A SURPRISE PACKET

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 301, 16 December 1908, Page 3

A SURPRISE PACKET

ABKST ANNEXES WORLD'S SCULL DIG CHAMPIONSHIP. RACE WON FROM END TO END. IN SPLENDID TIME. WEBB PERFECTLY SATISFIED. MET A FASTER SCULLER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. The great event is over and Wanganui .no longer retains the championship, 1 and Webb's supporters are

SAD TO-NIGHT. Nothing like the enthusiasm was showi at the finish of the race as on the previous occasion; in fact, many hardly realised that the champion was defeated, and it was not long and pronounced cheering that greeted the challenger as he passed the post. i The population of Wanganui was early aUoat, and the early trains poured lorth strong contingents into the towu. Jn setting out for the scene of the great contest, every conceivable vehicle, from milk carts upwards, had been •pressed into requisition, and all th„ morning a steady stream of peopk thronged up each side of the river. The steamers and motor launches were also in great demand, the early boats being largely availed of on account of reduced passages. WANGANUI CONFIDENT.

The majority of local citizens were sanguine that the local champion would stilt retain the honors, and were quite willing, to speculate upon the result, and consequently upon the ptevtous evening a good deal of foreign capital found ready investment, the odds, ofj course, not being very extended, except I in a tew minor instances.

Along the coast it may safely be said that the interest was equally as keen as,on the last occasion, but enthusiasts state there was not so large an influx of distant visitors, probably accounted for by the approaching festive season. ' Webb's colors were liberally displayed, punctuated occasionally by the black ' badge of Arnst's supporters. The steamers set out for the starting point at 2.15, light rain commencing to fall. On arrival Arnst and his trainer were found located under the shelter of a large .willow tree. Nearing the appointed time for starting; Webb pulled up the river, being greeted with cheers. Both men looked in splendid condition, and little did Wanganui supporters dream that the challenger had such a surprise packet in store. Spectators lined the banks from the finishing post to the mile post. Many followed the race on horses. THE TOSS.

Webb won the toss, and elected, to take the inside running. He wore his usual colors, light blue, and scaled US. Arnst, attired in black, scaled 13.3. The start was by mutual consent, and after a short interval, the GREAT EACE STABTED at 4.5. From the steamers it was hard to obtain a good view of the commencement, but when some of the gap had been made up, it became plainly evident that the

CHALLENGER HAD A GOOD LEAD.

For the first minute, Arnst rowed 34 and Webb 33, both rowing excelleatly in business-like fashion, and showing plenty of weight.

A clearer view could be obtained at the bend, about a quarter of a mile from the start, showing

ABNST LEADING by nearly half a length. At the halfmile he had increased the distance to over a length. Nothing eventful happened in tuo remainder of the race to the mile post, although it was plainly evident that Arnst was still increasing the distance. Webb turned round to locate his position, but apparently showed no inclination to reduce the gap. Arnst maintained

A POWERFUL STROKE, keeping in the centre of the stream, while Webb pursued nearly the same course as in his raw against Tresidder.

At the two-uiile, Arnst had increased Ihe distance to fire lengths, while Webb was striving gamely, although it was quits apparent that all hope of his retaining THE CHAMPIONSHIP HAD FLED. Hounding the bend, Arust still further drew ahead, and at the two and ji-nalf miles was practically . SIX LENGTHS AHEAD. Arnst continued his race fresh and strong, and when the gun announced his passing the post, lie had about seven, lengths to his credit. Webb, when Hearing the finish, almost came in contact with the boats along the right bank.

