ROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 206, 28 August 1920, Page 18

ROWING.

>ays the Sydney "Sun" of Towns' win in the Sydney Sculling Handicap:—"Certainly the superior boatmanship of Towns, together with his local knowlodge, was a big factor in his favour, considering the conditions, but, nil the same, he had to be m a desperate hurry against wind and tide for a mile and a"half. Scull'rig is not the least strenuous form of athletics by any means, and that the champion sculler of the world and his challenger, the ex-champion, were unable to concede Towns the start fixed by the handieappers. was a feather in the cap of a man now in his 53rd year."' "The crowd, however, went to see Felton and Barry," continues the "Sun." "They met in the event which Towns won. and discussion chiefly centred upon which one would beat the other. The course for the championship is a trifle over three miles. Yesterday's race was just half that distance—a sort of pipeopener for the big event later on. Felton is credited with favouring short dashes, and he duly beat Barry, but the margin was so slight that Barry's supporters loudly proclaimed that they were perfectly satisfied with the Englishman's showing. Had he not cut down a six lengths' lead to a length over a distance at which he had never shone? Partisans of Felton. on the. other hand, were just as happy. They indicated rather than said that Felton's mission was to beat 'Barry—only that, and nothing more."

The Consolation Handicap at the recent Parramatta Regatta brought Dick Arnst. an ox-champion, into the limelight again. He. 7s credited with having got 4st in weight off during the past few months in anticipation of contending for the blue ribbon of sculling again. In the circumstances one expected him to look like a thin elephant or v half-empty balloon. Instead, he looked like nil athlete in the pink of condition. As Arnst was taking up his position at the starting point someone from the umpire's boat yelled out. "Is that the heavy boat you were in last week, Dick?" Arnst replied, "I can't hear you!" The question was repeated more loudly, hut Arnst shook his head, and indicated that he was still unable to hear. After he had won his heat in great style in a boat much lighter than the one he had previously rowed in, someone said, "'What did you win by, D'ck?" Dick was no longer deaf. With the greatest of good humoir he remarked. "By hard work." By the time the eight compctitiors lined up for the

start, of the first heat in the Consolation Handicap the wind had veered round to the south-east, which was against the chances of the back-markers. As they raced over to Cabar'ta Arnst swept along at an extraordinary rate, and went so last for a dozen strokes that he was almost jammed between Everson and another sculler. Recognising that the big fellow was dangerous, Eveison pulled out and gave .him hn opening, which he took advantage of, and within two minutes passed three of h's opponents. Messenger was in front a littlo further on, then coming Arnst and Goodsall. Within a couple of hundred yards of the 'finish Arm-t let go and raced to the front. He was not afterwards troubled, and flashed over the lino likn a champion, looking as if he could have gone further at top-speed. Tt was a fine row —too good for any of his opponents. He did not start in the final.