SCULLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 302, 17 December 1908, Page 3

SCULLING.

THE WORLDS CHAMPIOXSIJII'.

BARRY v. ARNST.

~ ,„ , London, December 15. W lililC^ ti ;"' e has informed tin Sportsman that, if Arnst cares to vidi England, K Barry, the English <>„,, «on, can he matched to scull a-ahH '»■» on the Thames for the championsl'ip ot the world. . '

PAYING OVER THE STAKES.

WEBBS BACKER STILL "WILUX

By Telegraph -press Association.

Wangamii, Last Xigbt. flic ceremony of paying over tinstakes m connection with the world 1 - sculling championship took place this evening, when a h.rgely attended smoke concert was held. Mr. R. Coombcv,, editor „f the Sydney Referee, Occupied the chair. Arnst and Webb had oreat receptions. The proceedings were "of a very enthusiastic nature.

A number of visiting pressmen mid "sports" expressed the opinion that the VVanganin river was unsurpassed in -Vw Zealand as a .scene of a championship race. Arnst and Mr. Parker his thief supporter, said that when' the next race was rowed the claims of the W angaaiui river would receive consideration.

Webb, in responding to the toast of his health, acknowledged that he was fairly beaten, and wished Arnst a long tenure of the position lie now held! Mr. Tuck, who was Webb's solo backer, said he was as proud as ever of his ■man, and would be ready with the necessary money should Webb want to have auother "go." MR. COOMBES' UPIXIOX. Mr. R. Coombes, editor of the Sydnev Referee, who is perhaps one of the best authorities on athletics in the colonies, was seen by a Chronicle reporter after the race. j

"Would you mind giving me your opinion about to-day's race r" -Well," said Mr" Coombes, "I can bnly say 1 was not surprised. You know, as I told yon a couple of days ago, that when I left Australia I, like ■ninety per cent, of the rowing people, thought Arnst would win. Taking a line through the performances of Arnst, Pearce, Tresidder, and Webb, I thought that Arnst would lead by two lengths 'at the mile, but I had nothing on which to judge as to what would happen afterwards. When I got to New Zealand 1 became saturated with Webb, and maybe I paid a little too much attention to "what was being said. I had only seen the men. doing easy work, and could not judge properly of their capabilities. I •was in no way surprised by the result; in fact, I anticipated its" "What did you think of Webb's performance?"

' "I think he rowed an extremely plucky race, though not showing any advance in pace or form compared with when I last saw him. He was rowing against a man who, I am convinced, is one of the greatest scullers I have seen. There is no sculler known to me who fcould beat Arnst."

"What about Barry?" "I am of the opinion," replied Mr. Coombes, "that Barry would consider the matter carefully before taking on 'Arnst. Probably the inevitable challenge will come from Duruan, but as the Canadian was beaten on the Nepean by Towns I don't see that he would 'have any chance against Arnst." 1 In the course of further conversation 'Jit Coombes said: "Arnst sculled in remarkably good form to-day. He reached but well, got a splendid grip of the ■water, and finished the stroke with a strong hard leg drive. The boat travelled beautifully between the strokes. 'Arnst steered a splendid course, but I think a good deal of this may be attributed to Fogwell, who was sitting on the top of the mast of the Waiiuarie, 'and acted as a semaphore to Arnst. There i 3 no doubt Annst is a phenomenon. He was trained to the hour. There were some who thought lie was too light, but evidently his handlers '(Messrs. Floyd, Nelson, and Fogwell) knew exactly what was wanted."

■Writing on Arnst on the occasion of •his match with Pearce, the Bulletin remarked: "Arnst's appearance over the 'sculling horizon has been somewhat astounding. When he WO7l the Sydney Thousand he had never been in an outrigger. A number of Maoriland admirers •who believed lie hail the makings of a 'great oarsman inside his clothe, .sent bill! across to Sydney to lie trained-, 'and straightway Dick began to fall overboard with monotonous regularity. Th n he managed to balance himself, an I 'pulled Iwat after boat to pieces. His 'first really fast work was one day whin \\ shark, with an admiring expression In his dull, fishy eye, ranged up alongside and looked ;is though Jie meant making a closer acquaintance. Arnst Spurted as he had never spurted before. He rolled and he wallowed, and the •foam iind the spume flew, but the bo? I tore through the water so fast that the Shark hail doubts, and hurried alongside 'waiting for an opportunity to get the foam out of his eyes and do the job •neatly. And Dick never gave him .1 •chance. Before Bluenose could get an opportunity lie found himself in danger 'of being stranded, and Dick had landed •in safety. A shark is a fine pacemaker; It i.s said these brutes can work up t>? SO miles an hour for a short sprint. The unknown man stood suddenly reVealcd as a mighty sculler, one on whom the championship of the world will \l- - certainly fall. Beauty of style, 'grace of poise, he had none. He was a 'great, grim, black rowing-machine, made for utility only. He didn't even sit Straight, but bent over on one side, like !a crab with rheumatism in his hiiul'quartcrs. But he drove his l, o at as fast !as it was necessary, and could have 'driven !t faster had he desired, and 'after that 10-ng struggle over three miles iind 330 yards he was a* fresh as any 'morning daisy, while his opponent was 'all but dead to the world."