ARNST WINS EASILY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16450, 11 June 1921, Page 10

ARNST WINS EASILY.

WORLD’S SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY BY FOUR LENGTHS. (Special to the “ Star-”) BLENHEIM, June 11, Dick Arnst beat Pat Hannan in the world’s championship sculling on the Wairau River by four lengths, in 22min 34 2-ssec, after a fine race. The weather was fine, but dull, with a brisk north-west breeze blowing down stream. The tide was running out, with a current of one knot against the oarsmen. Rig crowds followed the race from the bank, and launches and the bridge, and the hank was crowded at the finish. Arnst, who lost the toss, had a disadvantage in the start against wind and water, but quickly getting away, with powerful strokes, twenty-two to the minute, he gained the lead in the first quarter of a mile, and turned the tables in his favour. Hannan rowed the faster stroke, from twenty-four to thirty, to his opponent’s steady twentytwo, but never succeeded in overtaking the leader, or much reducing the lead. The race was won really in the first mile. Arnst showed much Superior watercraft, utilising every advantage in th© lio of the river, while Hannan made th© leader’s task easier by hugging t\he bank, and risking the danger of shoals and snags. At on© mile Arnst was ten lengths in front, in 7min 45sec. At two miles Arnst was five lengths in front, in 15mm 55sec.

Hannan tried to spurt at the finish, but could not manage the heavy task. Arnst was rowing splendidly, with supreme confidence. The crowd was disappointed at Hannan’s showing. The bad course he took lost him any chance he had of winning. Hannan was the local favourite, hut the critics expected Arnst to win. At the last stage Hannan put in a final spurt, reducing the lead to about four lengthsHannan said after the race: “My right arm failed me in the rough water at the start, I did the best I could.” Arnst said: “I rowed a hard race. I was lucky in getting the lead in the rough water at the start. Had I been in Hannan’s position I believe I would have retired. He rowed a game race.” After the race, which was watched by many old sports, Webb handed a challenge to Arnst, on behalf of Hadfield, of Wanganui.

Richard Arnst was b'orn. at Tai Tapu on November 1883, and is therefore! thirty-eight years old. In 1902 he took up cycling and had a most successful career, winning the principal races throughout New Zealand and holding all motor paced records. In March, 1900, he won the cycling blue ribbon of Australasia, th© Sydney Thousand. He retired from the sport in August of that vear and took up sculling. In January of the following year he finished second in a handicap at the anniversary regatta on .Sydney harbour. The following month he won the Mick Rush handicap on the Parramatta, and won in succession a handicap at the Maclean regatta on the Clarence River, New South Wales, the Ulmara handicap on the Clarence from scratch, and the Ooraki, N.S.W., handicap. He was tnird at Woodbury in the same year. In August, 1908, he raced Harry Pearce for £IOO aside on the .Parramatta and beat him. He won the championship of the world from Webb in December, 1908. and again beat Webb in June of me following year. He won the Wanganui handicap in 1910 and beat Whelch at Akaroa in the same year. He answered a challenge from Barry to row oja the Zambesi in August, 1910, and won, and .he beat Harry Pearce on the Parramatta in July, 1911. He lost the championship to Barry on the Thames on July 29, 1912. Returning to Australia he met Paddon on the Parramatta for the Australian championship on November 1, 1913, and was defeated. He then retired, and devoted his attention to pigeon shooting, at which he won many prizes. When] Rarrv and Felton were training for their match on the Parramatta Arnst issued a challenge to the winner, and as Barry failed 1 to cover Arnst’s deposit, under the existing championship rules, he forfeited the title. Doubt was expressed last year as to Arnst’s ability to come back, but after about three months’ training he was able to make such a good showing in the Sydney handicap as to lead to the conclusion that if it were not possible for him to attain his old form lie, at least, was a most formidable opponent for any of the present-day scullers to tackle.

J. P. Hannah, who was horn in Wellington thirty-five years ago, did not row in an outrigger until he Mas twenty-seven. His first appearance as a professional was in a handicap on the Parramatta, when he finished fourth. On April 19, 1913, ho won a two mile handicap from oOsec on the Parramatta, and in January of tho following year he easily defeated A. Priddle at Fake Albert, winning by 400 yards. He was matched shortly after against Sid Pearce, who forfeited in 1914. Whelch also forfeited, leaving the way open for a challenge to Webb, who was then New Zealand champion. The match was decided on September 24, 1915, Webb winning easily. Tt was in this race that Hannan’s right leg gave way, the result of a loose cartilage which was caused by an accident; in Sydney. The result was that Hannan was out o£ the sport tor some time, and he did not seriously take up sculling again until last year, when he accepted a challenge from Fog we II to row for the championship of New Zealand. The

match was decided on tljo Wairau on November 20, 1920, Hannan winning comfortably. He lost no time in challenging the holder of the world’s championship, and to-day’s meeting was tho PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS. Th© following- is the record of championship contests front ISSO :

* Resigned when challenged by his brother, G. Towns. + Resigned when challenged by Arnst.

Date. Winner. Loser. nr. sec. 1SS0. Nov. 15 Han I an Trickett 26 12 1881, Feb. I t Hanlan 1.08-3, April 3 Haul an BoyrI 21 25 1882, Mav 1 Hanlan Trickett 28 00 1834. May 22 Hanlan Laycock 1884, Aug. 16 Beach Hanlan 1883, Feb. 28 Beach Clifford 26 00 1885. Mar. 28 Beach Hanlan 22 51 1885, Dec. IS Beach. Matterson 24 11 1886, Sept. IS Beach Gaudaur ‘22 129 1886, Sept. 25 Beach Boss 1837. Nov. 26 Beach Hanlan 19 53 1SS3, Feb. 11 Clifford 28 47 3SS8, May5 Hanlan 21 36 1883, Sept. 28 « Hanlan 21 23 188S, Oct. 27 Searle 22 44 3S89, Sept. 9 Searle O’Connor 22 42 1890, June 30 Stanbury O'Connor 22 59 1891. April 28 Stanbury M’Lea-n No time 1892. May 2 Stanbury Sullivan 17 26* 1S86, July 13 21 51 .1896, Sept. 7 Gaudaur Stanbury 23 01 1901, Sept. 7 Gaudaur 20 30 1904, July 30 Towns Tressider 21 49 1905. July 22 Stanbury 19 4 2-5 1906. Julv ‘23 G. Towns Stanbury 19 53 1-5 **1907, Mar. 2 G. Towns Durnan 1907 i> Aug'._3 Webb C. Towns 20 45 1908, Feb. 25 Webb Tressider 20 28 1998. Dec. 15 W ebb 19 52 1909. June 22 Webb 18 15 1910, Anril 4 Arnst Whelch 20 50 3-5 1910, Aug. 18 ‘20 14 3-5 1911, July 29 19 46 1912, July 29 Barry 23 3 1912. Oct. 14 Bairv Durnan 22 31 1913, July 21 24 9 1914, Sept. 7 Paddon 21 23 3919. Oct. 27 Barry 25 40 + 1920, Aug. 2S Barry Felton 24 3-2