SCULLING RACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21586, 2 September 1933, Page 11

SCULLING RACE

PROFESSIONAL TITLE EVE OF THE EVENT 808 PEARCE THE FAVOURITE MATCH WITH TED PHELPS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 1. 6.5 p.m.) TORONTO. Aug. 31 Less than an hour before dusk tomorrow Bob Pearco will start in the boat race which is expected in Toronto to make him world's professional champion. Ted Phelps, the defending champion, it is thought, will bo tho "under dog" this time. The race will be over a three-mile course inside Lake Ontario breakwater on the Canadian National Exhibition waterfront. The odds are in Pearce's favour this evening. Victory in the raco will mean £IOOO in cash to Pearce, or half that amount if he loses. Phelps is quiet about what he will collect if he wins. It is reported that lie will receive £2OOO whatever happens. A crowd of 75,000 is expected to witness the event. For the first time in his life Pearce is nervous and "jumpy" before a sculling race. "Pearce has confidence and condition, but he .is short-tempered," said the Australian's manager, Mr. Walter Boerncsser. "When ho gets into his boat, however, all his nervousness will vanish. It shows he is taking this race seriously, which means that lie is ready to row as ho never did before."

JT. It. (Bob) Pearce. world's amateur sculling champion, and Olympic champion, who is an Australian, signed a contract on July 17 to meet E. A. (Ted) Phelps, world's professional champion, in a three-mile race, the winner to receive £IOOO. Peareo was guaranteed £SOO regardless of the result of the race, which was fixed to be rowed over the Canadian National Exhibition regatta course, Lake Ontario, \ esterdav. It was not tli£ lure of the prizemoney, Pearce said, that was leading him into professional ranks. "There is something in my blood which demands that I enter into further competition in an endeavour to attain the last remaining little open to me. I just want to bo able to pull down that regatta course just a little bit in front of Ted Phelps, whom I regard as a very great sculler," said Pearce. Phelps has held the title since May, 1930, when he defeated H. A. Barry at Vancouver. He again won decisively from Barry in the same year. On the occasion of his first win Phelps was appointed a Royal Waterman, an honour also held by his father, "Bossy" Phelps, a well-known sculler, and E. Barry, champion before the war and hi 1920. This is a notable tribute, as the Royal Watermen are held in readiness to form a crew if the King desires to travel on the Thames. Phelps at one time trained Pearce. Major Goodsell held the title in 1925-26-27. Ho was beaten by Phelps a year ago at Palm Beach, California, but ho gavo Phelps easily his most difficult race. Results of tho championship since the war are: 1919—A. Felton (Australia) defeated E. Barry (England). 3920 E. Barry defeated A. Felton. 1921—1'{. A rust (New Zealand) defeated P. Hannau (New Zea--1922—D. Hadfield (New Zealand) defeated R. Arnst. 1922 —,T. Paddon (Australia) defeated D. Hadfield. 1923 —J. Paddon defeated D. Hadfield. 1924—J- Paddon defeated A. Felton and Major Goodsell (Australia). 1925 —Major Goodsell defeated J. P. Hannan (New Zealand) and J. Paddon. 1926 —Major Goodsell defeated T. Saul. 1927 —Major Goodsell defeated H. A. Barry (England^. 1927 —H. A. Barry defeated Major Goodsell. 1930, May—E. A. Phelps (England* defeated H. A. Barry. 1930, October —E. A Phelps defeated H. A. Barry. 1932, September—E. A. Phelps defeated Major Goodsell.