THE SCULLING RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14336, 5 April 1910, Page 6

THE SCULLING RACE.

ARNST STILL CHAMPION.

AN EASY VICTORY.

[dy telegraph.—press association.]

Akaroa, Monday. The sculling race for the championship of the world between R. Arnst, the present holder, and George Whelch, of Akaroa (the challenger), took place on the Akaroa Harbour this afternoon, and resulted in an easy win for Arnst by several lengths.

Both men went to the starting point in good condition. The delay of Saturday 'was a good thing in a way for Arnst, for it enabled him to shake off his recent indisposition, which had been causing him some trouble earlier in the week. Whelch, on the other hand, had trained himrclf to bo in form on Saturday, and the two days' delay seemed to make a difference to him. In the race this afternoon he did not seem able to get going properly, and although lie covered the distance with plenty of energy still left, yet he never had a chance against Arnst after the first quarter of a mile, and it does not seem at all likely that Whelch, even in the best trim and on the smoothest water, could ever beat the present champion.

A light northerly breeze was blowing in the upper part of the harbour, where the race was to finish," but near the starting point a southerly was encountered, the result being that the race was rowed in two different breezes. There was a nasty johblc, which caused some trouble, but the umpire and the competitors agreed that the water was quite smooth enough for tho race, and the two men were soon afloat. Whelch lost on the toss for positions, and Arnst selected the inner position, near the northern side of the harbour, which it is considered would mean an advantage of about a length in the race. .As events turned out, it was quite immaterial which position Arnst took, and, as' a matter of fact he did the last section of the race a long way to the outside of Whelch. Tho start was somewhat protracted. Arnst was obviously ill at case and he made one or two false starts, which Whelch did not respond to. Several times they had to bo called back by the umpire to the starting point after having worked their way some distance down the harbour. Whelch then got away, but that also proved a false start. Both men seemed to be manoeuvring to get £very advantage right at the beginning of the race, but finally their blades caught water simultaneously, and shortly after 5.15 p.m. tho race commenced.

Whelch started off at a great rate—about 42 strokes to the minute, and he actually headed Arnst, who responded with 32. Tho spurt, however,' did not last long, and after a-quarter of a mile had been traversed Arnst was ahead, rowing, a swinging stroke of 28 to the minute, which he subsequently reduced to as low as 22. From the time Arnst got ahead he had the race in hand. Passing the Maori kaik Arnst, rowing from 28 to 26, established a good lead, and at the one mile and a-half distance he was several lengths ahead. Whelch was rowing a short, quick stroke, but the jobble gave him a lot of trouble, and he seemed able to make no good effort at all. He was rowing 28 to the minute past the kaik, but Arnst's long, powerful swinging stroke kept him easily in the lead. Approaching Green Point (two miles) Arnst slowed down, but on encountering the tide rip in that locality he put in some good strokes again until he was in slack water. Whelch, on approaching the reef off Green Point, increased his strokes to 30 and shaped a straight course over the reef to tho finishing line. Arnst, on the other hand, made a somewhat big detour to escape the rocks off the point and slackened down considerably, so much so that many were under- the impression that ho was done. From Green Point to the finish he slowed down to as much as 22, which onabled Whelch to creep up, but Arnst had plenty in reserve, for he had no difficulty in maintaining his lead to the finish. .'■''■■ ■■' '■'■■'.'''' '"■

During the last mile Whelch rowed very pluckily, and put on several good spurts, ' which showed he had plenty of energy left. The best he could do, however, was less than what Arnst could do, and there is no doubt the better man won. No official time was taken, but according to a reliable, timekeeper the distance was covered in 21m. 50 3-ss. This was by no means fast time, but the competitors had to contend with the jobble, a strong ebb tide, and a head wind part of the way. Arnst's weight and strength '/"' enabled him to overcome with greater,, ease the peculiar difficulties encountered, and the result of the race was only another demonstration of the fact that in sculling a good big man must beat a good little man every time.

Arnst, on being interviewed, said that it was a hard race to row. "I'rowed very hard to get round the last corner," he said, " and had to put in all I knew. Whelch put up a really good race, but he had bad luck with the state of the water. We made a very good start, and our blades struck water pretty well together. I got a bit anxious at the start on account of the water, but I soon settled down."

Whelch, who was also interviewed, said he could not get going at all, and did not feel at all tired at the finish. The jobble tossed him about considerably. He had a disappointed feeling that he had not extended himself, but he did not want or wish to say that Arnst was not the better man. It was hard for anyone to say what Dick Arnst really could do. Even supposing there had been another mile to go Arnst might still have won by three lengths. I reckon that Dick is the better man, and we don't know what he can do. I had a chance to try him, .and was very glad to get it.

Arnst will leave for Australia on Thursday to compete in a handicap event on the Parramatta River, and from Australia he will go direct to South Africa to prepare for the coming contest with Barry on the Zambesi on August 18.