SCULLING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 220, 11 June 1921, Page 8

SCULLING

RACE FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TO-DAY WEATHER PROMISING Bj Telegraph.—Press Association. Blenheim, Juno 10. The weather is keeping beautifully fine, and there is every promise of a perfect day for the world’s sculling chains pionship to-morrow. Theie is a largo influx of visitors. Both’men have topped off, and are in tine form. Hannan is .probably tbq more confident of. the two. The coureo is three miles and one hundred yards up' stream. The race starts at 2.30.

ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP ITS RECENT HISTORY. '(By "Stretcher.”) Towns held the world’s sculling chanw pionship in 1907, when there came an. unexpected challenge from far-away New 1 Zealand, a country that had never pr<M duced a big sculler since the days of Tom Sullivan (formerly of the Wellington Rowing Club). Tin's challenge was from one William AVebb, of Wanganui, who had done "times” on the Wanganui River, good enough as security for Air. A’ illiam Tuck to back him. And Mr. Tuck wan right. Webb was a good sculler as well as a pretty stylist, and Towns was never a world-beater, though a world's champion. Being a Farramatta man, Townd selected the Parramatta, course, in Sydney, and there Webb beat him, with: something to spare. It was tho first world's championship ever brought to New. Zealand, and Wanganui, excusably, Jost its head. Sydney scullers were dumbfounded at this turn of affairs, as they realised that they would have to travel to New Zealand to win back the. titla to Parramatta’s "holy ground' —the homo of Bill Beach, Peter Kemp. Searle, M’Lean, Stevenson, and many other fine scullers of tho past. At length’ Tressider got sufficient 'backing and came across io Wanganui determined to take buck the title or give up iho game. (I'ressider was then (February, 1908) over ■«) years of age. But why spin out. tho story? Mr. T. D. Cummins who actol as judge gave At ebb the victorv by 2| lengths. The writer, who was on the spot, thought the margin was four lengths. Personally, I hold the opinion that Webb’, then at his best, could have beaten Tressider by 20 lengths had he so desired. In December of the same 'year Webb had to attend to a challenge thrown out by Dick A rust, a heavy-weight sculler, of whom more had been heard of as a cycle rider than a wager-boat pusherNo doubt was entertained as to Arnstrs power and doggedness, but generally it was not thought that theso qualities would match Webb’s experience and form. Wanganui pooh-poohed the chances of Arnst. Anyone could have picked up a fortune in the streets of Wanganui by backing Arnst, for he won SU™ enough, though he had io tow for it fog two-thirds the distance. • With Arnst champion of the world, ir, was for others to challenge. Webb came at him again in June, 1909. on the Wanganui, when Arnst.won again by five lengths. ' The next challenge came from Barry, of England, and after negotiations was decided to row on neutral water and tho lordly Zambesi (above the Tails) was selected as the course, and there once more Arnst got home with lots of water to spare. Probably this was the most unique race ever brought _ oft. Fancy selecting a remote, river in tropical Africa to decide the world s championship of a form of sport peculiar to temperate climes! There were not more than 2000 present, and a letter written bv Harry Floyd (Arnst’s trainer) said: "There was not a soul at the start besides myself-not even a nigger started out of the wilderness! I hat was in September, 1910. Another race on the Thames was immediately mooted. On his return to New Zealand Arnst dismissed the I’lojd idea that Barry wa« a joke, and said witli some modesty that it was the hardest race I ever rowed.” Could he say less with another match in view ft he race came off in due course, and Arnst was beaten, and for a year or two dropped into obscurity. Then Alf. lelton, who had won the Manawatu Handicap., in 1909 felt good enough to have a ily ac the ’world's championship, and met an Xted Barry on the Thames nearly three vears ago. Barry was not satisfied, ami came out last year to wrest, back: his lost laurels. After a most un-atisfae-torv race on the Parramatta, marred by a foul. Barry won. Arnst, who had bwn rowing in handicaps again at once c.halknged and put up a deposi and the first was not taken up within tlu'eo Xtdis. he claimed the nionship, as he could only hold that; & had forfeited. There may « other views! 'but theso are those of AinstFor that reason the race between he and “Paddv” Hannan, of Blenheim, is being designated one for the sculling championship of the world.