• Tlie official times are—One mile, oinin 43sec; two miles lliuin Msec; total, 1!) J mm 52sec. (Webb's time in the Webb- ' Iresidder race was 20min 28sec). When settled down, both men rowed •' 26 strokes to the minute, and at the finish Arnst was rowing 24 and Webb '' 30. ~&* , . WAXGAXLI A BAD LOSER. . There was not such enthusiasm shown by the spectators as upon Webbs previous victory, as the result came as a surprise. Locally, it was expected that Webb would just about succeed, and it was quite apparent that the capabilities of the challenger had been m--der-estiinated, for had he been pushed he must have knocked some seconds off the full time, proving conclusively he is *■ .<■,*. . - CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS. - Webb rowed up to his reputation, especially in the first two miles, but could make no impression upon the winner. The race concluded in pouring rain, and the return journey to Wanganui ( was accompanied with heavy jam. ARNST INTERVIEWED. Returning to his camp, Arnst had i most enthusiastic reception, round after round of cheers greeting him as he pulled up to his staging. After seeing to the housing of his boat, and getting away from his many admirers, Arnst rc- ' tired to his tent for a rub down and refreshment. "Well," he said' in reply to a question, '"I don't know that there is anything much to say about it. I liad a jolly hard race over the first mile, and £ept moving. I was ahead at the mile jpost." "Did you have a good passage?' was asked by a bystander. "Oh, yes, I had a good run, though there was a lot of driftwood about, and once I thought my boat was sinking. It went right over one piece. I think I deserve my win. I have worked hard jenough for it." ■ "What did Webb have to say to you!" jwas a question which attracted the champion's attention next. "Billy Webb is a good sort,'' was his reply. "He said, 'Good luck; you'll win .plenty more races; that's the last go you'll have at me.'" Reverting to the race, Arnst said: "I '/went over at the mile, and 'washed' him; I thought the Worlds' Sculling Championship was in the balance, and it was all in the game. I want you to say ]k>W| indebted I am to my trailer and assistants—Fogwell. Nelson and Floyed—and nut in a Ktwiul wnrrt fnr Ihn /»<vA- " l,p

added. - Asked about his future intentions, "Arnst said he would row wherever the most money was available. He yvas ROWING TO MAKE MONEY, and would go yvherover it promised best. WEBB SATISFIED. Webb, interviewed on arrival at the boatshed at Aramoho, was by no means downcast over the event, and though he did not know the time taken, he considered the race a fast one. He thought, jArnst bad won rather easily, and he' ,did not appear to have extended himself much. "Although not pumped at the finish. I had put in the licst I was capable of," said Webb; "and T am satisfied Arnsl was too fast for me. ITe deserved to ,win after the pace he got on. He got (niiekly off the mark, and was half a length ahead in the first six strokes. ■That, however, did not bother me, as I have never won a race from the jump."

WHELCH SURPRISED.

w>, . , Wnaganui. Last Night. unelch, interviewed, said the result came a s a shock to him. |[ o thought Webb must win on the f„ nil s | lO yvn in traimng. Of the two contes an s was of o,>n,ion Webb „«.,„,.,, ,j r ,.,l ami under-trained, as he dM not ;", \ himself when opening the race, lior die bis spurt seem to have any power in it

Even-had he been well, to his minil lie could not have won. Any lault jji-uvi-ously iouud in Artist's sculling disappeared yesterday. Arnst, if pushed, could, in his opinion, have knocked a j. few seconds off Stanbury's time of l'Jmin 47sec. Mr. Cannulas' (judge) ollieial verdict was that the race was wou by six lengths, but he was not certain. FEELINU IN SYDNEY.

GRATIFICATION OVER THE RESULT Received 10, 10.58 p.m. Sydney, Last Night. iXews of Artist's win was received with much gratilieatioti. The win fulfilled the predictions of many prominent aquatic authorities, who never wavered in their faith that Arnst was so improved since \\ ebb's visit to Australia itliat he would be likely to give the champion "a staking." The only surprise was Webb's failure to make the linish harder.

THE NEW WORLDS CHAMPION. Before all tits cheering and shout rag of various kinds over Wangamii's triumph on tha 25th February la.,t when Webb defended h s title against Dick Tressidcr, were finished, At*it's eltallenge was in. The stalwart ex-cyclist had been in W'anganui for some time with his faithful Fog well, the genial little titan (only comparatively, of course) who is a perpetual contradiction of his name. He is sunwell by [ nature, and he is a scullwell, too, as his opponents have had good reason to learn. The two could be constantly seen about Wanganui, like a battleship escorted by a torpedo-boat. In these days Arnst was slightly disposed to bang the Arnst drum, for he was fresh from Australia, where men had begun to fear to risk their money against him. Later on, however, his mood changed, and it was a different Artist who arrived back

