OLYMPIC SCULLING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 252, 3 August 1928, Page 3

OLYMPIC SCULLING.

AUSTRALIA'S EASY WIN. PIRST SUCCESS AT GAMES. (United Press Association—Copyright.) AMSTERDAM, August 2. Pearce recorded Australia's first success by defeating Walter Flinsch, five timesi champion of Germany, in the second heat of the sculls. An easier victory could not be imagined. Pearce had pulled up and was resting on his oars half a minute before the German passed the winning-post. He then shook hands, looking perfectly fit, while Flinsch was nearly rowed out. Pearce was much heavier than the slightly-built German, who, however, lias always won his country's own cnampionship with the greatest of ease. The wind, which almost invariably benefits scullers, to-day perversely chopped round, blowing across the course, and being rather against the contestants. The time was 7min 55 4-5 Pearce's 12-lengths' victory might just as easily have been 25 lengths. The time first announced was more than two minutes slower than Pearce had been doing the distance in during practice, but half an hour later it was officially corrected. This was a great relief to the Australians, as in the third heat the Canadian oarsman, Wright, recorded 7min 56 4-ssec. The Dutch champion, Gunther, however, put up such a good fight that the Canadian had less than a length to spare, thus adding to the optimism of Pearce s {*\\ ITIO6S The racing started at 9.20 a.m., and consequently there was a mere handful of spectators, practically confined to a few villagers. Beside the winningpost was a Dutch housewife and her five children. She sat unconcernedly knitting while the race finished. Pearce made the first 250 metres in 3sec faster time than Wright, who, though he pressed hard, took a second longer than the Australian over the full course. Pearce and Wright were clearly the outstanding rowers. Only two out of six winners in the heats beat eight minutes. The comparative slowness is accounted for by the fact that the water was even more dead than usual as a result of to-day's ram. Pearce rows his second heat on SaturA well-known English coach expressed the opinion that Pearce is the best sculler he has seen for years, his only possible fault being that his/ body swings back slightly too fast.— tralian Press Association.