AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1112, 3 August 1911, Page 9

AQUATICS

ARNST STELL UNDEFEATED. A GREAT RACE. NEW RECORD ESTABLISHED. The race for the sculling championship of the world between R. Arnst, the holder, and H. Pearce was rowed on the Parramatta River course on Saturday, under perfect weather conditions- There was a bright sun, smooth water and a steady westerly wind right behind the scullers. The tide was also in their favour. The attendance was easily a record, a crowd of probably 100,000 witnessing the race. The river was black with small craft. After one of the most gruelling races on record, Arnst won easily by four lengths in 19min. 46sec., which is record time for the world’s championship. Arnst won the toss, and chose the inside course. The men got away well together, the champion rowing thirty-four strokes to the minute and Pearce thirtyseven.

There was no advantage on either side for the first 200 yards, when Arnst, pulling close to Pearce, was forced to stop and lose a stroke. This gave the challenger the advantage of a length which he held passing Uhrs Point. At the mile the defender’s mighty strokes began to tell, and he started gradually to overhaul his opponent. He managed the corner badly, however, and got into Pearce’s water, coming within an ace of colliding. Arnst had in consequence to stop rowing for a couple of strokes to allow Pearce to draw ahead.

Pearce kept on, thus showing his Sportsmanship, as, had he stopped, Arnst must have collided and lost on a foul. After negotiating the point, the champion bent his great back and settled down to a steady pull of about 28 strokes to the minute. He overhauled his opponent at the mile and a half. Pearce was rowing a slightly quicker stroke, but not with the same power. Once in front, Arnst headed for home and rowed like a machine, gaining steadily until at Cabarita Point he led by six lengths. Pearce was undaunted, and pulled magnificently. He tried to gain by repeated spurts, but the New Zealander was too powerful, and kept driving on in a heart-breaking fashion.

On rounding the point at Putney, a few hundred yards from home, Arnst was leading by a good ten lengths, and dropped to twenty-two strokes a minute.

Pearce at this stage looked round and wavered and then put in a last tremendous though futile effort. Without doubt Arnst had never been more fully extended than when he passed the post a winner by four lengths. He immediately stopped rowing and dipped his hands one after the other into the water. The race had been a fearful strain, too much for the champion’s condition, causing him to vomit. Pearce in the last struggle felt the agonising torture of defeat, and when the pistol was fired he placed his hands before his face and sobbed. The time for the total distance (3 miles 167 yards) was 19 minutes 4 6 ’seconds, and for the first mile smin. 39sec. Arnst’s weight was 13st- 31b... and Pearce’s 12st 101 b. Pearce admits that Arnst was too good for him. He will not challenge him again. Arnst declares that it was the hardest race of his life.

Mr Beach says there is nobody in sight to beat Arnst. The takings amounted to £BOO.