[ in New Zealand after he had conquered Pearce. He was then 14st of modesty. , "They all tell nte I've a lot to learn,' he smiled, and the smile was a deepseated one. He fully recognised that he had set himself a mighty task in matching himself against Webb. Arnst almost scaled 14st when he reached New Zealand early in the spring, and he raced at a pound or so over 13st, every ounce of it good material. Power lurks in every part of him, as even the other party's supporters freely recognised, and he has crowded much experience into the three years since he deserted the'bicycle for the '•shell." In other days he was the idol of small hoys (he is an idol of a different order now), who slipped off to Lancaster Park at Christchurch to see his frame whizzing along at something like thirty miles an hour. He has. pushed the pedals beside "Major" Taylor, and other world champions, and both on the track and on the road he proved himself one entitled to rank with the highest and mightiest. Then* a tempter came. After racing for the Sydney Thousand four or five years ago, one Parker put it into the head of Arnst that he was a man made to order for the glory on the river. Arnst laughed at the idea, but about eighteen months later Mr. Parker mentioned that a syndicate would see Arnst through his training, and then the athlete agreed to give the proposition a trial. "Well," he said, long afterwards, "I often fell out of the boats aad was chased by sharks, but I was chased harder on Saturday (during last August) by Pearce than ever by a shark. I have got a lot to learn, and I am open to learn. Anyone who can give be good advice I will try to follow."

Practically all of Arnst's sculling has been learned in New South Wales, and that is why his chances were so well liked in Sydney. He first caught the public eye by pulling second to Pearce in the Anniversary Handicap of 1905. His first victory was in Rush's Handicap, in which he vanquished S. Kemp (son of the ex-champion, Peter Kemp/, In the big handicap of the McLean Regatta, on the Clarence River, ho won his heat, but "outed" himself in the final by tumbling out of his boat. Arnst won his next handicap on the Clarence river, beating Mitchell and Donnelly. At Ulmarra he vanquished Charles Towns, and at Cor.iki he won a £SO handicap against S. Kemp. Then he had a long interregnum.. He looked for fighters, but none came at him till he managed to get a match arranged last August with Harry Pearce for £2OO aside, and the cash went in the New Zealander's direction. Arnst!s performance on that day gave n glow to the veteran jvaeh (the umpire), who declared a little Inter on that "his opinion was that with ii little more, tuition Arust wouiu V? the champion of the world.'' ARNST'S CYCLING RECORD. Horn November 25th, 188:5, at TVtapn, near C'hristchurch.' Took to spori. at 18 years of age. when lie appeal';:,l on the cycling track in 1001, securing two firsts and one second.

Later competed in the Ohrisulmrch —Timaru road race, finishing fourtli} first time and third on the next oeea-

Then competed in the Melbourne— Waruanibool road race, putting up second fastest time, his brother winning in record time.

Competed in other events, and returned to Xew Zealand, where he won the New Zealand Wheel Race in 1003. Afterwards was successful in handicaps, .mostly two miles. Next, in 1000, he went to Australia again, and won the Sydney Thousand. Arnst then, with motor pacing, broke all records from standing starts. His cycling record is—ol firsts, 72 seconds, and 80 thirds. THE EX-CHAMPIOX. Much to Wauganurs regret Webb was born in liyttelton, just over thirty years ago, but for thirteen years he has. belonged to Wanganui. When he is not I busy at challenging other scullers or being challenged by them, he is busy at a workshop at Aramoho. He is a modest, quiet townsman, fond of sculling, and fond of minding his own business. When there is sculling to be done he does it well; when there is other work i to be done, he docs that well, too. Since he began his racing career some thirteen years ago, he has started in about thirty events, and victory has come to him twenty-one times. 'Here is his record in brief:—

1890.—First Maiden Pairs, at Akaroa; second, Double Sculls, at Akaroa; first, Maiden Pairs, at Little River; unplaced, Youth Pairs and Double Sculls, at C'liristchurck llcgatta.

