AFTER THE RACE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 542, 24 June 1909, Page 8

AFTER THE RACE.

THE CHAMPION FETED. HE MAY "CO BACK TO THE FARM FOR A BIT." ' I (By Our Special Repcrtor) Wanganul, Jnn£ 23. Wangaanriwos not so downhearted on tho opening of raoo as it was on tho night of December 15. On tho latter occasion, : it. had just' caUBO to mourn. Had it not lost the cherished championship of the world? Had not tho palo blue of Webb been trailed in tho dust by tho big ex-cyclist? Deep; down in its heart, Wanganui know that there was , but: a chance' to regain the lost laurels;. bat in its loyalty to the man •they 'all love, who resides in the quiet ot Aramoho, it nggod itself, out bravely, to the, depletion of tbe drapors' stocks of pale . bluo 'ties and ribbon, and resolved • that, at any rato, it would not be for lack of those outward, signs and symbols»of good faith, that "Win" Webb would go to the post and do his bost to retrieve the fortune of DefSember last. Ip, Sporting circles, they say that money • talks, and so it does .As a guide to , Wanganui|s mmd, it should bo placed on record that the night before tho

race, Webb's supJwrtorß wewi asking 2 to -1 against Webb:and 1 a, little- money changed hands at that, but there waa a good deal of wagering at 6 to' 4, which plainly indicates: that .Arnst .was 'tho favoured man with both ■ parties, despite (the local clamour that' -Webb '.wonld : win. In \ justification to ■ the ■; supporters of the Wanganni' mauj it, wis ■ascertained- that . Webb had dono d'; really tip-top. trial,;in-which'he had made' better time than Arnst-had ever been known, to make, and a bettor one than' Arnst's immediate associates thought ho could make in his . then, condition. 'Webb's plucky backer, Mr. y/.f Tuckj had Baid to Arnst's trainer, .thatf,the latter,'s. man. (Arnst) would have to put up. a world's record to bait Webb, , and, as it turned out,: Mr. Tuck was quite right.' ilt'also ''has 'to be noted that whilst ■ the . champion put l up'" a now record Webb' himself, covered the full 'course in faster time than any other sculler has ever ooTOred the same; distanco,. so. that the world's record, was ■ broken :by both mfen. Arnst's time (official) was -18 y minntes 16 seconds. Allowing Webb 8 seconds to cover* the -five. lengths (dfficiaU between thom at the finish, his timo would read 18 minutes 23 seconasT-showing at a glance what, a ' sterling - performance must bo. credited to Webbu.-If ho. decides to retire from the sculling arena he doparts from public ken in a blaze of athletic glory that will always mark him out for reference. In future contests for the world's sculling championships. 1 Honouring the Champion. ■ :.Wangamu was not downhearted 6n Tuesday evening. It positively revelled in places, and Arnst was dono full honour. He was ontortained at-dinner by his backors (Dr. Thackor, Messrs. 'Buchanan, Parker, Jamos, and Lowrio, of Christ<jhurch) at the Rutland where, his hoalth was drank in bumpers of champagne,: and whilst being feted ■tho hotel staff htid its work cut out to stem off tho crowd who wished U> glorify tho champion.' There was plenty of congratulations,. hand-shaking, health-drinking, and band-playing, m the-street, and all seemed gomiinely satisfied'' that the best man- had won and was deserving of all honour. Arnst, rather worn,, stood,it all unmoved.. The Future. \ "I'm not-foeling too good," he said to The DoMJNiOH -reprcaentativo. "It was a hard raco, pnd I'm going to bed." • AVhat about the futuro?

"Oh, ■ I /don't.'know—nothing has beon talked, about yot; :I 'might go and do a little pig-hunting to get tinto form." • And £hen? :i.

