SPORT IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1113, 10 August 1911, Page 7

SPORT IN SYDNEY.

THE WORLD’S SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. BEFORE AND AFTER THE RACE. (By our Canterbury Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August Ist. ’ Dick Arnst, of Tai Tapu, Canterbury, is still the world’s sculling champion. Saturday last was the second time I have seen him successfully defend his title, and the way he polished off Australia’s best on the Parramatta leads me to think that it will be some time before he is beaten. Arnst, as I have frequently said, is a marvel, and, according to William Beach, the unbeaten ex-champion, there is no man living capable of fully extending the champion. Early on the day of the race I took one of the ferry steamers out to Mortlake, Arnst’s training quarters and arrived there just in time to see Arnst coming in from a short spin. He was looking well, but after having a chat with him about Christchurch friends, I came to the conclusion that he was somewhat tired and perhaps a trifle overdone. “How do you feel, Dick?” “Not too bad, but not nearly as well as when I first rowed Bill Webb at Wanganui. This sculling business is hard work and unless a man is thoroughly well it becomes tiring. Come into the shed and see me have a rub down.” In the shed Harry Nathan, Dick’s trainer, was waiting fully armed with towels, oils and other necessary utensils. “Have a drink, Dick?” “Yes, I’ll have a glass of water!” During the rubbing down process Arnst informed me that the weather had been unfavourable ror training, but both he and Pearce had been able to get in plenty of work. Arnst would strip at 13.2, and Pearce 12.10. Prior to. dinner, Arnst had a rest

and found time to sign his' name on renowned long strokes and soon passpost .cards, etc. Dinner, at 12.30, consisted of a boiled chicken (How the champion relished it!), some toast, baked rice and stewed prunes and a glass of water. Dinner over, another quiet rest followed. At three o’clock Arnst came out into the shedj saw that , his boat was ready, and then quietly waited for a launch to take him UP to Ryde. Half an hour later the champion started on his journey amid ringing cheers from the small army of New Zealanders gathered to wish him luck on Mortlake Wharf. Pearce and his party went up the river an hour before Arnst’s party. THE RACE. Beautiful weather, smooth water and a westerly wind in their favour was what the scu lers wanted, and they got everything. It seemed as if the climatic conditions had been made to order. They were simply perfect The championship course was from Ryde wharf to Searle’s Monument, a distance of three miles 330 yards. William Beach was umpire and Mr. N. Z. McDonald judge. There was a tremendous crowd all along the course, the Sydney newspapers estimating it at between 75,000 and 100,000. For Arnst, Harry Floyd won the toss from Tom Kelly, who represented Pearce, and chose the southern side, but there was no advantage in position so perfect were the conditions. Both scullers got away to a beautiful start. Pearce, in light blue, was soon in front, and in the first quarter of a mile he had gained a length on the champion. Here the latter wavered slightly owing to dropping a scull, but he soon got going again. At the half mile Pearce, who was rowing the much quicker stroke, increased his lead to two lengths, and his supporters became jubilant. Nearing the mile point Pearce narrowly escaped fouling Arnst, but the latter took in the siutation at once, and cleverly avoided any danger. Pearce at this stage was half a length in front, but passing Mortlake the New Zealanders on the shore cheered their man to the echo, Responding to their calls, the champion put in some of his ed the Australian. Steering . a fine course Arnst passed the two mile post at Tennyson two lengths in front and had gained another length on reaching Cabarita. Crossing the river on the Gladesville side with two and a-half miles gone the New Zealander had a five lengths lead. Pearce made several game attempts to overhaul his opponent, and at Henley he had reduced the gap to three lengths- Arnst, however, eased up a little at this stage, but in the last half mile he rowed in his best form, and passed the winning post five lengths in front of Pearce Time, 19min. 46sec- a record for the race. There was tremendous excitement at the finishing point, where some 30,000 people were gathered. The champion received quite an ovation, the wearers of the “Kangaroo badges acknowledging in graceful terms that the “Fern Leaf on the black” was too good for them that day. All the steamers following the race were crowded. After the race Arnst rowed back to Mortlake, where he received a great ovation. The New Zealanders present walked in single file from the wharf to the Palace Hotel and awaited the champion’s arrival. Directly he pulled alongside the wharf they danced Maori hakas and gave Maori war crys from the balcony of the hotel. The crowd enjoyed the fun immensely. After a rub down Arnst walked over to the hotel and addressed the crowd from the balcony. He said he had met a tough man in Pearce who made him row the race of his life. He thanked the good people of Mortlake for the kindness tbev had shown him during his training work, and when he was next asked to defend his title he hoped he would be able to row as well as he had done that day. He was very tired and thought a good rest would do him good. The stakes were paid over on August Ist in the presence of a representative gathering of Sydney sportsmen.