OPINION OF DR THACKER

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 221, 24 September 1910, Page 7

OPINION OF DR THACKER

HACE ON THAMES CERTAIN

Dir Hhacker, of Christchurch, one of Aximt's backers, who arrived back from ih& Zambesi yesterday, is not nearly so contemptuous in his estimate; of Barry's capabilities, and his description of the race varies a good »deal from Floyd's. For instance, Dr Thacker said that he won the toss, and chose ±he noxth side of the river. Floyd said ±hat it was Messrs Parker and Guy Nickalls who tossed, arid Nickalls -woxL. Dr Thacker states that It was Barry who said: "Are you ready?" Floyd says it was Arnst. Such complications in detail, is rather puzzling. .„. "DICK.JUST PLUGGED AHEAD." As to the race, Dr Thacker says -that in about ten or twelve strokes Arnst was a length and a~half ahead, #nd, at the end of the first mile, he was two lengths ahead. Towards Long Island a strong wind raised waves about eight or ten inches high, which made both work pretty hard. At jio point in the race did either jnan ?ow more than 28 or 30 strokes to the- minute, and, when they met * the head wind, .Arnst dropped to 19 or 20, asud Barry to about 22. Coming ont from Long Island, Arnst appeared to be comfortably ahead, with Barry hanging on a few lengths hehind. Arnst was about three lengths ahead when approaching the Zambesi Rowing Club's sheds, and about five lengths ahead when opposite the shed. Then Barry took a look around, and then spurted magnificently. He plugged at it in great style, until almost up to Arnst's boat, but Dick just plugged steadily ahead, and gay© Barry the full effect of his wash. Barry then slackened off—his effort

was too late, or he hadn't enough in him. About' 200 yards from the finish the' Englishman stopped row-, ing altogether, and Arnst went on steadily to the post, keeping up the same dogged stroke to the end. OFF TO SHOOT LIONS.

Dr Thacker gives the time as 20 mm. 14 l-ssec, but says that the course was 200 yards over the 3J miles distance. After the race Arnst carried his boat to the shed and was tying down looking pretty tired when thi doctor.went in to shake hands. After a lager beer "Dick" re-nyed and said that Barry had stuck to him says that "Dick" and "Jack" Arnst and Harry Floyd have gone up the Zambesi in company with a Mr Dreyer, trader and guide, who has promised them plenty of shooting, including lions, leopards, cheetahs^ elephants, and crocodiles. They proposed to stay out about a month before returning to Livingstone.

THE THAMES PROPOSAL. Asked about the possibility of another match Dr Thacker said:— "Another match—oh, yes, there is bound to be another match on the Thames in July next. Why, Guy Nickalls said to me on the launch that if the race had been on the Thames, Barry would have won! "What did he mean by that? "Barry said he was troubled by the shallow water at the start and by the rough water half-way through, and all the time he complained bitterly about the food. It was pretty hard, too. 'Dick' left the North Western Hotel at Livingstone to camp down by the river, and there he did better with his own black cook and ditto chambermaid. Barry would have done the same, but was frightened of the mosquitoes and the malaria they carry, so he stayed on at the hotel. "Floyd suffered for a time from septic fever —not malaria—and had to have his leg lanced, but had quite recovered before we left."—Dominion.