"I'll go down homo and do-some work on thoi'fann.";' ." i '.. : \ ■ Thon ho .went-home io:bed.; . Ib will, however,' interest-many to .know, that Mi Ji Paiker, one of the chief backers of Arnst,us abooj; to visit-tbo. Old, Country, and'it may be—so far it only, amounts.to conjecture —that Barry-may be tempted to oomo out to New Zealand/ or (this is said in. a v/lhispor)"Anist may go Homo.. Somethingwill ihappen , before , long. To Ajnst. the championship, is a live asset that .should bo made to yiold him many, golden' guineas. Durnan's challenge is expected hourly. 1 Tho Canadian has contracted a habit of challenging: star oarsmen, in Australia, and it is a dul| time; indeed,'f when:nocballongo. comes, over tho wires from Toronto 1 - Tb# Klnematograpb. By ■ ■ tho . many whoso misfortune it was • not ■ ;to -. i. see , / Tneeday's ..; : great : struggle/: tlieVttews. that teVrace was. kinemafcographed will bo received' with: pleasure. Mr; J.-M'Donald, of tho .Tourist Department, uhdor* an. arrangemont< with,' a ■ syndicate, (A-. i tuned a fine record |of all the points; of mi terost from a porch on top of the awning of; i tho umpire's' boat Waroae. , He exhausted 800 ft: I 'of film on tbe'effort, and is pretty sure that the negative will turn out satisfactorily; Not only did he secure views of the race, but ho got some fine. views ■of - the , picturesque mer'J.aiklVtW .flotilla of smallcraft that floated .on ' its glassy ' surface. . Fortunately the rain, oleared o(E < fifteen minutes oftor the steamers left town for tho course, giving 'the operator full scope for securing, a most interesting film.■'■. ■■■.. •• . .- : • It may not have .been promediiatcd, but tho Wangonur Garrison Band was movedito play Selections peculiarly in- tone; with; 'Wangamii's feelings .cm the evening: preceding," and that of tho race. The .night before it played—and played exceedingly well—a lively selection *■ from.' ! The Pirates. of, Ponzanoo.V' but on tbo evening ot thoraco a saddened band played "The Miserere" from "II Trovatore.' .'v.;. ..-J Mr. Richard CoomWs Interviewed.' "Mr. 1 R. Coombos, editor of the "Sydney Referee." who came from Australia in ordor to' see tiie race, stated in an interview that tho result was what he had anticipated.' It was a : case of a good big man being bottor than.a goodlifctlo man., Webb rowed in very effective style, especially/his work in tho com-' mohoemont.of tho-race. •• Arnst,- on. tho othor hand, was not seen' at his best over the first mile—tho 'water■•being':'a bit' lumpy-in; the' rentre of tho:river seemed to disoonoert him. Thcn'he lengthened out and put his; tremendous power into the work. This showed good

generalship, fortt wao done at thawiy tMmeni when it woold havo tho* most effect upim. Weib, who to Bhow sigris of the severity of tbo straggle. Mr. Ooambes'a- pinion was tiiai jtba race was decided at tiiomiloandalialf-—iiodidthoii think Aniflt would 'be able torun away, bat he could see,that Webb was feolmg the sure.' Tfobb «W»>ed as w&U 'as ev6r 'fce did in tsid 'tint Arnst beat Webb did not mean thai'Webb was hoi a fine sonllor. He prit np a great race, but tbo height,- weight,:and..strength of Arnst were, too great. . Mir. .Coombes said lie did not think tMro,was a man among present-day sou Hers who bad any reasonable. chance of beating Arnst. If tflio. djampioh took odvantago.of the Shinto and advice. t of. competent men there was no telling wh'ai\ho might become.' He had every physioal attribute,. arid was apparently; a very level-headed mail.. Mr. Cooinbes concluded by'referring eulogistreally to ..the axrangomeihts, whioti, he. !Uixij were perfect. ■ Ho cad seen /Sculling. raoes .in . various.parte of the world, but Wangivnui's t»nducrbof the iwt eijuaHod. Briny detail had been seen to, and, provision made to imeeft every _likely banning. Tie 'Jgite" was an exceptionally good one. ' Mr. T; D. Cummins, who was the referee, and also' previously; judge in ' the championship races rowed on tie Wangamoi River, has given it .as his opimcai that wie;race was distrnitly' the best championship race - ever rowed on tbo Wanganui River. Tho time (18min.. 15sec.) has to be discounted for the reason that there was a freshet ni the river.