ARNST WINS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17170, 13 June 1921, Page 8

ARNST WINS.

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD. AN EASY VICTORY. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) BLENHEIM, June 11. There must have been between 5000 and COOO people viewing the race on tihe Wairau river for the world's sculling championship between "Dick" Arnst (holder) and J. P. Hannan (challenger). The race showed that Arnst has not lost his old form, for he was not really extended over any part of the journey. Starting off at 24 strokes to the minute) tfhe champion quickly took the lead, being a length ahead at the first quarter-mile peg. Hannan started at 26, dropping to 24. At the half mile, Arnst added another half a length to the gap, and with three-quarters of a mile gone, tl« champion was two lengths to tihe good, and was taking things easy. This order was maintained till the I boatshed was reached. Arnst kept close inshore to get the protection of the trees on the bank and the slacker Leaving the boatshed, Arnst opened up tthe gap to three lengths, winch he increased to three and a half in the next quarter of a mile. Hannan then commenced to creep up. Rowing 24, he lessened the gap by a length. At the Maori bend Arnst still held his . lead, though Hannan was rowing splendidly. -" Rounding the Maori bend, two lengths still separated tihe boats, Hannan doing -22 and' Arnst slightly less. The men caught the wind in the next reach, but the champion, with his long, powerful sweeps, continued to hold the advantage. With two miles gone, Arnst was tihree lengths to the good, and was taking things easy. Hannan quickened his stroke to 28, Arnst still rowing 24. Crossing the river to the western side, Arnst livened up to 20, Hannan doing 26, but there was still a threelengSis gap. ," In the calmer water both boats went nicely, but Hannan failed to mako any impression on his opponent. Half a mile from home both men settled down to stern business, Arnst doing 28 and Hannan 28, and the challenger reduced the gap slightly. Hannan touched the bank and momentarily stopped. With the winning post in 6ight, Hannan mode a great effort, but Avnst, rowing steadily, kept his.three lengths lead till gun-fire. The time was 22min 33see. ARNST'S SUPERIORITY. A TINE PERFORMANCE. (special to "thb press.") BLENHEIM, June 11. From a spectacular point of view the race was afc no stage of a really thrilling character, and it does not lend itself to any. wealth of descriptive detail. The big crowd that witnessed it have not a little reason to thank Hannan for giving it the amount of interest that it did afford. It was his gameness and willingness that gave the contest the interest it had for the public. Arnst's superiority asserted itself two minutes after the scullers got going, and for the rest of the three miles and 100 yards, there was very little doubt as to what the result would be. The champion's exhibition greatly raised him in. the estimation of those who entertained the possibility that he had failed to recover enough of this old form to stall .off defeat. There are no delusions on that point now. The general impression is that Arnst has a pretty firm grip on- the championship. At the finish itwas probably he who was the more tired of the two, but neither was very distressed. • >' Hannan's fitness was wonderful, and an hour after the race he said that he felt quite equal to going out again and putting up the same performance. The long and short of the story is that Arnst is distinctly the bettor man. His rowing was a pleasure to watch; it was like the action of a perfect machine —a scientific exposition—every movement having its studied value, and every ounce of his .great strength being correctly applied. Arnst Describes the Eace. Arnst told the Press representatives that it was a hard race. Hannan, he thought, took the wrong water at the start, but nevertheless he rowed a most plucy .race. "If," he said, "it had been me I would have thrown it up. I was lucky to strike a head wind at the start, as my boat was big and got away well owing to my strength. I assumed thejlead, and was determined with all my strength to keep it. 'Pat' was after me all the time, but I outgeneralled him in the most difficult points of the course. I can tell you I was very glad when the winning shot was fired, as Hannan kept coming." As to the.course, Arnst said it was a wonder. _ Considering the wind, the time registered under such conditions was much faster than the champion expected. The challenger's supporters thought that he would have an advantage by reason of the arrangement to row against the tide, but, remarked Arnst, they were really hampering "Pat's" chances. Had he rowed witu the wind and tide, there might have been a different tale to tell. Hannan's Manly Spirit. Hannan accepted his defeat- in a cheerful and manly spirit. Speaking to the Press interviewers, he said that after half a dozen strokes he was momentarily in the lead to the extent of a quarter of a length, and then a wave struck his paddle. He lost some time in getting his scull back into position That mishap wrenched his wrist, and he felt the effect of it until the last half-mile, at which stage he enjoyed his best form. He realised th.it lie had picked the wrong side of the course However, ho was not making any excuses, and heartily congratulated Arnst on his deserved win. The- champion was the better man. The Umpire Interviewed. Mr J. H. Morrison, who carried out the duties of umpire,, remarked that both men rose to the occasion, and sustained the high traditions associated with the world's championship. They gave no trouble at the start, lining up quickly, and, after one break by Amst, they struck the water together. They rowed on even terms for about fifty yards, and thereafter tho race belonged to Arnst. Hannan (who rowed in the Towns boat in which he defeated Fogwcll for the_ New Zealand championship) was decidedly '/underboated,'' and- apparently could not do justice to himself in the rough water encountered at some of the reaches, Jiis shell utterly failing to ride the jobble in the same successful way in which Arnst's boat acted. The champion steered a very fine course, and took every advantage of the protection afforded' by the willows. 'He also rounded the bends in 4 a more effective manner than his od-

