THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 147, 22 June 1909, Page 5

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

WON BY ARNST

WEBB BEATEN BY TWO LENGTHS.

[PBBSS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT,]

WANGANUI, this day. The match for the World's Sculling Championship, between Arnst and Webb, was rowed this afternoon on the Wanganui ißiver. The weather was fine, and the water beautifully smooth, giving every .prospect of a fair test of the skill and endurance of the two great oarsmen. During the day large crowds of v isitors arrived, and the steamers put en to follow the race were well patronised. Betting prior to the race was six to four in favour of Arnst( The race resulted:— ARNST « 1 WEBB 2 Details of the race will be published on Page 2.

THE COMPETITORS AND THEIR RECORDS. | i .1 THE LAST MATCH. | i The match in which the world's rowing championship was won by Arnst from Webb took place on the Wanganui River on December. Webb won the toss, and chose the inside course. At the end of the first half -mile, Arnsi* had a lead of a clear length, and both men were rowing 27 to the minute. Arnst, however, was putting more force into his strokes, though Webb's style was the better. The first mile was completed in 5 mm. 43sec, and Arnst had then increased his lead to two lengths. Webb was apparently bei coming anxious, as he turned round several times to see what was becoming of the leader. At the 1J mile post Arnst j had a lead of nearly four lengths, and although Webb endeavoured to spurt at I the end of the first two miles, the leader ' was able to forge his way ahead equally fast, and the distance separating the two boats increased to five lengths. Only {another mile and a quarter remained to |be covered, and the lead was a heart- | breaking cue for Webb to try and wear down. Shortly after entering the straight Webb showed signs of distress, and'his steering became so erratic that he nearly fouled among the willows- It was here that Webb's supporters now claim his affected arm and shoulder failed him, Arnst continued to pull at a healthy, virile, swinging pace, and won finally by eight lengths, Webb being twelve seconds behind him. THE SECOND MATCH ARRANGED. The second match between Arnst and Webb for the world's rowing championship was really the outcome of the dodged belief of Webb's supporters that their man was not in form on the occasion of the first race, rowed on the Wanganui on December 15. On that occasion Arnst won as he liked, and Webb stated that he " had never had a look in from the start, and the best man won." Per sistent rumours, nevertheless, went abroad that Webb's preparation for th« race had been greatly interfered with by his state of health, and that rheumat ism in the arm and shoulder was respon sible for the championship being wrestec from him. The report that he bad beei suffering from rheumatism Webb did no deny; but he Tefused to detract fron the glory of Arnst's win by saying tha< this circumstance had any bearing on tn< issue. After the last match, however Webb showed very considerable improve ment, and his friends were so highli pleased with his improved form that an Other match was arranged. Both tin contestants have been training for aom time on the championship course, and th Weather at Wanganui has been particu larly favourable for this time of the yeai Arnst and Webb both got in with a lot o good work before the race, and althougl a rumour has been going the rounds dur rag the last few days to the effect tha Arnst was not in the condition he wouli like to be, the hopes of supporters oi both sides ranked high, and a keen con test was keenly looked forward to i: this afternoon's battle. Webb's training was done in a new boat from Nelson, whic, was on the narrow side, and suited hir to perfection. Webb, as usual, had til services of Fogwell in his pr-jparator; work, and in his trials over the cham pionship course he was reported as bein, able to give his trainer lengths' start ani th.W\ beat him.

11 am open to learn. Anone who can give advice I will try and follow."

