Champion Christchurch sculler Dick Arnst competes against Wanganui favourite William Webb on the Whanganui River 22 June 1909. Arnst victorious in a race watched by more than 6000 people.
Wanganui Herald 24 June 1909 reported ' Cinematograph pictures of the race were taken [by the Tourist Department] and are expected to prove really excellent as the conditions were favourable. A number of scenes and incidents in connection with the training of the two men have been obtained by the syndicate and the result should be that some splendid pictures will shortly be on view'.' (ref cataloguer's note).
Local dignitaries gathered on the open foredeck of the S S Waimaire, the umpire’s boat, with the bowler-hatted Alexander Hatrick, owner of Hatrick Steamship Co, prominent in the foreground. (Webb was employed by Hatrick)
The steamers Waione and the paddle-steamer Wairere.are shown packed with spectators. It was good business for Hatrick. Five Hatrick steamers packed with onlookers followed the race. Fares were £2 return on the Umpires’ boat, £1 return on the Press boat and 10/- return on each of the other three steamers.
The two scullers, Arnst in black and Webb in white waiting for the race to begin. The two scullers are then shown sculling upstream with the film ending before Arnst on the right or eastern bank-side pulled ahead to win, but not before Webb made one final effort.
Last frame.
"The race, for the World Professional Sculling Championship, had been held on the Wanganui River on June 22nd. The film was taken by Mr James Mcdonald of the Tourist Department. McDonald's camera work received favourable comment: 'The picture is a triumph in cinematography, and a credit to the operator', opined the NZ Times." Clive Sowry, 'Eighty Years of Film Exhibition in Wellington: part 10, the Lasting Picture Show', Sequence, March 1980.