ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1186, 22 July 1911, Page 12

ROWING.

—. —fr. —_- . ON NEXT SATUEDAY-WHAT? : . .(By "Meecukt.") July 29.—World's Championship, Arnst v. Pearce. (Parrnmatta). 'A Clean Straight-out Forecast. Next Saturday is tho great day for the settlement of the biggest question of tho moment in aquatic circles. Tho question is: "Can Pearce beat Arnst?" So far the Sydney papers have been curiously noncommittal in dealing with this query. ■They, give the scullers and , their training apace in plenty, but they unanimously side-step any dealings with the momentous task itt' picking a probable winner. "Mercury" is not so backward. Going on "information received" from reliable sources, he is going to venture an answer. It is "No, decidedly not!" - Tho last Sydney mail brings the usual favourable reports of the men's work. Jndging from tho critiques on the training operations, therS.'iSlittlo fatflt to find with either lnnn's lefclii)iqiie. It would then eceni to resolve itself into a matter of condition, speed, and stamina. Judging again from reports, the condition factor can also be eliminated, as both men seem to bo just about perfect in this respoct also. That leaves .us tho speed and stamina. To '.the writer's mind, Pearco has dono nothing to show that he 'is Arnst's superior iii cither respect. Whiah, added to tho "information received" alxivb referred to, is his reason for answering tho question raised earlier in this article in tho negative.

Everybody is Advising Pearce what to Do,

The "Bulletin," as usual, is facetious about the affair—almost irreverent in fact —and also, again ns usual, has a kernel of common senso concealed in the husk of fncetiousness and irreverence. Thus the "Bulletin":— ■ \ Only another 1C days and nights of. mad> prophecy and blatant remark bcforo Arnat and Pearce meet on ■ tho Parramatta. The'more sober- of the barrackers are now telling Pearco how to win. Ono party suggests that he makb tho pace a. cracker from tho start, and burst up tho Arnst boiler in'tho first mile. This, it is admitted, will necessitate making "tho cracker" something unusual in crackers. The other party suggests that ho merely. hang on, letting Arnst make tho paco, and como with an almighty rush at tho finish. Curiously enough, very lew seem to worry about how Arnst ■ will row the race. It is apparently Ukcn for granted that lit' will just go liko fury for tho winning-post.' Meanwhile any other gentlemen who wish to give- tho scullers free advice can do so at 11 a.m. and i p.m. everyday on the course. Way Up on the Dreamy/Thames.

It will be remembered that recently Ernest Barry beat W. Albany in a sculling race in bsst-and-best boats for tho championship of England. On Juno 8 at a big regatta at Putney, Albany got somo of his own back. He defeated (ho champion, starting off tho scratch mark with him in a 1000 yards rum-turn handicap in a manner thus described in the "Sportsman" :-* Prom a rowing; standpoint the 1000 yards rum-turn handicap was the most interesting event, for included in tho representative entry were Ernest Barry-and William Albany, who shared the honours of tho scratch mark.

Both won their two preliminary heats and qualified for the final, and thus tho spectators had tho pleasure of witnessing a minor championship—in. rum-tums. There was a great deal of excitement amongst tbo oarsmen when the men went up to tho starting point to row down, and afterwards they had much to talk over, for Albany, who sculled very strongly, won quite easily by two lengths, Barry : having to remain satisfied with third ; place, shared with Jacobs, behind "Tiger" Gibson. Albany took his lead off Harry almost from tho start, and tho champion never looked like catch- ■ ing him: As a matter of fact, Barry's : right-band scull went wrong, and ho was never able to do his proper work. As it was Albany's supporters bad their "tails in the air" after tho race, for there was a great dea' of needle in the meeting.. At the time the race ' was decided.the best of tho ebb had gone, and the water was low, which , was more in favour of the scratch men than would have been the ca-«o had the race been rowed earlier. It is several years since Barry has been defeated'off a" mark, but he took his defeat in th'e best spirit. Correspondents aro requested not to writo inquiring of "Mercury" as to what "rum-tum" boats are. 11 o seizes this opportunity of confessing that he does not know. '