SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2375, 16 December 1908, Page 5

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

ARNST DEFEATS WEBB.

[Press Association.]

AVANGANUI, Dec. 15. Tho great event is over. AVanganui no longer retains the championship, and Webb’s supporters -are sad to-niglit. There was -nothing like the enthusiasm -at the finish of the race -as there was on the previous occasion. In fact many hardily realise that the champion has been defeated. The population oiWanganui was early a-ioot, and tlio early trains poured forth strong contingents into the town. Every conceivable vehicle from milk carts -upwards had been pressed' into requisition and ‘all the morning a steady stream of people •thronged up each side of the rivei*. The ;;, steamers -and motor launches were also in great demand. SANGUINE BACKERS.

The majority of local citizens were sanguine that tnc local champion would istidl retain tlie honor, and were quite ready to speculate upon the result. Consequently upon tho previous* evening a good deal of foreign capital found ready investments, the odds, of course, mot being very extended except in a few minor instances. Along tlie coast, it may safely be said,, interest was equally keen as- on the last occasion, but enthusiasts skate there was not so -large an influx of distant visitors. This is probably accounted for by the approaching festive season. The steamers set out for the starting post at 2.15 p.m. ‘A light rain was commencing to fall. On'arrival Arnst and his trainer were found located -under the shelter of a large willow tree. Nearing the' appointed time for starting, AVebb pulled up the river, being greeted -with cheers. Both -men looked in splendid condition, and little did AY-anganui supporters dream that the challenger had such a surprise packet in store. Spectators fined the banks from the finishing point to the mile post, and many followed- the race home. AVebb won the toss and elected to take the inside running. He wore his usual colors, light blue, and scaled list 51b. Arnst was attired -in black, and scaled 13st 31b.

THE RACE. 1 The start was by mutual consent, and -after a surprisingly short interval the great race 'had- started at ! 4.5 p.m. From the steamers it was hard to obtain a good view of the commencement, but when some of the gap had been made up it was plainly evident that the challenger had. ia good lead. For the first minute Arnst rowed 34 and- Webb 33, both rowing -excellently, in businesslike fashion and showing plenty of weight. A clearer view could be obtained at the bend, about a quarter of a mile from the start, showing Arnst to have a lead of nearly half-a-length. At the half-mile he had increased the distance to over a (length. Nothing eventful happened in the remainder of the race to the mile post, although there wias plenty of evidence that Arnst was still increasing the distance. AVebb turned round to locate his position, but apparently showed no inclination to reduce the gap. Arnst maintained a powerful stroke, keeping in the centre of the stream, whilo AVebb pursued nearly the same coui'se ias in the race against Trcesider. At one and a-half miles Arnst had a dead of three lengths, and at two and a-half miles had gained another length. When the gun announced the finish tlie challenger diad about seven -lengths to his credit. At the quarte-r-mile both rowed 26 strokes, and -a similar number at the half-mile. -At tho finish AVebb was rowing 30 am? Arnst 24. The official time (is: Ist mile, omin 45scc; 2nd mile, sinin 48sec; total time, 19min 52scc.

Webb admitted that Arnst gained half-a-length in the first six strokes, but that did not trouble him, as ho never Avon from the jump. He appeared to have had enough at the termination. The trace Avas finished in pouring rain.

WHELCH'S OPINION. WANGANUI, Dec. 15. Wllielch, intervioAved, said that the rosuilt of the race was a shock to-him. He thought that Webb must Avin on the form shown in training. He Avas of opinion that Webb seemed tired or under-trained, as lie did not seem to be himself when opening the race, aior did his spurt seem to have any power in it. Even had ihe been well, to life .(Welch’s) mind ho could not have Avon. Any fault previously 'found in Arnst’s sculling disappeared. Arnst, if pushed, could, in his opinion, have knocked a feAV seconds off Stanbury’s time, 19niin 47sec.

THE OFFICIAL VERDICT. The judge’s official verdict is that the sice w>is won by six lengths, but lie was not certain.

OPINION IN WELLINGTON

[Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Dec. 15

A rust’s victory was not unexpected ihere as, though very modest about his chances to the pressmen who were visiting Wanganui, he had written private letters, which indicated that he was practically certain of victory. Moreover, those who remembered Webb’s somewhat uneven rowing at the end Bin's race with Tressider, I must always have had some doubt in their mindrs as to whether Webb had really the strength and stamina of Beach or Haitian. While everyone regrets on Webb’s behalf that he 'hasbeen so badly beaten, general satisfaction is expressed that the chain-A jpion -is still a New Zcai’andor, an °1 one who is able to so far ouh 1 1 all recent champions. .<ls. \ x ] THE PEELING IN \ $ Rowing

THE CHALLENGER LEADS ALL THE WAY.

toi*y oif Arnst over Webb in his first attempt, and could hardly at first give the intelligence credence. To have two would’s champions—if such a term can -be used—in the Dominion was considered to be something specially proud of, and la local sculler expressed a general opinion when lie remarked that the fact was likely to give fresh impetus to rowing throughout Now Zealand. Webb is fairly wpll known in Gisborne, having been here on business for the .'Spiral Pi fie Company, which has the waterworks contract. Ilis victory would have been popular in many quarters. Arnst is: (known here only by roputation, but nevertheless he had many supporters in the town and district.

