FOR THE WORLD’S TITLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10924, 11 June 1921, Page 7

FOR THE WORLD’S TITLE

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP BIG CONTEST ON WAIRAU RIVER TO-DAY. LATEST NEWS FROM SCENE. (By Telegraph—Special Reporter.) BLENHEIM, June 10. Blenheim and “Marlborough the Golden’’ are a-tingle to-night in anticipation of to-morrow’s championship■ All the available accommodation had long since been bespoken, and many North Islanders are sleeping under primitive conditions. The weather is perfect, with an entire absence of wind: the river As in splendid order, and there is sara to be no danger of rain in the back country causing a “fresh” in the stream at the last moment.

There has been only one day on which the scullers could not go out, and the last detail of their training was concluded this afternoon. Both the contestants have already turned in, and each is fully confident of success. A proportion of the “gate” is to go to the scullers, and, to enable visitors to connect with the Mapourika, the race will be rowed. at 2.30 p.m. .Mr J. H. Morrison, who umpired the Hannan-FogweJ l match, will act tn the same capacity, and Mr B. J. Cooke has been selected as judge.

HANNAN VERY CONFIDENT. Hannan, who will fow at 12st lib, says: “1 have been ready now for a fortnight and have had to be very careful nob to undo the work already done. I have had a long, easy preparation, and can say without hesitation that I am confident of winning the great honour for Marlborough. It will be a very hard race against the current, and I am quite sure I have plenty or staying power to sustain me to the finish. If ‘Dick’ beats me he will he a better and faster man, but, barring accidents, I think I shall win.” ARNST’S DETERMINATION. Arnst says: “It is very hard to judge the conditions of this river, owing to the strong current which 13 always running. To my own way ol thinking I am in good nick, and can reckon that, as of old, I will row it to the bitter end. If I am beaten it will be because I had nothing left in me at the finish. Thanks to the glorious Blenheim weather, I have been able to do so well in my training. Why, bless your soul, I can hardly credit that I am in New Zealand.” MUTUAL GOODWILL. Each contestant speaks warmly of the other’s sportsmanship. The champion says: “In all my experience and all my races I never met a man easier to get on with than ‘Paddy* Hannan, -le has been eager to meet me in every way possible. He is a thorough sport.” j The challenger’s opinion of Arnst is warmer still. “Dick is a real good fellow,” he said. “He would not do anything that would spoil another man’s chances, and he has been helpful to me in every way; even to the extent of repairing my ‘Towns’ boat, so that I may be able to use it for the race. In all discussions regarding the arrangements he met me more than half-way, and I could not wish to row a better sport.” ’ RULES TO BE OBSERVED. The championship boat race laws will be observed. The scullers will he in the sole charge of the referee. The start will be by mutual consent, unless otherwise agreed. If the men fail to start within twenty minutes the referee shall order them to go on a signal from him. The choice of stations at the start will be by lots or toss; each sculler to allow ample water to the other competitor and steer a proper course on the side he started, when such competitor is in position to enforce his right to such water. Failure to keep a proper course is at the peril of the offender in. the event of a foul. Sculler shall stand by own accidents. Other conditions relate to a deadheat; the position and methods of the judge; appeals to the . referee; and warning to, competitors nt impending danger. Mr Edward Parker, chairman of the' Boat Race Committee, appeals -to the sporting public to buy 2s 6d tickets to defray tne cost of the arrangements. WEBB DOES NOT ASPIRE. The last and most numerous contingent of sportsmen from the -North Island came across in the Mapourika, and included Mr W. Webb, an exworld’s champion, and Mr Bridson, an ex-amateur champion. Webb, on being interviewed to-night, says he does not intend to seek to regain the title of world’s champion. CHAMPION’S RIGOROUS TRAINING. Arnst will take the wqjfcer at 14et 61b. in better condition, he says, than ever before. In the effort to drop 301 b in weight he reduced his training to a science. W. Fogwell, who is closely attending him, puts him through massage treatment at 4 o’clock each morning, and this is followed by calisthenics. The champion has been paying only moderate attention to actual rowing, believing that he has reached the pinnacle of that art. One day ho motored forty miles and rode back, and the next day he spent his time on the river, accustoming ' himself to the championship course. On a third day he rode on horseback for forty miles, and walked baok. Then, a after alternating days of river he walked forty mile® on a shooting expedition. To a man of his stature a quick reduction in weight might have been expected to cause a disinclination for food, but it is stated by those in close touch that he has been taking four whiskies daily to retain his demand for food. Arnst says he is fitter now than when he beat Barry on the Zambesi in 1910—the last occasion on which he actually won the championship, and, barring accident, or some unforeseen circumstance, he expects to' win comfortably. ARNST—AGAINST THE TIDE. The race will bo rowed against the tide, and the champion’s supporters are confident that this will help Arnst, whose advantage in weight they expect to tell in the “lift” of his boat and his footwork. Webb does not share this view, assorting that Arnst’s weight will not tell against the tide. Fogwell considers that Arnst’s work below the rowlocks is the best he has ever known. Interviewed to-night, Webb said he expects the champion to retain the title. “Dick,” he says, “has been out -of the game a long time, hut when sculling was revived in Sydney 'he wont out and won minor events. In my opinion, he was then keeping an oya out for a bigger contest ahead. Jim Stanbury dropped out, and had to train down to race again, but he beat Georgs Towns under the same

conditions that Arnst will - he rowing to-morrow. Although hot weather would suit Arnst better, Hannan would" have to improve greatly on his form as I last saw him to heat Arnst.”

HANNAN WINS THE TOSB CHOICE OF POSITIONS. ARNST REALISES CHALLENGER’S ADVANTAGE. Later. At a meeting of the Boat Race Commitfee to-night, Arnst attended. It was reported that Arnst had discovered a sand-bank in the middle of the course, and had drawn the attention of Hannan and the referee to it. At the champion’s suggestion a coin was to seed-for positions, and Hannan won. Seen at his hotel after he had retired, Arnst said that losing the toss meant that at all the bad turns Hannan would have the inside position, and he was not so confident, but would rely on his pace. If the champion loses he will get £250, the gate which has been guaranteed- If he wins, he will share the gate with Hannan. Publio . opinion late to-night, is equally divided as to the rivals’ chances of success.

ABOUT THE CHAMPION6HIP SOME RECENT HISTORY. A few details concerning the recent history of the championship may be of interest. ’. Arnst first won the title by defeating William Webb (the holder) on December 15th, 1908, on the Wpnganui river (New Zealand). He then successfully defended his title against Webb (on the Wanganui river, on June 22nd, 1909); against George Whelch (at Akaroa Harbour, New Zealand, on April 4th. 1910); against- Ernest Barry (on the Zambesi river, Rhodesia, on August 18th, 1910); and against H. Pearoe (on, the Parramatta river, Sydney, on July 11th, 1911). Ou July 29th, 1912. Arnst lost the title to Ernest Barry over the Putney to Mortlake course on the Thames. Barry in turn successfully defended the title against three challengers (Durnan, Pearoe, and Paddon), but lost it to A. D. Felton - (Australia), on the Thames on October 27th, 1919. Barry regained the title from Felton on the Parramatta on August 28th of last year. Arnst, who had “come back” to an extent, and had competed with a measure' or success in races at Sydney, challenged Barry. The Englishman, however, had intimated that his tace with Felton was going to be his last. Through the non-acceptance of his challenge to Barry. Arnst claimed the championship—a claim which rowing authorities agreed was technically oorrect, although there Was a sharp division of opinion on the question of merit.