SCULLING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1908, Page 9

SCULLING.

ct> THE WEBB-TRESIDDER MATCH. Keen interest is being taken in the training operations, at. Wanganui, of the two conte6tants in the coining race for the Worlds Sculling Championship. The htg Wallsend man, says tha Chronicle,, is evidently, a glutton for work, and on the river on Thursday put in a sprint over a mile which was very convincing as to his ability to negotiate a' ia&t "go." It was up -river, and Ford, waiting about 300 yards from tha distance appointed, brought Tri?sidder home at a great bat, the pace-maker being slightly ahead at the finish. Tresidder then went on, and— on his own— did another fast mile and a quarter,, then returned to .the-W.RO. shed, had his usual plunge, shower, and rub down, and then, in the buff, tipped the beam at j "I can't get the weight off him," said Bain (the 'trainer). "He does everything I ask him to do, and sometimes more. He's healthy and as \ well as I could wish — and his rowing is vastly superior | to what he showed us in his races on ' you know — the other side. You couldn't -srteU Sot an easier man to tram, but the weight will creep up no matter what you do. From a physical point of view, there is no better athlete this side of the line in training, and althougfy he cannot get down in weight, I'm perfectly satisfied he will make a very, big bid to bring the , championship back to the Commonwealth." - "How do you account for Tresidder increasing in weight' with so much arduous work?" ''Well, I think 'it must* be the' climatic conditions of Wanganui.-. Look at Ford, here; he was only list when he left, Sydney, and now he> 11. 6£ — and he's been doing strong 'work with Tresidder, don't forget." Just here Ford chipped in-—he is one of the very reticent ones — and said : "There's no getting' away from it, I've done a' big Jot of rowing n .yitb>him (meaning Tresidder), .and let me tell you I, can't get my weight down; in Tact, it, keeps on. increasing." "What do you think of the prospects?"' 1"I think we shall have the best -'go' for the championship that- has even .been rowed, and stamina (with pace of course) will determine a big struggle." ! "Victor" in Thursday's Wanganui Herald, writes as' follows: — iV In connection with R. Arnstfs challenge to the winner of the Webb-Tresidder match I have received a letter from 'Sydney stating that ' Arnstfs deposit of £25 has been up "with the Sydney Sunday Sun since .17th September. I am"* asked to impress this fact upon both Tresidder and Webb, as further developments are expected- Am.st has "stated repeatedly that he is determined to tow the winner of the forthcoming race here for the tftle, whoever he may be. In the mean time, however, he is negotiating for a match with Harry Pearce, whom Dick Tresidder defeated ■ a few • years ago in a race -for the championship* of Aus- I tralia. -Pearco is understood- to have sufficient 'backing, and' as A-rnst is anxi-" ous apparently to make a match the men should, soon come to terms. Arnst stipulates for ten weeks 'iti' which to get fit. 1 understand there is a probability of a match between the pair- being arranged "for about May', to "be rowed on the Parramatta. Pearce • was a fast rower for a ' mile or so, and he may be so still, but he seemed •to fail over a longer course. "Providing Arnst -and Pearco are matched,' it will mean that' there" will be no race between the winner of the Tresidder Webb match and Arnst until next spring. Of course, should Tresidder win it is possible ho and Arnst would meet at an earlier date, but on the other hand .if Webb retains the title "and his next race is to be with Arnst on the Wanganui River it is not likely to take place much before November next. However,- in, this- connec tion', I may say that very tempting offers are suro to be made ±o Webb if he defeats Tresidder to row ,his next race on the Paramatta-, not matter who his opponent may be. It is pointed out that he would be sure of a big ' gat© there now, and possibly he may feel disposed to accept, though there is every probability of the gate J for the forthcoming race here being a big one. If it is satisfactory to the" scullers there is no reason why the Wanganui man, if he retains the title, §hspiuld go elsewhere to race^ and he "is nit likely to d© §fr' 4 ----- .