SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1921, Page 12

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

DICK ARNST AND WORLD S TITLE. THE PADDON-McDEVITT RACE. (By Argus.) On Friday last Dick Arnst, who claims to be the holder of the title of world's sculling champion, sailed in the Manuka •for Wellington (N.Z.), en route to Blenheim, where he is to meet J. (Pat) Hannan on the Wairau River, either at the end of May or early in June. And let it be said that Arnst’s claim to the title is, by adherence to the rules, fully justified. Before he sailed Arnst accorded several interviews to pressmen —and I was able to have a chat with him also —in connection with his claim and his coming race with Hannan. The substance of those statements is: “I claim the title legitimately. My challenge to Barry was in order, but the Englishman failed to cover my deposit of £lOO lodged with the Sunday Tinies (Sydney) for a match within the period stipulated. The conditions are straightforward enough. A challenge has to ba accepted before the expiration of three’ months. The race must then eventuate inside six months. Bary ignored my challenge, which was made in all good faith prior to the recent big matches on the Parramatta, when Barry won back the title from Felton. ■ I waited much longer than the stipulated three months, but heard nothing. ( Now, I mean to defend the title. There will be no hedging where I am concerned. Everyone will have his turn as long as I am Aampion, provided his challenge conforms to the recognised rules. “With regard to my match with Hannan, we meet for the title. Hannan is allowing me my expenses, and for that reason I have waived my right to name the course and agreed to go to New Zealand. The race may be for a stake of £5OO aside, or £250. That remains to be adjusted when I arrive. Hannan is the only sculler who has challenged me in conformity with the rule§, to date, but I expect that the winner of the Australian title will be after me shortly.”

POSITION REVIEWED. Now that is the Arnst side of the question, and I have no intention of. neither can there be any necessity for, wading through the whole of the happenings,. and the challenges and counterchallenges, since A. D. Felton defeated Barry on the Thames—my readers are doubtless conversant with them. But whilst fully admitting the legitimacy of Arnst’s claim to the title, and in no way disputing that Hannan was the first challenger to put up a £lOO deposit many of the happenings since the day when Felton beat Barry on the Thames certainly do not appeal to me. Firs, snd foremost is the case of James Pardon, who, try as he could and did, was. unable to get in the firing line with the holder of the title. And it may bp mentioiud that when men of different countries are to meet, the challenge must be accompanied by a deposit of £lOO whilst in the case of two men of the same country the amount it £25.

MATTER OF THE DEPOSIT. I mention this because Hannan, by altering his first deposit of £25 to one of £lOO, evidently thought Arnst was now rated, owing to lengthy residence iu Sydney, as an Australian, whilst Arnst, relying upon being still raced as a New Zealander, has taken no notice of I). W. Ripley’s challenge (Ripley lodged £25 with The Referee) on the ground, so I understand, that his challenge did not conform to the recognised rule;—presumably Ripley should have lodged £lOO. as he is a man of a different country from Arnst. Anyway, I think I am safe in saying that the winner of the coming race for the Australian title will not be “after Arnst portly”—the winner of the Paddon-McDevitt race will row D. W. Ripley, and the trick apparently propose to let Arnst severely alone.

ARNST AND HANNAN. To revert to the Arnst-Hannan match. Arnst first won the title by defeating Wm. Webb (the holder) on Dec. 15, 1908, on the Wanganui River (N.Z.). He then successfully defended his title against Webb (on the Wanganui River on June 22, 1909), against G. Wheleh (at Akaroa Harbor N.Z., on April 4, 1910), against E. Barry (on the Zambesi, Rhodesia, on August IS, 1910), and .against H. Pearce (on the Parramatta River, Sydney, on July H, 1911). On July 29, 10*12, he lost the title to Ernie Barry over the P. to M. course on the Thames. Barry then successfully defended the title against three challengers (Durnan, Pearce, and Paddon), until he lost it to A. D. Felton on the Thames on Oct. 27, 1919. Barrv regained it from Felton on Hip Parramatta on August 28 last. And now Arnst regains it by default through the non-acceptance of his challenge.

THE AUSTRALIAN TITLE. We will now turn to the Australian championship, to be contested by James Paddon (holder) and Wm. McDevit: (challenger) on the Richmond River at Woodburn on 30th inst. This event, which not only carries the title but also The Referee Challenge Cup, is arousing much interest. The rivals have been on the course for some time now, training hard for the coming race, despit? very bad weather. The champion, who rowed his last match race on Sept. 7, 1914, on the Thames, when he lost to Ernie Barry, ii. their contest for the world’s championship, now has the advice of Mr. Harry Floyd as mentor-in-chief, with Eddie La|rsen as trainer and pacer. Paddon won the title and the right to hold The Referee Cup by defeating Arnst on the Parramatta on Nov. 1, 1913 — Paddon" led from start to finish, and won decisively after a stirring contest. And by the irony of fate the loser is holding the world's title. Latest advices from Woodburn are to the effect that Paddon is close to weight —a will? last week reported him to be 14st. 'lhe holder will defend his title in The Referee, the boat given to him by the directorate of this paper, and in which he rowed against Barry on the Thames.

PADDON'S EXPERIENCES. Champion James Paddon, writing from South Woodburn (April 5, 1921), says: “I have shifted my camp into Wood--1 burn, and am now hard at it on the ’ course| where the great event will take 'place, I Billy McDevitt is also here, and looks dxtremely well. He has a beauf.l- - ful-loojcing boat with him, and is doing good, useful work over the course. Mr. Harry Floyd arrived here last night—or, I should say, at 3 o’clock this morning. He looks ever so much better. We ave •having most terrible weather for train-

ing—it scents to see how hard it can rain each time we go for a row. With a bit of a fresh in the river, we are getting very rough water to row on. It is nothing to see one of us capsize each day we go out. I am very well at present.” McDevitt has with him Mip McKenzie as adviser-in-chief and Jack Casey to do lhe pacing work. He also has a new boat by George Towns, and I understand he strips at about 12st 21b—his rowing weight. He has been rowing in matches and handicaps almost continuously for a lengthy period, and is reported to be very well and fit. THE FINAL'DEPOSIT. The final deposits of £lOO on the side are to be made good with Mr. E. M. Grano, manager of the London Bank of Australia at South Woodburn, Richmond River, on or before the 23rd inst., by which date Paddon will lodge the Referee Clip with Mr. Grano, who, to suit the convenience of the scullers, is assisting iis in the matter. .