I JUBILATION IN SYDNEY. United Press Association, Copyright (Received Dee. 16, 12.58 a.m.) ( ; SYDNEY, Dec. 15. The news of Arnst-’s win Was received with much gratification. It fulfilled the predictions of many prominent aquatic authorities, who never wavered in their faith that Arnst had so improved since Webb’s visit to Australia that he would be likely to give the- champion a shaking. The only surprise was Webb’s:, failure, to make the finish harder. *

THE NEW CHAMPION. RICHARD ARNST. (By “Southerner. ”) It is just about seven years ago since a. cycle agent whom I'happened to know rushed into the “Lyttelton Times” office in Christchurch and asked me to make a note of the time .as a couple of cyclists had been engaged in setting .up a record from Cheviot, which is about 60 miles from the Cathedral city. As I wrote down the time the riders came up and were introduced to me as the Arnst Brothers. Then it became my duty to chronicle in a - short paragraph a really first-class road' performance, and one that demonstrated speed and staying capacity of exceptional order. This .was the first occasion in which public mention was made of the cyclists whose subsequent performances were destined to make the name of the Arnsts famous throughout Australasia. As I saw them on the day in question they appeared what they were: simply a pair of roughlooking country lads straight from the plough. To the most casual observer they were of magnificent physique, but there was nothing to indicate that lissomness of limb and indomitable pluck which must of necessity form an important part in the make-up of a successful athlete. Quiet and unassuming in manner, they made nothing of the ride just completed, but smiled frankly 'and geniaky when any praise was given. This latter provided an indication of the temperament of the men, for no one ever saw one of the Arnsts give a display of anything approaching ill temper, and they have always : retained the free-from-care happy-go-lucky methods of early years. In the cycling career which followed j both riders distinguished themselves ; to such an extent that for several years they were amongst, the topnothchers in New Zealand racing circles both on road and track. Jack, the elder of the two brothers, though sturdily built, had not the size of his burly younger brother, whose rapidly increasing bulk threatened to disqualify him from championship Oionors. However, Dick has succeeded in recent years in keeping his weight at an average of about 13 to 14 stone, and at this great weight evidently retains sample activity. Jack proved the superior on the road, whilst Dick was a shade better on the track, though there was little to choose between the two. No more popular riders ever crossed >a wheel in the Dominion, for they were sportsmen to the finger tips, generous to a fault, thoroughly unset fish, athletes of whom no suspicion of foul or dirty work was ever breathed. In long distance road events both in New Zealand 1 and Australia the older of the pair accomplished performances which set the cycling world of Australasia agape with astonishment, and the best of his achievements have not been equalled in any part of the world. Dick crowned a long series of cycle successes in the Dominion and Australia by winning the great handicap of Australia, the Sydney Thousand, for which the firet p-rizo was £750. The New Zealander captured the prize in characteristic fashion. He took tho lead before the boll rang, and getting his 100 gear going made tho .pace so hot that his followers wore shaken off, and' he led to tho finish, winning by several lengths. It was just after this fitting climax to a successful career that some Christchurch _ sporting enthusiasts formed the opinion that this magnificent athlete would make ;a world's sculling champion. Dick was in Christchurch at the time, having come over to see his parents and friends after winning the big event. Being approached on the matter he expressed his willingness to put him- - self in the hands of the proposed© syndicate and train for rowing, /'to t project seemed entirely foolislj c _ I to tl ■aquatic experts ridiculed tV‘ . 1 iratt a big heavy man like Arqp l pen the cycling arena witM of becoming a top-vof a \, r icl ing shell. It A dent. In tho ,ssical develop> 1 q e l, were a to the s "; eS | ive I pat cyclist algr S econd y ; s !ririse dl 20C qualifier,, Ta j lvs t ad tlie n “He’ll \^ n tha JTof the sculling cv< 'W- by '*«! !g &&£V Rlvor - l

castle, and within six months of his entering the new athletic arena was winning handicap races. As the liandicapper reduced his . starts the New Zealander still kept winning, tand then Arnst commenced to seriously aspire to the goal his supporters had in view. He issued challenges to /some of the first-class scullers of Australia to meet him in a match, but for months he could get no satisfactory response, and at one time he was seriously disposed to return to the cycle tr,ack because of the impossibility of securing opponents on the water. However, at last he got a match fixed with Pearce, a prominent Victorian sculler, and the ease with which he defeated that classy oarsman demonstrated his right to be considered a fitting candidate for championship honors. He challenged Webb, the ' challenge was promptly accepted, with the result that is made known in this issue. Arnst’s record is a remarkable one, and has probably not been equalled in modern sporting history. Two years ago he could not sit in a racing skiff without the wobbly shell capsizing him, .being looked upon as capable of nothing exceptional in the athletic would outside cycle racing, yet to-day he holds by the undeniable right of superb /achievement the proud position- of champion sculler of the wo Ad. May ho dive long to wear his laurels! _ T