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The World Title match was commemorated in 1986 by the Akaroa Rowing Club in the form of a trophy. The club instigated the Arnst/Whelch
Memorial Trophy which consists of a miniature single sculls boat and oars made of copper, mounted on a granite base and all enclosed in a glass and rimu case. It was
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as normally such races were held on rivers. The course was stated to be a little over three miles long. Akaroa was the home town of Whelch. Bad weather delayed the race for a couple of days which disappointed the large crowd who had gathered. When the race did finally get underway Whelch gained the
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A year later, in April 1911, Whelch and
Fogwell met again at Akaroa for the New Zealand Championship and a stake of £200 a side. Fogwell won. Holders of national titles were not always citizens of the country concerned. Whelch then retired from active racing but gave service as coach to the Akaroa
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had gained the New
Zealand professional single sculls title in December 1906 and in August 1907 had won the World Title. Whelch then challenged Webb for the New Zealand title but Webb declined as he did not wish to risk a loss on a lesser title which would have damaged his reputation as World
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Whelch challenged Arnst for the World Title who had taken it off Webb. The usual competition rules were agreed to for a stake of £300 a side with the match being scheduled for 2 April 1910. Unusually it was agreed to run the race on
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initial advantage but Arnst was able to overcome the deficit and went on to win easily. Whelch, despite not winning had not disgraced himself; he had simply been beaten by a better man.
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in April 1909. His opponent was
William (Billy) Fogwell of New South Wales. Both Whelch and Fogwell had been associated as training partners with William Webb and
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Champion. Webb therefore forfeited the New
Zealand title to Whelch. He (Whelch) formalised this position by later winning a race which was for the
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competed for annually by single scullers over a three-mile course from The Kaik to the wharf; a very similar course to that of the 1910 race.
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newspaper. Issues of 17 March 1909, 21 April 1909, 12, 17, & 23 March 1910, 1, 4, & 5 April 1910, 15, 17, 18, & 20 April 1911.
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Whelch had won the
Dominion (i.e. New Zealand) single sculls Championship three times (once against
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where he lived for most of his life. In 1903 he married Sarah Gundy and they had two children.
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respectively during the earlier
Whanganui races for the World Championship. See also
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His first professional race, for the
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19:(December 1879 – 6 October 1960) was one of six
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109:1910 Match Commemorated
86:World Title Challenge
50:New Zealand Champion
17:George Edwin Whelch
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