SCULLING HANDICAPS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6996, 9 December 1909, Page 9

SCULLING HANDICAPS

PREPARATIONS FOR WANGANUI CONTEST. SPECIAL TO THE " TIMES." WANGANUI, December R. .Additional interest ia the sculling handicap on the Wanganui river on lanuary 6th and Bth will be created hy the arrival hero to-morrow of the Australian competitors who have been at Foxton for the oast few weeks. Tlio party consist* of F. S. Hagney, A. D. Folton, S. Kemp, Robert Green, E. Larson, and J. Ellis. Jack Mitchell and his trainer Zeitsch arrived here to-day. The former's boat, which was whipped via Auckland and panic to hand too late for the Foxton handicap, was landed here to-day ex Arapawa from Wellington. . Mitchell had the satisfaction and surprise of finding his skiff practically unecratched—rather unusual after such a journey. Ellis is not engaged in the Wanganui oonfceet, tho IdSsec liandicap limit conlines the event to tho best class of oarsmen. Mr W. R. Tuck has received cable advice from Mr R. Coombes, of the Sydney "Referee," that Ben Thoroughgood has decided not to visit New Zealand, as he intended. [t is thought tho reason is that ho is a bad sailor, and funked the sea trip. Mr J. 11. Parker, of Christchurch, who first brought- out Dick Arnst, and who lias been on a visit to Sydney, is expected to arrive at Auckland on Sunday next, and after a visit to liotorua will come on to Wanganui to witness tho sculling handicap. Webb is taking things very easily this week. He lias been working very long hours at his new avocation, boat-building, and this, coupled with unusually sultry weather, has pulled him down a good deal. lie only goes 10.7. Ho was 11.2 when he last met Arnst. Next week Webb intends commencing training in earnest, and hopes to bo in good fix by the time the Wanganui handicap is rowed.