SCULLING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13036, 1 April 1910, Page 6

SCULLING.

THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP. ARNST v. WHELCH. TO-MORROW’S RACE. BY “VICTOR.” To-morrow Richard Arnst' will be called , upon to defend his title of champion of the world against George Whelch, in a race to be rowed at Akaroa. There has not, .been the same amount of interest taken in this contest so far as was evinced j in,.,the three previous world’s champion- > ship races rowed in New Zealand. The reason for this-is that the great majority of rowing enthusiasts do ndt consider Ajihelch has much chance with Arnst. It' is generally thought that thg. result will again prove that a good little’ man has nd'a chance with a .good big rqan, all other, conditions being equal. 'However, it is just possible that the critics 'whiw reasou" thus will get s big'ibUtpfiseJ tomorrow,;* as though Whelch; ifi ailittle/man, he is big in muscle,’ strengths and in pluck, while he is undoubtedly a skilful oarsman. Under the circumstances, it may be that he will be the first to catch the/judge’s ; eye. Such a result would indeed be a j facer to the majority of rowing men, ; especially in Australia.' There are many -who look upon Arnst as invincible, but,; great sculler as he undoubtedly is, - Webb had him at top for two miles here last ■’ June, and it is well known that when the , Wanganui man. eased up a little at that ] stage the champion was very pleased, as he felt queer, and could not have kept on at the same - pressure much further'. ; Can Whelcji succeed where Webb failed? That is the question which will soon be decided. Personally, I am inclined to doubt it, unless he is favoured with more luck than Webb had. It is just possible that the conditions .of the course may suit Whelch more than" Arnst, and if so he may gain the victory. It is sincerely to be hoped, however, that the conditions will be perfectly, fair, and that the better man will prevail. This is doubly to be desired, for the reason that the winner will have to,go to the Zambesi to uphold New Zealand’s honour in a race against Ernest Barry for the world’s championship. For such a contract the people of the Dominion want to see our very best sculler sent, and hence it is; .that the Arnst-Whelch race will be invested with more interest than it-' otherwise, would have, been. If Whelch wins after a fair test,- then he will well deserve the victory, and he will certainly be a worthy representative to send to meet England’s chamipion. To defeat Arnst, under fair condition, Whelch will have to demonstrate /that he is a marvel, as the present holder of the title is, I firmly believe, one of the finest scullers who ever sat a boat. At the same time, it is not inconceivable that Whelch can beat him, and in any case the Akaroa man may be relied upon to put up a tremendous race. The struggle will certainly be a much more interesting and close one than many imagine, and Arnst Will realise that he has been sculling before he reaches the post. Whelch is a better man now than ever previously, and he will be better boated, so that tomorrow he is sure to row the race of his life. Arnst, we arc told, is also in capital nick, and such being the case it only remains for the weather conditions to be favourable for the' spectators at Akaroa to witness a stirring struggle for supremacy.

George Wlielch is about 30 years of age, stands about sft 6in in height, and will probably scale: a : little--; over 9.13 to-mor-row. Though a -little man, he has demonstrated the possession of wonderful sculling ability, and his record as an oarsman is one of’which he has every, reason to be proud. His best-performance to date ■ was ;, that recorded on Easter Monday last, when he astonished everybody by so easily defeating. W. Fog-well in a-race for ,-£•’(;() aside and the championship of New Zealand at Akaroa': Previous to that he had had a most successful career as an amat uir. having, as a member of the Akaroa Boating 01011. won no fewer than 22 races fall kinds) out of 23 starts. Later on he turned his attention more particularly to sculling, and won the amateur championship on three occasions, beating W. Webb, at Wellington in 1905. The° Wanganui man reversed the verdict at Picton in the following year, where AVhelch in the first mile got -some five lengths ahead, and looked all over a winner. However, Webb spurted grandly over the last half mile (the distance was only a mile and a half) and, making up his leeway fast, got the verdict. It was claimed that Whelch’s .chance was spoilt through striking the wash of a passing steamer when near the finishing point, but whether this affected the result,or not it is difficult to say. He certainly did stop very suddenly, though it has to be remembered that Webb also had to row through the wash. After that -•Webb turned professional, and Wlielch had no trouble in winning the amateur championship the two following years. He .then decided to enter the professional ranks, and made a match with Ben ..Thoroughgood for the championship of Australia. George went to Australia and got beaten, but the heat on the other side upset him, and consequently he was quite -unable to show his best form, being far too light. He was- then matched against Fogwell, and the Australian’s friends considered the race a gift to-their man. They got a rude awakening, however, as the Akaroa man was in front, at the end of the first mile, and sprinting in marvellous fashion left Fogwell almost standing. Wlielch drew further and further away, and at two miles was twenty lengths in front, and eventually won by 300 yards. Such a result was never anticipated by the winner’s most sanguine friends, as -Fogwell was known to be a real good sculler, whom Australians- as. a coming man. The easy way in which he rowed away : from Fogwell. has to be remembered in estimating, liig chances to--morrow, as Seven Arnst '' fiuhself could ■'Scarcely have had an easier yin, Wlielch, has an exceptionally loiig refoji for, a little' JSaib though?he rows a shorti"stroke. He' -has a remarkably fine constitution, and is endowed ivith great strength, his rowpowers having bheh developed through .-following the calling of a fisherman in his early days. In addition, he has plenty of confidence in his own ability. That he will row a great race even against siich a redoubtable opponent as he will have ,to meet to-morrow is certain. He has mubh ihore pace than many people imagine, and may be depended upon to see the journey right out, as he is a thorough stayer, and as game as a pebble. Should-the water be favourable and Whelch prove, that he is. the better man, the victory’would'be a most popular one, as the Akaroa sculler is a universal favourite, and is deservedly regarded as one of the finest sportsmen in the Dominion.-

Arnst’s-performances are "so recent and so .well-known that it is' unnecessary at this; stage, fo give a sketch of his sculling career.. ... , .... " ■