1897—First, Junior Fours at Wa-1 nganui. I )K9B—Second, Junior Fours, at Wellington; second, Junior Fours, at Picton; second, Senior Fours, at Picton. 1900.—First Maiden Double Sculls, at Wanganui; second, Junior Fours, at , Waiigani'ri; unplaced, Senior Fours, at

Wanganui. 1902 —First Championship Single Sculls, at Wanganui; first, Senior Single Sculls, at Wellington. I!)o4.—First, Senior Single Sculls, ac Wellington: first, Senior Fours, at Wellington; Senior Fours (best boats), at Wanganui. 1 !H)t">.—Second Chninpio.isliip Sculls, at Wellington; first, Championship Double ; Sculls, at Wellington; first, Senior Clinker Fours, at Wanganui; first, Senior Singles at Wanganui; first, Senior fours (best boats), at Wanganui. 1900—First, Champion Singles, at Picton: first. Champion Doubles, at Pieton; first, Senior Fours, at Waitara; first. Senior Singles, at Waii;;anui; 'C-

eond Senior Fours, at V. anganui; and defeated James Stanbury for the Cham- ' pionship of New Zealand. Q 1907.—Defeated Charles Towns for the Championship of the World. inns.—Defeated R. Tresidder for the Championship of the World. ' IflflS. Lost Championship of the J World to Richard Arnst, A GLANCE AT PAST (HAMPTONS. The championship of the world was once identical with championship of England, and it was Trickctt who started the new list by winning the honors for Australia in IS7«. Tlanlan beat Trickett in 1880. Beach beat llaiila-.i in ISS4. Clifford ISB3. (iaudaur and Ross in 18S(i. and Hanlan again in 1887, and then retired unbeaten. Kemp assumed the title in 1830, and bent Hanlan. He defeated Tlanlan again hi 1888, but was beaten by- Searle in Hie same year. Searle beat O'Connor in 1888, and'died with the title. Kemp again became champion, and beat McLean and Mattersou in 1.800. but McLean afterward.! wrested title from him in ISDO. ; Sta-.ibnrv came along, however, and beat McLean'in 1801, and defcaied O'Connor. ' Sullivan a:id Harding, but eventually lost the championship to C.andaur in ISflfl. Onndanr was benlen bv Oeorß.?' Towns in 1001, and Towns held the title until defeated by James St.anbu "V ' in 100.V The following year ficorg'o. ' Towns had his revenge in defeating t Rtanbnrv. In the rear 1007 he cuciv-s----1 fully defended thf title against the '' Canadian, Human, the race li-mih; rnw- ' e<l on the Nepean river, after which lie e retired, handing the title over to his ' brother, Charles Towns, yvho was dc- • featcd by Wm, Webb on 3rd August,

, I'JOT, on the l'arrainatta, N.S.W. Oi . Ailli February, 11108, Webb vaiiquisliei . li. Tresiddcr on the Wanganui riwr. WORLD'S CHAMPIONS. The list of winners of the championship is:—■ 1831—, C Campbell beat J. Williams (Thames). 1838— U. Campbell beat It. .Coonvbes (Thames). 1840— U. Coombes beat C. Campbiil

L> (Thames), 2(iiuiu lUscc. 1847—1 i. Cuoinbcs boat It. Newell (Thames), gSiiuin 40sec. 1851— R. Coombes beat X. Alelvitmey I (Thames), 27min 30see. . 1852 T. Cole beat K. Coombes (Thames), 25min lSsee. j 1852 T. Cole beat K. Coombes (Thames), 23min Msec. 1854 J. Messenger beat T. Cole j (Thames), 24tuin 45sec. 1857-11. Kelly beat J. Messenger (Thames), 24min 30see. 18.39 K. Chambers beat 11. Kelly

