ARNST AGAIN WINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14746, 31 July 1911, Page 8

ARNST AGAIN WINS.

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

HARDEST RACE OF, HIS LIFE.

FINISHED IN RECORD TIME.

PEIARCE FOUTH LENGTHS BEHIND.

... .... By Telegraph.—Prera Association.— Copyright. (Received July 30, 5.5 p.m.) "- - ' *-. Sydney; July. 30. The race for the ;■ professional ' sculling championship of "the world and £500 a-side between Richard ■ Arnst, of New Zealand (holder) and Hary Pearce, of Sydney, • champion of Australia, was rowed yesterday on the Parramatta, before a record attendance,' nearly 100,000 persons being present. The river was black with small craft. Arnst won ,by four lengths in record time, .after one of the most gruelling races on record.; . - The weather conditions were perfect, with a bright sun and smooth water. The steady westerly wind was right b&hind the scullers, and the tide was also in their favour. , ■ -; '■■- Arnflt' won the toss, and chose the inside course. ' ' "'• • The men got away well together, the champion rowing 34 strokes to the minute and Pearce 37. There was no advantage for the first 200 yds, when Arnst, pulling closo to Pearce, was forced to stop ana lose his stroke. This gave the challenger an advantage of a length, which he held to Uhr'a Point. . . The defender's mighty strokes then began to tell, and he started' to gradually overhaul Pearce. He managed the comer badly, however, and getting into Pearce's water was within an ace of colliding. :^, _ '•'- • Arnst had to stop rowing a couple of strokes to allow Pearce to draw ahead. Poarcs kept on, thus showing 'sportsmanship, as had he stopped Arnst must have collided and lost on a foul. 'After. negotiating the point Arnst bent his great back to the : work, and settled down to a steady pull of about 28 strokes to the minute. He overhauled his opponent at the mile and a-half. Pearce was rowing a slightly quicker stroke, but not with the same power. ••- •' ~ >• • Once in front Arnst headed for home, and' rowing like a machine he gained steadily ' until at Cabarita he led by six lengths. *."'.' .'■"'••'".'■' Pearce, undaunted, pulled magnificently, and tried repeated spurts, but the New Zealander was too powerful, and kept driving on in a heart-breaking fashion. Rounding Putney, a few hundred yards from home, Arnst, who was. leading by a good ten lengths, dropped to 22 strokes to the minute. It was there "that Pearce looked round and wavered, but put in a last- tremendous though futile effort./" Without doubt, Arnst was. never more fully extended than, when' he passed the post a winner by four lengths. He immediately stopped rowing and dipped his hands one after the other into the water. The fearful strain had been too much for tho champion's condition, it causing him to vomit. '~. , - ' : ..,, ' ...;„ Pearce,' in tho last struggle, felt the agonising torture of defeat, and when the pistol fired placed his hands before his face and sobbed. • . ■ ■ : The time, 19m. 465., is a record for the world's championship over the full Paramatta course. The first mile was rowed in sm. '395. '*' ' r Pearce admits that Arnst is too good, and he will not challenge him again. Arnst declares this was the hardest race of his life. • • '-,-."; - : ■«;- Beach declares that there is nobody in sight who can beat ,: Arnst. ■> The takings amounted to £800.

THE' CHAMPION'S CAREER. • Richard Arnst, : a noted New Zealand' cyclist, first started rowing in 1906. Six months after he first sat in a* wager boat ho competed in the Anniversary. Regatta in, Sydney, j, and rowed second,, to Syd." Kemp. A month later ,he won his first race, the Rush Handicap, at Parramatta, his ' start being 31s.' In 1908 ho challenged . Wm. Webb and won easily. -» In Juno, 1909, , Webb again ; sought the honour, but ho was defeated 0n,. : his , own water, the Wanganui River/* Arnst won by five lengths in the fast .time of 18m. 15s. In April, 1910, Arnst -was called ;on to defend his .title "against ; Geo. Whelch, the Alcaroa sculler. The race was. rowed at Akaroa, and was won by several lengths by Arnst. Barry, the English sculler, was next met on the Zambesi River, and beaten by Arnst, who led all the way. The champion declared this was " the hardest race of his life." - Arnst has also performed splendidly in handicap racing. : . ! ,

