THE ZAMBESI RACE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12768, 14 April 1910, Page 2

THE ZAMBESI RACE.

QUESTION OF THE CHAMPION- 1

.SHIP,

A letter has reached Nelson for Dick Arnst per Mr G. Sutherland, from Mr Guy NickaLs, who is managing affairs for the challenger, Ernest Barry. In the course of nis; letter. Mr Nickalls states that. the sum of £300 had already been paid into the Standard Bank of South Africa at Livingstone, and awaited Awist's arrival.

'Upon: the .point as to . whether or not the race is for the championship of the world, Mr Nickalls writes, "As regards the point raised by your Mr Sutherland as to whether this race of yours with Barry is for the world'schampionship, there can be absolutely no question at all. Aft cables sent you stipulated the world's championship. Your replies accepting the challenge, purse and expenses clinched the whole matter. It is as good as settled. I can only inform you that it is an indispensable condition. of the Zambesi nace that when you sail you are the world's champion and the race is for that title. Mr Sutherland in his letter states that the press are in agreement with him that this race is not for the world's championship. I would refer you to the Sydney" Referee" of January 12th, where under the signature of "Nautilus," who. I believe is Mr Richard Cooinbes, the opinion is expressed that the race is or should be a world's championship. That is a fair reflex of English opinion on the matter. We should like the race to be on August 18th, which as explained in my former letter will be most convenient to all concerned. . . - I may in conclusion say that Mr Spencer H. Gollan "has^ full power .if necessity should arise, to act for me in any and every capacity during his stay in New Zealand and Australia."

A cable message published yesterday, .morning stated that Arnst . nas expressed again, this time to a Sydney interviewer, his determination that the race shall be rowed under championship rules. He adds that he is willing to. throw in the championship (the title presumably) if he gets a return match on the Thames later.

Mr Sutherland has a copy of the conditions under which the championships have heretofore been decided, and the third condition states "the stakes shall be not les6 than £500 a side when it is an international contest and not less than £200 a side when two scullers of the same place, or country row." The Zambesi race is practically a competition for a prize, £750 going to the winner and £250 to the loser. One of the competitors is the acknowledged champion sculler of the world, but ho has not been challenged in the terms of condition No 3, which requires the challenger to personally stake £500 on the issue, the defender being in the same case. If the rules were complied with in the terms of Arnst's contention he would stand to win £1250 on the race, not £750. The firmness of Barry's backers has had its effect no doubt, and Arnst has given way apparently recognising that the man who beats the champion of the world must himself be so regarded apart from any technical flaw in the title, but he has been cute enough to make the stipulation that his abandonment of the position he has taken up is absolutely conditional upon an agreement that Barry (if the winner) shall give him another chance on the Thames.