SCULLING.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1920, Page 4

SCULLING.

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION] WIN FOR BARRY. .\N EASY VICTORY. SIDNEY, August 28. The race for the world’s sculling ('linmpipnship yesterday proved a much tamer affair than anticipated. Barry secured an easy victory. The race was marred by the boats touching after pass ing the 1J mile point. Both men held up their hands, claiming a foul, but as they were in neutral wafer, and neither subsequently made a formal claim for a foul the umpire (William Beach) decided not to interfere, declaring the incident in no way affected the race. The weather was fine, a slight breeze being insufficient tp interfere with the rowing. There were great crowds afloat and lining the banks throughout the course, and it is estimated over a hundred thousand witnessed the race.

The start was delayed till nearly four o’clock. Barry’s rowing weight was .list. 101 b. and Felton’s 12st. 81l>. Felton won the toss and from a good start, both striking twenty-eight to the minute, Felton soon went to the front, and established a lead of 1} lengths. The pace to the mile beacon was very slow, the distance takizng Gmin. 35secs. Here Felton’s lead was three lengths. Barry was rowing comfortably in tho rear. Approaching Tennyson, tho Englishman began gradually to overhaul his opponent. Barry ' was now spurting finely, and forging ahead, with long machine-like strokes. Felton failed to respond, and before they reached Mortlako ,Barry had overhauled the leader. The}' rowed locked together for a time. Then ,suddenly, Felton’s hand shot up, ,and Barry’s immediately followed, indicating the boats had touched. Both stopped rowing, awaiting a signal from Beach, who, was- watching the race from an accompanying steamer As previously stated Beacli decided there was no use in interfering. Little time was lost before a fresh start was made. Barry was quickest away, and, going at top speed, got a two length’s lead. Felton started to chase him, but Was never able to get nearer his rival. The gap gradually increased! At Cali arita, Barry had six lengths advantage, and he finished twelve lengths to the good. The whole course took- 24 min. 32 secs.

Though the touching incident was regretted, the general opinion was that tho Australian had little, if any, chance after the'Englishmen drew level with him ,and after the bump made little real attempt to overtake him. Barry declared himself sorry about the foul, but said it was nobody’s fault, but was purely accidental. Felton declined to say anything.

Arnst, Felton’s trainer, said the result- was unsatisfactory from Felton’s standpoint. He would like to see them meet again. Beach, (the judge), declared the better man won.

Describing the foul, Barry said:— “Overhauling him off Mortlake, I jumped on to him quicker than lie expected. It all happened in the excitement of the race, he was a tired man, find I an eager one.” Speaking at a dinner later, Barry declared he had no intention of contesting the title again. He intended to return to England in October and settle down in his little pub at Twickenham. Arnst told ail interviewer he thought Felton should have got the decision, as Barry chased him across the river. Arnst added: —‘‘Felton had nothing to say, but- took the beating: like a man |” but he told Arnst he thought he should have- won on a foul. Arnst said if Felton’s backers wanted him. to row Barry again and the latter was willing to row him in Australia), he Arnst, would waive his challenge as the first for the next match. The “Sunday News,” commenting on the foul, ss^ys:—-It looks-as if the collision could have been avoided by Felton, unless he was too tired to pull out of Barry’s way. SYDNEY, Aug. 30. Corrected time for,the pule sculling race was 7.20.

BARRY FINISHED

(Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) •SYDNEY, This Day.

Speaking at a. dinner in his honour, Barry offered as a suggestion for a settlement of the disputed question of who has the first right to challenge for the world’s title, that every man who thought lie had a chance of winning the title put up £250 towards a stake and the man who came through the elimination heats ajid won the final take tho lot. He added that he had no intention of contesting again.

FELTON DISSATISFIED

(Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Estimates of the spectators at the sculling race range to 150 thousand. Felton interviewed on Sunday said lie was prepared to row Barry again, publicly or privately, to prove that lie is better than the Englishman. Criticising the umpire, Felton said he was very dissatisfied with the decision of Beach, who was quite in error in saying the incident had no bearing on tlie result. He had heard since the race that when Beach was asked on the umpire’s boat what had happened, he seemed flabbergasted.