THE SCULLERS' MEASUREMENTS. ! It may interest soino enthusiasts to examine ...the measurements- of the! two scullers engaged in the contest for the championship of the world."' It will be seen from the following that although there are ' only 516 difference in the weights of. the men. Arnst is much the bigger so far as development is concerned. It., must be remembered, however, that he has had to work very hard to get down to this weight,, and, retain his strength. , Out of training Arnst runs up in weight very quickly, and when he is not in condition he could easily tip the beam at 15st or 16st., Their measurements are as follow:-^ "■.:■'■■■■. ■■■•'■- Arnst. Pearce.' Age .., ... ... 27 8/12 32 Height (in socks) ... 6ffc Jin sft lljin. ■Weight'... ...'. ... 13st 31b" 12st 101b Neck :...... ... 17in I6in - Chest (normal) ... 43in 41 Jin Chest (expanded) ... 49in 44Jin Biceps (normal) ... 14in lljin Forearm . ... •. • ... 13in lljin ' "Wrist ... .;. ... BJin ' 7Jin -■ . Thigh '. .... 27in 21Jin Calves .... 17Jin. ~ " 14Jin -

PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP HOLDERS. following are the holders of the championship since 1880," the name in parentheses being those of the losers 1880— E. Hanlan (E. Trickett), rowed on the Thames, time 25m. 12s. 1881— Hanlan (Laycock), Thames. 25m. 40s. 1882— E. Hanlan (R. W. Boyd),' Tyne, 21m. 255. 1882— Hanlan (B. Trickett), Thames. 28m.— 1884-rE. Hanlan (Laycock), Nepean, 22m; 455. 1884— W. Beach. (E. Hanlan), Parramatta, 20m. "28i8. 1885— W. Beach (Matterson), Parramatta, 24m. ■■-< ■■■ His. ■-'•:'. 1885— W. Beach (T. Clifford), Parramatta, 20m. 1835— Beach (E. Hanlan), Parramatta, 22m. " 51b. 1886— W. Beach (J. Gaudaur), Thames, 22m. 295. 1886— W. Beach (W. floss). Thames, 23m. ss.> 1887— W. Beach (E. Hanlan). Nepean, 19m. 55». 1887—P. Kemp (T. Clifford), Parramatta, 23m. 475. - ' .' 7 1888—P. Kemp (E. Hanlan), Parramatta, 21m. ■ 363.:'- ' . . ' » -■- V . ■ 1888— H. Searle (P. • Kemp), Parramatta, 22m. 4445. ■.'"■«-' s. • ■ 1889— Searle (O'Connor), Thames, 22m. 425. 1890— Kemp (J. McLean), Parramatta, 21m. 45JS. 1890—P. Kemp (Matterson). Parramatta, 21m. 13*3. 1890— McLean (P. Kemp), Parramatta, 22m. 133. 1891— J. Stanbury (McLean), Parramatta, 22m. 15Js. 1891— Stanbury (McLean), Parramatta, 18m. 25b.* ■ ' : ■ 1892— J. Stanbury - (Sullivan), ■ Parramatta, 18m, 275.* ... .. , 1896— Stanbury (Harding). Thames, 21m. 51s. 1896— J. Gaudaur (Stanbury), Thames, 23m. Is. 1897— Gaudaur (Johnstone), Vancouver, —. 1901—G.' Towns (Gaudaur), Canada, 20m. 309. 1904— Towns (Tresidder), Parramatta, 21m. 48 4-ss. '■ • • ■ ■ 1905—Stanbury (G. Towns), Parramata, 19m." ■.475."; , ~■ ,■..■ ~ c-.« l . 1906— G. Towns (Stanbury), Parramatta., 19m. 53 l-ss. 1907—0. Towns (E. Durnan), Nepean. 22m. 275. 1907—TV. Webb (C. Towns), Parramatta, 20m. 455. 1908— W. "Webb (Trcssider), Wanganui, 20m. 283. •■•'■■-;■• . 1908— Arnst (W. Webb), Wanganui, 19m. 525. 1909—8. Arnst (W. Webb). Wanganui, 18m. 15s. 1910— B. Arnst. (G. Whelch), Akaroa, 21m 50 3-5». . 1910— E. Arnst (Barry), Zambesi, 20m. 14 3-53. Thames course, 4 mile!? 400 yds; Parramatta course, 3 miles 330 yds; Type course, 3 milea 713 yds: Nepean River course, about 31 miles;. Wanganui course, 3? miles; Zambesi course, 3i miles. . ' ■ •These races were about half a mile short of the full course. The course in 1905 was not the usual one, and the time was unofficial, " <