THE TWO MEN. Webb is a great deal lighter than Arnst, and their weights to-day -were list Sib and 13st 31b respectively. Turning to the physique of the two "men, the observer gathers the impression that one is a strong man naturally, and the other a strong man artificially. That is to say, Arnst fills the eye as possessing great strength, attributable to the natural growth of his physical proportions, whereas Webb has the appearance of an ordinarily strong man, built up to abnormal strength "by means of special training and systematic exercises. This does not mean that Arnst has not developed his natural powers. Far from it; but his natural strength is his first great asset. ARNST'S ATHLETIC CAREER. Arnst first came into prominence as a cyclist. In 1903 he won the New Zealand Wheel Race. This was followed by a number of fine performances in handicaps, mostly two miles, in many of which he proved successful. In 1906 he appropriated thu Sydney ThDUSMKI. Arnst now set to work, snd behind a motor pace, broke all records from a standing start. Altogether Arnst's cycling record stands thus —61 firsts, 72 i seconds, and many thirds. When Arnst was being rubbed down after winning the Dunlop Road Race from Timaru to Christchurolr} Mr. J. H. Parker, of Christchurch, eaid to him, "You ought to go in for sculling; you are just the build of man to win the world's championship, and there is more i honour in winning that sculling race { than in pulling off the best bike race in j j the woald." Arnst, who at this time | had never been in * boat, replied care- j j lessly, "Oh, thui bike is good enough i j for hie, Mr. Parker." -Nothing more was ' skid nt the time, end Arnst continued ! bis successes on the track. He went ! over to Bydnay, aftft won the Sydney ! Thousand, and some time after his re- | turn to New Zealand he entered Mr. • Parker's shop, in Christchurch. "Do ; you know ?>lr. PaTker," he said, "I have ; often thought over what you said about jmy going in for sculling. I have made 1 all the money I can in cycling, and have ' got to the top of the tree." Mr. Par- ' ker was as enthusiastic as ever, and act!cd promptly. He was leaving next day i for England, and arranged to see Arnst !at 10 o'clock on that morning. At the • appointed hour Arnet, with Mr. Parker ! and a few friends, went to see Dr. Thacker, and was most carefully examined. The result of the tests was thoroughly *ati9faetory—the doctor declared him to be a perfect type Of manhood without any discoverable flaw in him. The few friends assembled thereupon decided to send Arnst over to Sydney, and he was straightway dispatched to Australia to have six months' training under Charles Towns. It seemed to many an almost impossible task which Arnst had set himself. No one denied that he had the determination and stamina, but his want of familiarity with the water was regarded ac an insurmountable bar to any degree of success. He entered upon his task with enthusiasm and a determination to . overcome all obstacles. Occasionally he fell out of his boat through sheer ignorance in management, but undaunted by ; these experiences, he battled along, and now has achieved the proud distinction of being champion of the world.

Speaking of his early sculling days, he said recently, "I often fell out of the boats, and was chased by sharks, but I was chased harder during last August by Pearce than ever I was by a shark. I have got a lot to learn, and

THE WORLD'S SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. THE SCULLERS WHO PARTICIPATED ON THE WANGANUI IN TO-DAY'S CONTEST FOR THE WORLD'S - - - ANB THEIR TRAIN 885,.'

Within six months from the time he first put his foot into.a boat (August 12, 1906) he competed at the Anniversary Regatta in Sydney, and rowed second to S. Pearce. He would undoubtedly have won on that occasion but for the choppy water. The next month he won his first boat race, scoring in the Rush Handicap on the Parramatta, off 31 seconds.

champion, and was displaced the following year by E. Trickett, who gave place three years later to E. Hanlan. From 1884 to date the record is as follows;.— 1884— W. Beach beat E. Hanlan (Parra-

