ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1734, 26 April 1913, Page 12

ROWING.

(BY Meroury.) THAT MIRACLE OF OXONIANS. July 21.—World's Championship, Barry v. Pearce. Thames, London. Barry, Pearce, and the Money. A rather puzzling cablegram appeared at tho end of last week stating that tho raco between Barry and Pearce lor tho English, championship and .£SOO aside will be rowed on July 21, and that Pearce had deposited £5% From messages published elsewhere, it looks' as though our advico had been mutilated in transmission. ' Tho reference to tho English fcitlo is accounted for by the fact that Barry is staled to havo agreed to one race being for tho English as well as the world's championship, while the t £so said to havo been deposited by Pcarco is evidently another move, and refers to a payment to I'earco by Barry of .£SO of tho .£IOO allowed for tho Australian's expenses.

The New "Cornstalk" Champion, Tho raco for ths professional championship of Now South Wales resulted very muck as expected, the winner, in tho abeonce of Alt Felton, turning up in Charles Towns. Why Felton was' not a candidate for the honour we liavp yet to learn, but now that tho championship has been properly installed it is quito'on the cards that tho new champion will bo challenged at any moment, and, as a tirno limit has been set for tho acceptance of all challenges on the forfeiture of the title, we can bo certain of competition whenever things in,tho sculling lino get a bit slack in Australia. Paddon and Arnst May Meet. There is a Uianco yet of a PaddonArnst race. It will'bo remembered that the ex-champion challenged Paddon for a raco for tlio Australian title, and put •up the nocessary deposit. Negotiations, however, fell through, as the men could not agree as to tho venue of tho race, Paddon insisting on the Richmond River and Arnst refusing to ' row except on tho Parramatta. . Tho present position is outlined in tho following correspondence published in tho Sydney "Refereo":— "To Mr. E. Coombes, Editor of 'The Referee.'

"Dear sir,—X am enclosing o, copy of a letter I havo written to Dick Arnst in reply to. a wiro I'got from liiiu, asking mo to row him in July, and for me to allow liiin all his and his trainer's hotel exponses. Tho date I suggest for tho race would be July 26. Hoping you aro quite well,—l am, etc. (Signed) JAMES PAUL)OX." Tho enclosure:—

(Copy.) ' "To Mr. R. Arnst. "Dear sir,—l am in rcceipt of your wire'ro a match in July, if you aro prepared to sign articles by April 26 1 tor a match in July, I'will do business with you. But I cannot allow you any expenses. However, I should expect you to allow mo substantial expenses should you wont mo to row in Sydney. Trusting you will favour mo with an early reply,—l am, etc., (Signed) JAMES PADDON." It will thus bo seen that the matter turns on the question of expenses. Paddon, as champion, - is quite within his rights in naming his home waters as place of tho race, and, if he gives way in this respect, is equally right in asking for compensating expenses. Whether or not Arnst will concedo to his request is another matter, but it is plain that, if ho will not, there .will be no race, as l'addon evidently knows what lie wants, aud won't to happy till ho gets it. Pictures of the University Rice. At one of the Wellington picture theatres there has been showing a splendid pieturo of the recent Oxford-Cambridge boat race. Various portions of the race were portrayed, and a good idea of tho rowing form was obtainable, as well as a stirring inipression of the vicissitudes of what must havo been a great race indeed. The picture showed Cambridge getting away with a slight advantage at tho start, then leading by over a length at tho Chisivick bend, and so oh to Barnes bridge.

A view evidently taken from tho bridge shows tho boats coming straight at the camera, and a.splendid idea of the swing and combination was obtainable. The Cambridge boat bad' but a short length to tho good, but Iho leader at this point has generally been held to have already won. In fact, only four times in tho history uf the race has the crew behind at Barnes Bridge managed to win. However, the picture showed plainly that Cambridge was going to pieces—tile men were "swinging out" badly, and the stroke was uneven, up the boat, the bow division being scratchy and short. Oxford, on the other hand, were well in hand, rowing faster and with a shorter but cvener swiii^.

Then came tho picture of tho finish— a stirring sight. Oxford . appeared to win risht on tho post—a really magnificent eifort. Cambridge had cracked up badly—tho broken swing and scratchy rowing telling a sad tale of distress. How Oxford Pulled Off a Miracle. The tale of this great finish is well told in an account from a, Homo paper, running thus:— "With only two minutes to go, they had a clear length, and nothing short of a miraclo seemed able to. deprive them of victory. The miracle happened. Cambridge boro slightly to the left to avert a foul. Oxford's cox saw tho winningpost clear ahead, straightened his lino like mi arrow, and desperately and frantically yelled to his mjii to achieve the impossible. 'A galvanic shock seemed lo run nloiig the boat. Ilorsfall, already stilFeriiig .severely from his llorculean efforts, found somewhere all unsuspected reserve of strength—l believe it was mainly menial—and quickened the stroke until it went up to 38. Every member of the crow was infected by his desperation. ' Their exhaustion fell from them, and, their boat, which had been hanging heavily, suddenly appeared to jump like a hydroplane, lifted clear out of the water at the bows by the strength of their pull, and closing on Cambridge with appalling speed. The Light lilius strove valiantly to respond with ono last tremendous spurt, but tired nature could do no more l'ov them.' They could neither increase thoir stroke, nor improve its power. They saw t tic nose of I lie Dark littles' boat creep up to their cox, past stiok?, past No. 2, past them all, until it readied (lie i:anva-> :if (lie. prow, anil iiinmciifnrily liuiig there. Four strokes from the tuiish (hey were level; theii strength triumphed oyer ekilL