SCULLING.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17428, 12 April 1922, Page 10

SCULLING.

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD. NEXT TUESDAY'S RACE. (SFKCIAL TO "THE P,BES3.") WANGANTJI, April 11. A week to-day, Darcy Hadfield and James Paddon. will contest the world's sculling championship, which will be rowed on the Wanganui river for a stake of £SOO a-eide. Keen interest is being manifested in tbo race, which promises, if Paddon is back to form, to be one of tho most exciting ever tutnessed. Hadheid is undoubtedly in fine form, and his party i» quite sanguine aa to the result. His work ou the river is very pleasine Paddon has shown much improvement in the last few days, the spell which he took having proved very beneficial. The warmer weather has also been to his advantage and his rows over the iul course yesterday and to-day show that he is a great Foullcr. Whether he is the sculler ot old remain* to be seen. If auch proves to be the case, Hudfield will have the race of ""Word came to hand by the Pjdiiey mail which arrived to-day, that Mr E. Coombes (editor-in-chief, Sydney 'Referee ) will be unable to come over for the race next luesday and consequently wi.l not os here to attend the meeting, at which it is proposed to set up a Board, of Control for champion,l,ip races. In a letter to Mr C. G. Young, Mr Coombes, referring to the proposed conference, says that although unable to attend tho meeting himself, he will do all he can to help the formation of a Board by sending across as many suggestions as he can. He see* on to say: The first thing to do is to determine exactly who is eligible to attend tho meeting. In 1907, when the world s sculling championship rules were drafted. I presided over a company which included past and present champions (1) of the world, (2) of Australia, (3) of New South Wales, also ai» army of supporter* of sculling, snd two members of the Bowing Association, although the latter did not officially attend as such. The scullers included William Beach, the late Peter Kemp, the late Hairy Pearce Senr. .T. McLean, H. Pearce, Junr., George and 'Charles Towns, James Stonbury, C. Kcihen, J. Mitchell, and others. Tho rules as then drafted stand good to-day, and cannot be departed from. For your meeting you can easily get some past and present world's champions and New Zealand champions, also some supporters. Seemingly, outside of Paddon and party, there will be no Australian representatives, and thus it may be beet to form first a New Zealand Board, with the understanding that an Australian Board be formed directly there is a race in Sydney, both Boards to bo subsequently amalgamated in a measure by tho formation of an executivo (say two from New Zoalnnd and two from Australia), with clearly-dffined headquarters. The rules governing championships are clearly defined, and all that is wanted is a Board to enforce them. I think it imperative that a clause should be inserted to the effect that no challenge to the winner of a race will be recognised before such a raco is rowed and tho winner defined. Next in importance comes tho question, of procedure when there are more than one chal'.enger. Men who 'have been soundly beaten must not be allowed to jump in again for a retsrn race to the exclusion of men who have not been beaten. In conclusion, Mr .Coombeß states that he will write ngain after getting the views of leading scullers and rowing authorities, and embody these in recommendations to the Wanganui committee. He says he thinks it would be better ' for New Zealand (in the Absence of adequate Australian representation to go on its own, leaving Australia to come in later; but ij this does not suit, Australia must rely upon the Paddons, Larsen; and Casey to represent her, trusting that what they do will be endorsed.