SCULLING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 1 April 1926, Page 3

SCULLING

OOODSELL-SAUL MATCH Tlie announcement that Major Goodsell lias accepted a challenge from T. Saul, the Canadian, for a match for the world's sculling title, to be rowed on the Pnrramatta River, settles an interesting controversy. Saul recently claimed that Good sell had forfeited the\title through not accepting his challenge. He sent the following letter to Gcodsell: "As mors than three months have elapsed since 1 issued to you a bona fide challenge, which you have not accepted, I now claim the title 'cha ; n;piori sculler of the world," which you have forfeited by default. Personally, I would rather have won the title by eohlesl ; hut this you seem to have studiously avoided: and, on the one occasion when you deigned to notice my challenge, you assumed a dictatorship as to date that is nowhere conceded you in the rules, and so is certainly not recognised by me." The Melbourne Argus gave an outline of the position. "The holder of the title," it said, "has the privilege of naming the course and, presumably, of fixing a date; and. although Good sell named a date unsuitable to Saul. it would appear that the challenger must accept what is offered, or try over again by issuing a fresh challenge. It is not U<a satisfactory a procedure, as the challenger should have some voice in the fixing of a date, but there is no specific rule on the point. The rule says:—(l) A challenge must be accepted within three months (Goodsell accepted immediately), and (2) the race must be rowed within six months (Goodsell named a date front five to' six weeks from acceptance)."