ponent. Hannan rowed gamely-, and made a fine finishing effort, but he had mot his master in Arnst, who, Mr Mor- J rison considers, rs surely coming bacjx to his original form. Before the race Arnst told a Press representative that if he lost the toss on this occasion, lie would consider it a (rood omen, as on fire previous occasions on which lie had lost the toss, he had won. He had the same experience on Saturday. Congratulatory Messages. Arnst has received hundreds of telegrams and cables from New Zealand and Australia, congratulating him on his win. One message is from Mr J. H. Parker, of Christchurchj and reads: "Well done, Dick. More than ever gratified with your great performance." Arnst speaks gratefully of Mr Parker as "the man who found me. At the presentation of stakes last nicht, the champion, in thanking his backers, said lie was only sorry that Mr Parker could not be present at the race. , It is Arnst's intention to leave Blenheim at the end of the week, and return to his home at Ohristchurcli. He will come back here and take up his quarters for winter training. "I reckon," he said, "that there l's no place in New Zealand equal to this one for winter climate." The only official kinematograph picture taken was the one secured by the Government operator. It will he publicly notified by the scullers when it is released. Passing Over the Cheque. The paying over of the stakes took place at a social function last night. It was largely attended, and the scullers were given a popular reception. Among the speakers was W. Webb, of Wanganui, the es-cliampion, l>ut he made practically no comment on the day's, race itself. He confined his romarks to the absurdity of any suggestion of any "slinter" or shoddy/element being associated with the world's championship. Arnst paid a handsome tribute to Hannan, both as a rower and a man. The excellent time that was registered showed the quality that Hannan put into the contest. He was almost inclined to think that if Barry or Felton had had to face on the Parramatta the samo wind and tide that Hannan and himself had experienced that day, they would hardlv have got to the end of the first mile any faster than did he and Hannan. He was 19st 4lb in his clothes in Sydney when he decided to come hack into the game, and he had come down to 14st 61b in his clothes. On the Zambesi he beat Barry, ' and Barry beat him on the Thames. He was not making any excuses, but he could not belp feeling that if his form on the Thames had been what it was that day, he would have won on that occasion. Sickness reduced him from 13st 81b to 12st 61b in two days. He challenged Barry when the latter defeated Felton on the Paramatta, but Barry said, "IHck, don't bother me till after Christmas or New Year. I will retire then, and you can have the championship." He (Arnst) said he did not want to have it that way. had had one race each, and he wanted the "convincer." Barry retired, and the speaker claimed the championship. It was an empty title, but thej; knew the' rules. A lot of people said that he "nicked in" and claimed the title, but the position was that he had merely abided by the rules providing for the passing of the title if a challenge was not accepted within a certain time. Thei one who first challenged him in proper form would get the next race. Where it would be rowed he did not know, but his native associations were with New Zealand, and this country was his home, no matter where he rowed. He felt that the New Zealand people had the best right to the race, as ne told his friends in Australia. He could not be blamed for coming over here. He had been in Blenheim for seven weeks and. a half ; and had been able to put in an unbroken and hard course of training. It had been necessary for x him to stick to work to get fit. In all his experience he never rowed with a man who chased him, and persisted in chasing him, .as Hannah did. As for future races, they would understand that a man did not do all liis hard training work just for fun. In saying that he was not wronging the sport, itself, but as a matter of justice to the sport'these things must be managed with, 'something of the judgment that a man applied, to his Dusiness affairs- Tie question; of the best gate could noii be put out of the case altogether. Hfe liked the jWairau River, and could .not say too much for the climate, but Winganui might make a big effort to secure the race/for the ' championship. He did not know, and he was not going Ito rush straight in to the next match', "I don't jthink," Arnst proceeded, {'that the Blenheim people realise the! advertisement that Hannan has gained for them.l To his mind they would jbe doing tjie right thing if they saw to .it that Hainan got something more tlihn the loseijs end of the game, and he would be tlie first to put his hand into his packet ff»r such a worthy purpose.", I The prize for which the fwo men contended was a sum of £SOO, phich was subscribed by the partisans bf either side in equal proportions. Tie winner takes the whole stake., The net "crate," which is expected to realise 3 substantial amount, will be equally, dvided between the two scullers. Challenge from Hadfii Id. After the race, Webb hanciid a challenge to Arnst on behalf of Hadfield, of Wanganui, tne amateur clonpion of New Zealasd. i