(Thames), 25min 25sec. | 1800—li. Chambers beat X. Whit' (Thames), 23min 25sec. ~ 1803—11. Chambers beat li. W. Green ~M (Thames), 25miu 35sec. 1805— H. Kelly beat R. Chambers, 23mi» ''. 23sec. ! 1800-11. Kelly beat J. llammill (TjW), 32min 45sec. ', ISOO-R. Chambers beat J. H. Sadler i (Thames), 25iuiu 4see. -. 18(17—11. Kelly beat R. Chambers (Tyne), 31min 47sec. 1808-J. Renforth beat H. Kelly (Thames), 23min losec, 1874—0. H. Sadler beat R. Bagnall (Thames) 24min losec. 1875 J. H. Sadler beat E. W, Boyd (Thames), 28min osec. 1876 E. Trickett beat J. H. Sadler (Thames), 25min 23sec. 1877 E. Trickett beat M. Rush (l'arramatta), 23min 37see. I 1870— K. Trickett beat E. Laycock (I'arraiuatta), 23min 39% sec. 1880— E. Haitian beat E. Trickett, ' (Thames), 20min 12scc. 1881— E. lltinlnit beat E. Laycock (Thames), 25min '4osec. 1882—]•;. Haitian beat I!. AY. Boyd (Tyne), 21niin 2osec. 1883— K. Haitian beat E. Trickett (Thames), 28min. , 1884-K. Iranian beat E. Laycock (Nepean), 22min 45see. 1884—AA'. Beach beat E. Hanlan (Pnr- j ramatta), 20min 28'/.si'c. 1885—AV. Beach beat T. Clifford (I'arra- , matta), 20min. . 1885-AV. Beach beat E. Hanlan (Pnrramatta), 22min losec. , 1885-iW. Bench beat N. Mattersoii , (Parramatta), 24min ll'/ a sec. 1885— W. Beach beat J. Gaudau(Thames), 22min 29see. 1880—AV. Beach beat AV. Ross (Thames), 23min sscc. 1887— \\. Beach beat E. Hanlan (Ne- 0 pean), 19min 55sec. 18S8-P. Kemp beat_T. Clifford (I'arra- f

matta), 23min 47sec. 1888—P. Kemp beat E. Hanlan (Parra-

matta), 21min 36sec. 1888—P. Kemp beat E. Hanlan (Parra-

matta), 21min 25sec. 1888— H. E. Searle' beat P. Kemp (Parramatta), 22inin 44'/ 2 sec. 1889— H. E. Searle beat W. O'Connor (Thames), 22min 42sec. 1890—P. Kemp beat N. Matterson (Parramatta), 21min 13y 2 sec. 1890—P. Kemp beat J. McLean (rarramatta), 21min 46% sec. 1890— J. McLean beat P. Kemp (Parramatta) 22min 13sec. •1891-J. Stanbury beat J. McL-an (Parramatta), 22min 15V 2 seo. *lß9l—J. Stanbury beat J. McLean (Parramatta), IBmin 25see (full

course not rowed). •1892-J. Stanbury beat T. Sullivan (Parramatta), 18min 26'/ 2 sec. (Full course Tiot rowed).

1890— J. Stanbury beat C. Harding (Thames), 21min 51sec. 1898— J. Gaudaur beat J. Stanbury (Thames), 23min lsec. 1898— J. Gaudaur beat R. Johnson (Van-

couver), 20min 5 4-ssec. 1901-G. Towns beat J. Gaudaur (Can-

, ada), 20min .'SOsec. 1904-G. Towns boat R. Tresidder (Par-

ramatta), 21n>in 48 4-s?cc. tl9os—Stanbury beat Towns, lflmia 53y, sec. 1900—Towns beat Stanbury, lflniin 4T SM. 1907—Towns beat Durnan, 22min 27sec. 1907—-Webb beat C. Towns, 20min 45s<rc. 1908—Webb beat Tresidder, 20min 28sec. 1908—Arnst beat Webb, lflmin 52scc. NOTES. 'These races started quite half a mile from the usual place.

t Tliis race was started 480 yards ■above the usual place, and finished 000 yards short of the monument. The Parramntta course is II miles 330 yards; the Xepean course about 3% miles; the Tyne course .') miles 71:1 yards; Rat Portage course 3 miles, with a turn half-way; the Thames course 4 i!'.i!"s 400 yards; the Wanganui oours' i- 3'/, miles. Currents and wind have, of course, had some influence on tike times in various events.