SCULLING HANDICAPS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7020, 7 January 1910, Page 4

SCULLING HANDICAPS

CHAMPIONS OX WAXGANUI RIVER. SPLENDID RACING. ARNST, WEBB AND HAGNEY WIN THEIR HEATS. SPECIAL TO THE "TIMES." WANGANUI, January 6. Shorn of the glamouT of the world's championship the sculling contest on tlio Wanganui river to-day, with no less than ten competitors, appealed but little to the public. Probably the date chosen, the week-end following the Christmas and New Year carnival, had not a little to do with tho apathetic manner in which the Wanganui sculling handicap was generally viewed. With a total stake distribution of £2OO, and an additional £75 expenses allowed to the seven visiting oarsmen from New South Wales, it can bo readily understood that what was required of the public was not merely their attendance on the scene of the contest, some eight miles up the river, but that, they should proceed thitlier by the river steamers. The return fare for passengers was fixed at the reasonahle sum of four shillings, but only one steamer, the Wai'rere, ' was necessary to.ac-

commodate those, totalling some two hundred, who'were desirous of thus asisisting the promoters.., The_ umpire's boat conveyed a further, contingent of spectators. It is safe to say that everyone who paid the steamer charges considered, when only the second heat

bad been rowed, that they had received remarkably good value for their money. The afternoon remained throughout, as the morning broke, gloriously fine. The spot from which the races were viewed, and at which a fairly large crowd was gathered, was a much better vantage ground than was' that from which the chomipionshtp was watched. Results: WANGANUI SOTIMNG HANDICAP. Krst PHze, £100; second, £SO;, third, £25; two miles. First Heat.

R. Arnßt (N.Z.), sor 1 A. D. Felfton (N.S.W.), ISsec ... 2 8. K«mp (N.S.W), 16sec ... ... 3 Tho dra.w for places resulted! in Aitnst securing tho town side position,