matta) , 20m 28Js. 1885— W. Beach beat T. Clifford (Parra-

matta), 26m. 1885— W. Beach beat E. Hanlan (Parra-

matta), 22m 51s. 1885— W. Beach beat N. Matterson (Par-

ramatta), 24m lite. 1886— W. Beach beat J. Gaudaur

(Thames), 22m 295. 1886— W. Beach beat W. Ross (Thames),

He followed this up by falling out of his boat at Maclean, but a little later I won a race at the same place off scratch, The handicappers were so impressed by 1 the form shown hy Arnst that they pulled him right back to scratch, and 1 from that mark he won at Ulmarra, beating C. Towns (scratch), and then 1 at Woodburn finished fourth. Later on at Coraki he scored another win. * He then decided to challenge Webb for the championship of the world. After arranging the match with Webb, Arnst went to Sydney to row a match over the Parramatta course with Harry . Pearce. That race was won by the * New Zealander, and he next beat Webb at Wanganui in December last. _.- • , 1 WILLIAM WEBB. 1 HIS PREVIOUS WINS. i William Webb was born in Lyttelton .. m 1879, and had his first tuition in row- ; ing from the Page Brothers. He did Some bicycle racing and running in his youth, and gave promise of becoming a good cyclist, but he had more fancy for rowing, and, after taking up his residence in Wanganui, devoted his spare time to his favourite sport. As an amateur and a member Of the Union Boat Club he had a couple of starts at Picton and one at Wellington in the Junior Fours, obtaining one first and two seconds. In 1900 he was first in the Maiden Sculls and Junior Fours, and was unplaced in the Junior Clinker Fours in Wanganui. In 1901 and 1902 he was first in the Senior Sculls at Wanganui, and also first in the Junior Sculls. NeSct I year he came first in the Senior Sculls I and first in the Champion Sculls at Wanganui, defeating M'Grath, of Dunedin, by a quarter of a mile. In 1903 and 1904 he was first in the Senior Fours, and first in the Senior Sculls. At Wellington, in 1904 and 1905, Webb came second in the Champion Sculls, being beaten by Wheteh when untrained. The same year he was first in the Double Sculls at Wellington, first in the Senior Clinker Fours, the Second Best-and-Best Fours, and the | Senior Sculls at Wanganui In 1905 and j 1906 he was first in the Championship' Sculls and Champion Double Sculls at I Picton, first in the Senior Fours at Waij tara, second in the Senior Fours, and first in the Senior Sculls at Wanganui. 1 Then came his first professional race, on December 25, 1906, when he met and • defeated James Stanbury, on the Wangai nui River, for the Championship of New Zealand and a £200 purse. His next engagement was his match on the Parra- [ matta River against Charles Towns, , whom he defeated easily at the finish for J j £500 a-side and the World's Champion- ; j ship. j i ________ ' ANOTHER HARRY SEARLE. i On August 1, 1908, at the finish of the 5 Arast-Pearce race for the Australian 1 championship, Beach, the unbeaten chamt pion of the world, said: "I have no doubt t ! about Arnst being the coming champion -| of the world." At the 6ame time, Peter . i Kemp, another world's champion of the » j past, declared: "I am certain that Ditk t j Arnst is another Harry Searle. From t what I saw of the contest he rowed a « great race, and 1 am positive he Will c beat any sculler in the world. Some , time, months ago, I anticipated that Webb would do great things. I do not - give Webb a look-in with him." t | c r PREVIOUS TIMES TAKEN.

23m os. 1887-W. Beach beat E, Hanlan (Ne-

pean), 19m 555. 1888—(P. Kemp beat T. Clifford {Parra-

matta), 23m. 475. 1888—-P. Kemp beat E. Hanlah (Parra-

matta), 53m 365. 1888—-P. Kemp beat E. Hanlah (Parra

matta), 21m 255. .1888— H. E. Searle beat P. Kemp (Parra-

matta), 22m 44J s. 1889— H. E. Searle beat W. O'Connor (Thames), 22m 425. .1890—P. Kemp beat N. .Matterson (Parramatta), 21m 13is. 1890—P. Kemp beat J. M'Lean (Parramatta), 21m 46gs. M'Lean beat P. Kemp (Parramatta), 22m 13s. Stanbury beat J. M'Lean (Parramatta), 22m 15Js. I#9l—J. Stanbury beat J. M'Lean (Parramatta), ISm 25s (full course not rowed). 1892—J.-Stanbury beat T. Sullivan (Parramatta), 18m 26Js (full course not ■rowed). 1896-J. ■Stanbury beat C. Harding (Thames), 21m 51s. i 1896— J. Gaudaur beat J. Stanbury | <Tbaahes),'23m Is. 11898— J. Gaudaur beat &. Johnson (Vancouver), 20m 5 -4-os. 1901— G. Towas beat J. Gaudaur (Canada), "20m 30s. 1904-45. -Towns beat R. Tresidder (Parramatta), 21m 48 4-53. 1906— J. Stanbury beat G. Towns, 19m 475. 1906— G. Towns 'beat J. Stanbury, 19m • 53J8. -'■ Towns beat Durnan, -22m 275. j 1907— W. Webb beat C. Towns, 20m 455. 1908— W. Webb beat &. Tresidder, 20m | 28s. 1908— R. Arnst beat W. Webb (Wanganui), 19m 525. 1909— R. Arnst beat Webb (Wanganui).

In the previous race between Arnst and I Webb the course, three miles and a quarter full, was covered in 19min 52sec, 36sec faster than the time put up by Webb when he beat Tresidder in February last. The first mile was covered in smih 43sec, the second in smin 54sec, and the ■ last mile and a-quarter in Bmin lOsec. It is interesting to note that both men ( have rowed over the championship I course on the Parramatta River, ahdj their respective times were:— , Webb. Arnst. I First mile ... 5m 40s 5m 41s Two miles .... llm 52s 11m 55a Full distance.. 20m 28s 20m 60s THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONS. The first world's championship was rowed on the Thames River (Eng.), in 1831, when C. Campbell defeated J. Williams. In the next 20 years, R. Coombes and T. Cole were the successful holders Of the title. The succeeding 20 years caw T. Cole, J. Messenger, H. Kelly, R. Chambers, and J. Renforth figuring in turn as world's champions, the best time record for the distance being 23mm 2osec. In 1874, J. H. Sadler became.