ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 12

ROWING.

BIG MATCH NOW IN SIGHT. . (Br Mi-mount.i They Are All After Arnst. . The results of the two sculling championships, tho Australian, between H. Pearce and S. Kemp, which was described at length in last Tuesday's Dominion, and the English match between E. Barry amUW. Albany, which a recent cable informed us had been won by six lengths by Barry (the holder) have had a marked effect on the aspect of the world's championship. It is only a few weeks a»o that champion "Dick" Arnst was, like Alexander tho Great of old, in a despondent mood because ho lacked fuither worlds to conquer. Now he has two would-be opponents to deal with. The immediate result of Pearce's victory was the issue of a challenge to the champion, and, since then, we have been informed that ho has the necessary slake, A'dOO, and it only remains with Arnst to fix a date for the encounter. Following on the heels of this comes the long-awaited' news frotii England regarding a return match between Arnst and Bnvry on tho Thames. Tlio stakemoney is guaranteed, and the Barry party offer £"M for Arnst's expenses. This is the rock that negotiations are likely to split apon. In nil probability the champion will not deem the amount offered to bo enough, and, really, it is very little when the question of passages for a party of at least three, new boats, living expenses, etc., are considered. However, no doubt the Pearce proposition will be disposed o'f first, and, after that (if Arnst still retains his place at the lop), finality with Barry will be sought for.

A Sydney View of the Position. Of the Australian situation, a writei in the Sydney "Daily Telegraph,'" to hand by the week's Australian mail, says :— "The near future promises to witness somo exciting doings in tho sculling world, if one ; might judgo by present appearances. The thieo champions—Arnst the best in. the world at present, Peareo tho best in Australia, aud Fogwcll the best iu New Zealand—are , all involved, while Hngney, the coming man of the present day, might possibly also have a linger in the pie. The facts, as tliey aro at present, are that Fogwell has challenged Pearce to a race for the championship uf Australia, lind i'2oo or XM aside, and Peareo is in hopes of being able to put up his deposit to race Arnst for tho championship of the world before many days are passed. Arnst arrived here from New Zealand last night, and tho inference is. that he is ready to meet Pearce, and desires to be on the spot to deul with any negotiations that may take plnce between them, himself. Then Hagiiey, whose present form entitles him to a race with Pearce, will aho probably bo ready to step in when his time comes.

"As things are at present, practically all the developments are centred around Pearce. Tho Australian champion is the central figure, and all happenings, so far as these men are concerned, within tho next few months will be to a certain extent dependent on him. He is not inclined just now to accede to Fogwell's challenge for n race. He knows as well as everybody else knows that if he raced the New Zealand champion shortly it would be necessary for him to have a good rest before ho thought of meeting Arnst for the championship of the world, and, as that might possibly mean that ho would have to wait a great deal longer for a race than would suit him, ho is desirous of getting in as quickly as possible. Ho has just trained hard to meet Kemp, and he would have to train just as hard to meet Fogwell, so that if he was called upon to undergo a third courso of preparation right on top Of two previous ones he would in all probability Ro stale, if not break down altogether. ScullerS, liko all athletes, are only human, and cannot stand too much strain on tho constitution, as they quickly find out when they try to do more than Nature will let them. l'carco recognises this, aiid, knowing that he is at present at the top of his form, he docs not wi«!i to delay too long in getting into holU with Arnst. His performance on Saturday last was a decidedly good one, as was his time, and if he had been pressed over the full course there is no knowing what the time might! have been. "Pearce is not the only man who thinks ho can boat Arnst. Thero are a great many who share the samo opinion with him, and aro implicit in their belief that when the two men meet, there will be a new champion of tho world. Many remarks were made on Saturday last to this effect, and it was generally hoped that the two , champions would meet shortly. After Pearce had beaten Kemp, 1' referea 'Bill' Beach, called Pearce over to him, and informed him of Fo&well's challenge to a race for the championship of Australia for .£2OO or JE.IOO. aside. Pearre's reply was terse and to the point. 'Let him wait,' he said, no more and no less. This alone should testify to Pearce's desire to get matched with Arust at the earliest possible date."-