ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1812, 26 July 1913, Page 12

ROWING.

(By "Mercury.") THE INCOMPARABLE BARRY, The Most Convincing Race Ever. : Even tho littlo boys in tho soliool' preparatory classes now understand quite Woll that Ernest BMi-y is still champion, of tho world. His crown sits more, firmly an his head than, over, and (liko Alexander Selkirk, in tho poem), he is ruler 'of everything which is at all "hull up" on tho horizon. His triumph-over "Harry" Pearco on Monday was as clear-cut aiid deoided us has ever been recorded in tho history of tho big; raco. Hitherto there boon room for a lingering suspicion that tho Englishman acquired his title rather cheaply—that ho had not been put to any really severe test. Thus George Towns was too old, Albany and Fogwell but good socoud-raters, Arnet not fit, and Durnati more, or less of a sculling joke. Monday's performance has laid this ghost low for ever. Pearce is undoubtedly a good sculler. He is considered by tho critics in Australia to be well up in the championship class. Uβ was admittedly trained to the minute, and so in defeating him Barry has fairly won a -place among tho best of the many good men who have adorned tho title.

"Oft Expectation Fails." The raco did not tiu-n out at all as anticipated, eithor in England and Australia. It was confidently expected that the crisis wjould come just as the Inst milo was being entered upon, and that tho Australian would lead up to this stage, l'earco is regarded as one of tho fastest milew seen in Sydney, as witness his raco on tho Parramatta with Arnst, when he led at the mile post by two lengths, having equalled record time for tho distance. It vraa anticipated—and reasonably anticipated—that this burst of speed would open up a good gap for him from the notoriously slow-starting Barry, and that the letter's task would bo to race oft' this deficiency in the last mile or so. In fact, 'before tho raco, tho champion said that ho did not expect Pearco to como back to him until passing Chiswick E3'ot—about two miles. It did noi tarn out this way at oil. At the milo Piearco hnd but a quarter of a longth's advantago, which ho lost at Hammersmith Bridge. At Chiswick Eyot lie was three lengths to the bad, and the race was. then over—bar accidents.

What Holds the Future Now? Tho question now is: What does tho future hold? The present position is that J. Paddon, Hie Australian champion, lias challenged the winner, and line deposited iilOO as an earnest of his- defiance. Also, it is α-oported that Barry has decided that Monday's race is to bo his last, on account of the apathy of the English public ; nnd tho consequent difficulty which ho finds in raising his stake money. This difficulty should be considerably lessoned now, and it is extremely probable that tho champion will reconsider this determination should another opponent and purse offer, but it is unlikely that anything further mil be done until next year. By bhat time tho situation in Australia will have become more settled. As it is, Paddon is waiting for Pearce'e return, when a race between these two for the Australian championship is inevitable. Then there is Arnst. He has evidently been sitting'tight, awaiting tho result of Monday's race. Had Pearce won, there is little doubt that the exchampion would nave gone after his title hot-foot on the Parrainatta. Whether ho will assail Barry again is on "the lap of the gods"—although wo have Dr.Tliaolrer's assertion that ho will do so. Just at present tho situation appears to hingo upon the outcome of tho PoarcePaddon eMi for tho Australian premiership. Should Pearce win, it will dispose of Pnddon, temporarily anyhow, as a championship proposition. On the other hand, should ho succumb to the big Kichmond River sculler, then a race between Arnst and the latter would clear tho air. This clash has been in sight for some time past/ but. the men have not been able to agree as to the course. Paddnn winta-his- honie water, .the.Richmond River, Arnst tho Pairtunatta, and so far the dead-lock over this point is just as It was.

Cheery for Australia. There is only ono thing certain about tlio world's title. It must eventually return to Australia. Should Barry retire, and thus' emulate Wβ. Beach,, the ono retired undefeated chnmpion to date, there is nobody in England upon whom his mantle can fall. No good Australian, however, would care to eeo tho title come out undor thfcse conditions. Tho tiling is to discover and equip a sculler who can win it on the water.