SCULLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6273, 29 December 1921, Page 5

SCULLING.

PROSPECTS FOR WORLD’S CONTEST.

HADFIELD AND ARNST IN FINE FORM.

WANGANUI, Dec. 28. The big sculling race for the championship of the world on January 5, between Richard Arnst (holder) and Darcy Hadfield (challenger); is now the absorbing topic of conversation, and, with only seven days off, interest is quickening daily. To-day quite a number of interested spectators visited the training quarters of the two conijietitors for the world’s honors, and saw both men in action. Hadfield came down the river first, sculling, at the rate of about 26 to the minute, and he created the impression, that he was net actually letting himself go. Ho rowed very strongly to the finish, and,' over the last mile, he clearly demonstrated that his youthful vigor and his quickening powers were factors that will unquestionably play a, very important part on Thursday of next week. About ten minutes afterwards the champion came down the river, with his long, swinging strokes, hut he did nc.t quite finish the course. To-day he was paced, but his pacer did not give himself nearly sufficient start, as the -champion caught him when about a mile from the finishing'point. Arnst is looking well and is as strong as an ox. During the past week both men have trained assiduously, and their river work has' been particularly good. On Tuesday morning Hadfield did two and a-half miles strongly, and, finishing up very fast, showed that he had not extended himself or tapped his resources. To-day he was never more fit in his life, and he lias given his supporters faith in his ability to win, or, at all events, to put up a race against Arnst which will call forth from the champion one of the greatest efforts in his splendid career. Hadfield has a big advantage in the fact that he is a much younger man than his opponent, and he is in the pink-of condition, without having to punish his constitution in any way. His heart and soul is in his boat, and lie has never desertedfit for any other sport. His past record proves him to be a good stayer and sprinter, and it is confidently believed by his superters that next week he will justify the remark alleged to hav.e been made by Barry that, if he turned professional, he would ho the. greatest sculler of the world to-day. On the qther hand, no is up against one of the toughest propositions and one of the gamest men who over sat in a boat. Arnst if, reducing his weight from practically 17 stone to 13 stone 8 pounds. He undertook a herculean task, but this he. has accomplished without, so far, revealing a weakness anywhere, and all his work on the river has demonstrated that he possesses wonderful driving force in his long, swinging strokes. The champion is regarded to be quite as fit as he was ten or twelve years ago, when he gained liis reputation as a world-beater, and all his supporters are confident that lie will retain the title. . Providing he remains well, he will set a pace that will require all Hadfield’s skill to keep up with. Yet opinions are expressed that if Hadfield can hold him to within the last mile his ability to sprint will at the finish give, him the verdict. On- present form either might win. In the meantime,, requests are pouring in for accommodation on the umpire’s and Press boats, and arrangements have been made by the controlling authorities to allow them to follow the race.— Special. ' . .

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