SCULLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 303, 18 December 1908, Page 4

SCULLING.

ENGLISH EYES ON NEW ZEALAND. A London correspondent, writing after the Barry v. Towns match, in which the latter was defeated by two lengths, said: -The next thing looked for in rowing circles here is a match between liarry and the winner of the WcbbArnst race for the championship of the world. George Towns sa.id after tlr; race that he had really intended, when he handed over the world's* championship to his brother Charles, to retire from sculling. He had had his day, and ■Was getting on in years. But' when Barry left the amateur ranks and challenged liiin for the championship of England, which Jie has held since 181)0, it seemed to be a good opportunity for his wife to see her friends in England, so he had come. Ho hoped the result would resuscitate interest ia sculling in England." He added: ''You have now a champion, but 1 have a man out yonder who Jl think can come over here and beat him. His name is Dick Arnst, of New Zealand, who is matched to row Webb on December loth jiext for the world's championship, lie is a magnificent exponent of the art, and .if brought to England will, .1 think, prove himself a credit to the country to which I am returning a vanquished mail." Mr. Spencer Gollan, who furnislud Towns's backing, said to Barry after the race: '"Well, the next best thing for you to do is to come over to New Zealand and row Webb. It would be a good match."

"I'll be pleased to row Webb," replied flurry, "but I'hl not going to leave mv wife and kiddy for that, and X can't nll'ord to take them so great a distance. If .Webb will come to England I'll row him" A'n effort is to be made to induce the winner of the Webb-Amst match to come to England to defend the championship of the world on the Thames, 'but it is most unlikely <the holder of that title, whoever he may be, will ever forego the right, established by Gaudanr, to defend it in his own waters.