SCULLING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7078, 16 March 1910, Page 9

SCULLING

AENST V. BAERY. WORLD'S SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. TOM SULLIVAN HOPES TO "TRAIN THE WINNER." i FCOM. ODB SPECIAL COESBSPONDENT. . LONDON, February iThe English sculling champion, Ernest Barrv. who is matched to row Arnst, of Now'Zealand, for the championship ot the world, started steady work on the River Thames this week, under the care of Tom Sullivan, the ex-Aucklander, who is acting as the Englishman's trainer tor the great race on the Zambesi on August 18th. . , ■ Sullivan will not be drawn into expressing himself in print on the. subject of Barry's chances, but I know that he has a high opinion of the young Londoner's capabilities. In the opinion ako of such experienced oarsmen as Guy Mckalls and 11. T. Blackstaffo (both of whom are helping Barry in his training), the English -champion has a splendid chance of bringintg the world's championship back to England. There has been no English holder of the title for thirtylive years. ~ ■ , At the annual dinner of the Vesta R.C. this week, many complimentary references were made to Barry, who was present, in, company with Tom Sullivan. The English champion, in returning thanks, said he remembered that when Mr Blackstaffo many years ago lent him his sculling boat he hoped to become the world's champion.' His ambition had been in part achieved, for he was going to scull for the title., ~ With Messrs Blackstaffo and Nickallß to support him, and Tom Sullivan to train him, he would be willing to go fur- ! ther than the Zambesi to win. Personally, ho put the prize on one side.. He was going out to the Zambesi in the hope of bringing back to England the world's championship. The honour was sufficient. , ' , [ Tom Sullivan said that although up against hie own country, ho hoped to train the winner. • Mr R. J. Calcutt, the chairman, said that it was an excellent thing that Barry had behind him the amateur oarsmen of the kingdom. They had confidence in him and his trainer, Tom Sullivan, and hoped that he : would bring back with him from the Zambesi the honours of the world's championship. Up to the present about £350 has been collected towards Barry's expenses. Fully .£7OO is needed to buy the Englishman s boats, to pay his trainor's fee and the expenses of both men when in Rhodesia. Barry has also to be kept while he is training in England, and he has a wife and young family. They also; must be supported. No man can do justice to an athletic preparation if he has anxiety, and those who wish to see Barry do well must relieve him of any embarrassment. They are therefore endeavouring to raise by subscription an expenses fund of JBIOOO. BARRY'S PLANS. Barry, when he leaves for the Zambesi, will take with him three racing shells. Two of these are being built by Same Bros., who make the University eights, and on© by Bowers and Phelps. These racing boats are delicately made, and require such careful handling that when sent to a foreign country they are invariably packed in stout and sometimes tin-lined wooden cases. These boats will be about 27ft long, lOlin broad, and about 6in deep. • , The outside "skin" of Miexican cedar wood is so thin that undue pressure by the fingers will make a hole. Many scullers' chances of success have been ruined through carelessness. At the start of a race the boats are held into stake boatmen, who are supposed to hold them at the extreme point, but often a man, who is ill-fitted for his work, takes a hold by the skin, and then his fingers go through. .i Some years ago, when Mr Blackstaffo was ooroipetimg in the Diamonds at Henley against a Continental amateur, he suffered in that way, and only by sheer strength and pluck won his.race. When he arrived at.the boathouse, thoroughly exhausted, his shell was half-full of water. SULLIVAN'S EXPERIENCES. Barry's trainer. Tom Sullivan, who is New Zealand-born, is a man. of great rowing experience. He has won both the Australian and English championships, ,but was beaten for the world's championship. Sullivan has been, in lus day a swimmer, a footballer; a cricketer, a cyclist, and a walker—in fact, an allround athlete. He has had some exciting experiences. ■ _ In 1893 be was training on. the Thames to row Bluebear, when a man twicefired a revolver at him. The first ehot went wide, but the second just mussed Wag Harding, his trainer. The man.Mvho was apprehended, when asked by _ Sullivan why he fired, said, "Well, as I have never seen you row fast enough to: win, I wanted to find out bow fast you could go." Sullivan assorts that the man suc--oeeded, for he never rowed faster than that "'day.' "' t^_l As regards Barry's training a* Putney, nothing speedy will be attemptecl for over a month, or perhaps more. Sullivan's idea is to give the ohampion steady work for some time, nice easy rowing wbioh will get him thoroughly used to his boat ana the water. __ According to competent authorities the course is one of the fairest in the world. At -the regatta held there last year five crews were started together, thirty-five yards dividing each. For a mile and a half it is perfectly straight, and afterivards there is onlv a slight bend. The climate, we are told, ie excellent; NEW LIFE IN AFRICA. Livingstone, which is 3000 feet above the sea level, is a capital training ground, for there are no> mosquitoes. In tie morning it is cooL at mid-day it is hot, and at night cold. The water is not dead, as "Bill" East said it was the other day. It runs at about 730 yards an hour,' which is about the equal of Henley, where, however, tho racing is against the stream. Barry will find a new life before him on the Zambesi. When he arrives four natives will be told ofi for the exclusive use of iimself and his trainer. They will rrun him down, to the river on a trolley car, and bring him back to his hotel the same way. A special launch is to be sent out from England, and this, if he requires it for coaching, will be placed at the service of Sullivan;. _ ' As a matter of fact, nothing is to be spared in order that Barry shall go to the post a perfectly trained man.