arisen tho opposition party with tho demand that, as a public appeal was being made to finance an Australian representative, a "try out" should be held to prove that the Australian public was bedng represented by tho best man available. This seems reasonable enough in the broad sense, but in its application to Pearce, it undoubtedly entailed hardships in the matter of interrupting his championship prepare tion, and in the event of loss of tho forfeiture of the stake moneys already subscribed. , This affair is complicated by tho conditions surrounding the holding of the Australian championship, at present in Pearce's possession. Tho conditions state that a challenge, if in order, must bo dealt with within three months, or tho title forfeited. Thus it is that Pcaroe must either race one_ of his three challengers— Felton, as'things aro.at present— or else forfeit his title and thereby 'one of his chief rights to a world's championship race. , His course now seems to bo that ho will have to submit to tho position, and trust to his sculling ability to prevent his training and trouble in raising his stake from being wasted by racing and defeating his challenger before the date of his projected departure in. March. Challengers Three, ■ Who is J. Paddon P This is 'ft question frequently heard among boating men when the Australian sculling controversy is up for discussion. Charles Towns and "Alf" Felton nro well known names, tho former being tho brother of Goorgo Towns, exchampion, and himself the man from whom Wanganui's William Webb won the title, while Felton is remembered here as the winner of the big Foxton handicap some while back and winner of several races since—notably a match against F. S. Hagney. But Paddon is a persona incognita, so an introduction by Harry Floyd will bo in order. Says the veteran in a Sydney paper:—

"J. Paddon is one of the most promising of our present ecullers. Ho stands oft. 4in. in his socks, and Is all. bone and muscle. He belongs to the little -river "between the Clarence and the Richmond, known as Evans River. He' : was brought un at fishing. For somo time lie rowed as an amateur in skiffs, and then turned his attention to the 'riggers, rowing amongst the professionals. He is game and lively. His father was a seaman, I believe, and of the real bull-dog breed. He was never rigged properly, and was rowing with a sft. lin. spread—in fact, he was in just the same state as Webb, when Pearce beat the Wanganui man, a.nd is rowing with about sft. spread now, which is altogether too much. He can't row scientifically, but just gets - speed through sheer strength and stamina, just as Dick Arnst did in his early days. But he is murdered by his rigging. Although only comparatively new at the game, he is on scratch with such a fast sculler as Felton, although he h'as never yet won a race in riggers. He has, however, put up some great races. They say he never knows when he is tired, and has a nasty habit of chafing the men ahead of him until they cross the lino. By encouragement from a few of his friends ,he is anxious to have a go at some of our best men, and has already challenged Pearce." "From India's Coral Strand." Last season the Star Club lost a valued member in H. S. Dran, who was given a 'commission in tho Dorsetshire Regiment, and is now in India. He has kept un his rowing as much as is possible, and/ at latest advices had been meeting with pOme little success. In a letter written reeentIv to a friend in the 5.8.C., from KiTkee. Mr. Dean has the following on his last aquatic exploits:— . "Our Tepattn came off last Friday, the heats having been rowed on tho Wednesday previous. As'l had been moved aut here, I had to row for Kirkee in' the eights, although I had trained with tho Poona crew. We had quite a good go, but managed to pull away at the finish and win by a length. I managed to get the 'sculls,' too, and incidentally a 'flash' gold-mounted cigarette-holder as a 'pot.' Our. race was rowed at about a quarter to five in the afternoon, when it is still very. hot. and although the distance was 1 only half a mile, I felt pretty done afterwards. By the wav, I regret to say that I was unable to scull in the Star colours, as they mako one wear short sleeves here, and as vou know our Star singlets are sleeveless." /

Picton on New Year's Day. The programme for the Marlborough ,Regatta on New Tear's Day came to hand during tho week, and is appended. No doubt our three clubs will make earnest endeavours to be represented, but unless tho weather'conditions improve very considerably our crews will have no chance of acquiring either Towinir form or racing condition in anything like time. However that is a state. of affairs to which at this time of the year we are (retting accustomed, but not resignedly. The bill of. fare with distances, prize money, and starting times runs:— Distance. Prizes. Junior Single M. £ £ Time. ; Sculls 1 5 and 1 10.30 a.m. Maiden Fours... 1 8 and 2 11.15 a.m. Senior Fours'... 2 12and4 11.45 a.m. Junior Fours ... 1J 10 and 4 12.15 p.m. Maiden Pains ... 1 4 and 2 12.45 p.m. Junior Pairs ... 1 Gand2 2 p.m, Youths' Fours 1 8 and 2 2.45 p.m. Senior Pairs ... 1J 8 and 2 3.15 p.m. Maiden Double Sculls 1 i and 2 3.45 p.m. Junior Double Sculls 1 ' 5 and 2 1.45 p.m, It will bo noticed_ that a junior single sculling race for clinker boats has been added to the programme this year, which presumably may bo taken as an indication that Kenny. Andrews or somo other Picton stalwart has been indulging more or less seriously in sculling, and is desirous of being "tried out" in the nsrocintion boats before investing in a "Best and Best." Tho City Shed News, Locally, matters aro quiet—too quiet. Regatta training is being carried on in a desultory sort of way, by the crews pel noted, so far, the Wellington representatives petting the best example in this respect— the men making tho most of tho few opportunities offering. • Tho Star juniors havo not started yet, owing to tho absenro of one of tho crew since his selection, the maidens have had some rows together, but not always with a full muster, and the youths havo only juct been selected. This club has apparently been disappointed in its effort to raise a senior crew, all the men approached being unavailable through the exigencies of (hear business. It is hoped.' however, to have good senior representation in tho pairs and double sculls. W. S. Wheeler and R.- L. Evatt. who met with some success some seasons back, are mentioned as likely to come together again in the nair. and it is possible thnt A. W. Bayfield, the club captain, will bo spen out. acain in the double cenlls with cither W. B. C. Oswin or W. H. P.rewef. "Mercury" learns that the Wellington Club is hopeful of putting in a senior crow, but its intended personnel so far is a doep dark secret.