ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1740, 3 May 1913, Page 14

ROWING.

(By Mercuhy.)

SIGNING UP FOR.BIG RACE. July 21.—World's Championship, Pearce v. liarry, Thames. Barry and Fearce Meet and Sign. Sinco last week's notes wero written wo havo 1/oen briefly advisod of tho result of tho l'earco-liarry negotiations regarding thoir match for the world's championship. Tho cablegram published locally was very brief—too brief, in fact, to to explicit, seeing that it did not make tho position regarding the inclusion of the English championship at all clear. Australia was more fortunate in its message, and tho following cablegrams, a3 published by tho "Sun," throw considerable light upon tho subject:— London, April 17. Harry Pearc®, tho Australian challenger, and Ernest Barry, tho holdor of tho world's sculling championship, .mot at Simpson's, in tho Strand, London, today, to discuss the details of their match. They agreed to row on July 21, at 3.30 in tho afternoon, when it will bo high tido in tho Thames. Pearce asked if tho result would carry with it tho championship of England. He said: "If I win 1 may as well get all I can get in one visit before returning to Australia. _ If I am beaten tor tho world's championship, I am prepared to come back for the other title." Barry unhesitatingly agreed that tho ono race 6hould carry both championships. The articles will bo signed on April 23. London, April 24. Pearce and Harry have signed articles for tho race, which will take place on July 21, including tho world's English ami 'Welsh championships, and the "Sportsman's" Cup. Pearce has deposited another ,£OO and Barry .£IOO, with a further £150 apiece on June 10 and .£250 cach on July 11. Mr. James Field is 6take-holder. A coincidence is that Pearco's .father sculled the first race for the "old "Sportsman's" Cup and his son the first raco for tho now cup. London, April 2G. I'carce, owing to his good condition, does not need as strenuous preparation us was expected. I'hti Titles and the Cup. This makes it apparent thai the reason for tho inclusion of tho local championship is to briug tho new "Sportsman" Cup into competition. The old ono was won outright by Barry, by virtue of his three successive wins in his English championship races, and he also holds tho trophy given by "Tho Sportsman" to rcplace it. As the cup can only bo competed for in races for the lesser honour, ho has iiiado its capture possible for Pearce by allowing tho raco for the world's titlo to also carry with it the English supremacy. This is more than he allowed Arnst. When tho latter met him ho declined to throw tho cup into the scale, so that had. Arnst beaten him ho would still havo retained his title of champion of England. _ r.

Tho position regarding these two titles is a peculiar one. For tho first time in history both honours aro held by tho same man, and consequently matters aro complicated. It is generally understood that when an athleto wins a world's championship, any local titlo ho holds automatically comes into competition again. This seems to bo the inevitable course, as otherwise tho lesser honour would practically be placed beyond tho reach of all but world's championship aspirants since it is obvious that no one would challenge for the local honour who did not consider, himself to have a chanco of winning the big title.

It is the holding of the coveted "Sportsman" Cup thnt precludes the application of this rulo in the present case. Should Barry renounce his English title lie must also renounce the cup, for which he already has a "leg-in." But as it can only, be held outright by three successive wins it is plain that its renunciation and tho consequent breaking of tho sequence would be a serious matter for the holder. Henco tho present position.

Poarce Pleasing the Cognoscenti. Tho cable man has informed us that the English critics aro pleased with Pcarcc's style, as it conforms more to the English idea than that of Ilia Australian predecessors. These—not to go back beyond tho day of tho present critic—would probably bo Beach, Searlo, Matterson, Kemp, Stanbury, Towns, and more latterly Fogwell and Arnst. These two last-named we know wcro in great disfavour. Towns was liked, but was past his best when ho got to England. Stanbury, good man as he was, tho English experts simply would not stand—his style of beginning desoribed in one quarter as consisting of "a hit, a lift, and a kick." Searlo was approved of, but his vigour was so hidden by the gracefulness of his work that.he hardly got justice, while Beach ivas put in tho "determined plugger" class. ■ It will thus be seen that it is hard to know exactly what valuo to place upon tho opinion of tho English expert. Still it is pleasing to know that Pearco is giving satisfaction, and it is also good to liear that his condition on arriving was so good that his preparation will not be 6o scvero as was expected.

Inter-State Eights Debacle. It is apparent that it is not only in Now Zealand that big rowing events are interfered with by tho weather. Last Saturday the Inter-Stato Eight-oared Championship of Australia camo to an unexpected end in Adelaide —tho successful crow proving to bo tho South Australian representatives, with Tasmania second, and tho other competitors put out of action by swamping in tho rough water. All the States were represented, and among rowing men tho result would come as a surprise, as the Victorians were looked upon bv, the quidnuncs as showing tho best form, but doubtless the bad going prevented tho race being a true The winning crew is a club combination representing the Murray River Club,, and at;c described by an Australian critic, as being a "big husky lot of fellows with very primitive methods, but with ' all their faults they get a lot of pace and aro in splendid condition. They vill go to the jiost hot favourites, but no doubt tho reason of that is that thc.v are South Australians rowing in South Australia." At the annual confercnce held in Adelaide in conjunction with the Inter-State Eight Championship, the position of New Zealand oarsmen and tic amateur definition was brought up for consideration. The outcome was very satisfactory to those moving for tho much-needed reform in our local definition, inasmuch, as the Stato Associations pledged themselves to admit New Zealand oarsmen to inter-State competition as soon as our rules are altered in tho direction striven for bv the reform party. This removes one of tho objections to tho proposed alterations put forward by those in opposition. It has been said that even if wo dislocate our local constitution and go to all the trouble and inconvenience of setting up a new amateur code there is no guarantee that our efforts will meet with, the desired result, and that probably we should have our pains for our troublo and ultimately bo no nearer the desired goal. Now this objection stands no longer. We have a tangible undertaking that just so soon as wo fall into lino we will bo admitted to. full privileges, ns with this assurance to back them, tho N.Z.A.R.A. should

moke renewed efforts to overcome the ill* sularity and conservatism of tho objectors. Leaguers as Amateurs. Tho oablegrain notifying th® passing of tho motion had tho following concluding paragraph"The mover withdrew from tho above motion a clause proposing that thero would bo no objection to footballers rowing as amateurs, provided they received no money for their services, as football is regarded as a game and not a« an atlilctic exercise." This bears out tho oft-reiterated statement iu this CDlumn that tho playing of League football with professional!) dooa not deprive a man of his amatour statufc so long as ho receives no monetary reward for playing. Football is classed as a "game," and so does not coino under tho athletio ox« ereiso" clauso of the amateur definition. Tho same exception applies equally to Association football, cricket, and kindred pastimes—a fact that is not at widely known as it should be. This ig* norance is responsible for a good deal, if not for all, tho opposition that has'emanated from clubs in thoso districts in which Lcaguo football has a footing. It is this opposition, mostly from the country districts, that has hitherto defeated the good intentions of tho reformers.