SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1626, 18 December 1912, Page 10

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Ernest Barry's cable message to Pearce, received in Sydney, was short and to tho point (says tho "Referee"):—"Consider match fixed July 21. Best wishes." Harry Pearce, on being interviewed, said: "Yes, I'm bound for England,in an endeavour to bring tho World's Sculling Championship back to Australia." When do you expect to sail?, "I'll probably leave about February 12 next by tho Gothic," was the reply. In tliat event you'll be away before the. Felton-Paddon match oil February 15? "Yes, I'll probably bo on my journey by that time." Well, what are you going to do about the challenges of Felton, Towns, and Paddon—are you going tu forfeit the Australian championship or meet some of them? "I can't say definitely yet," said Pearce. How is that? Do you know you've only got until the 2-Hh? "Yes," replied the championI "but that's still some distance away, yun know. ] have not been considered to any great extent, and I feel quite justified in insisting on my rights. .Now, as you ask me for an indication id' what f. proposoto do, i'il tell you. Kirat, I'm going to England to meet Hurry. That was decided long ago. when I, posted the .-fi'llill.deposit, iong before any of these challenges were heard of. I've been attacked,"from one quarter in particular; but these men seem t<i forget that I've won tho titlo and defended it successfully on all occasions. Barry has made his ar-

rangemcnts, -anti I've made mine. I'm ratlior keen on picking up some of the money that has been thrown at me l)e----fore going to England, but the AVorld's Championship is the thing I want to win, and I've been training for it. You know, the course is not three miles, but ii miles, and I've been .shaping niy training to the longer distance. Naturally, tho work has boon slower in tho early, stage of. training, and it would hamper me to meet these challengers. They must know it. too! But my backers have been consistently against my tackling these men at present. I duu't mind telling you that I would like to meet one <>r all of them before I go. I've an appointment with my backers again in a for days, and I'll then be in i. position to tell vou something—something that will, perhaps, put a different complexion on things." In learning that Pearcc had definitely determined t.o meet Barry on the Thames on July 21 next, (he directors of the "Sunda'v 'J'imes" Newspaper Company 'following the precedent laitl down in donating an eight-oared boat to the Olympic crew), yesterday decided to present Harry Pearce with a new racing shell, to be christened "The Referee." . t Pearce. on learning this, was highly flighted, and expressed the hope that he would be able to win the championship ill the presentation boat.