THE SCULLING HANDICAP

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7021, 8 January 1910, Page 7

THE SCULLING HANDICAP

'fO-DAY’S FINAL AT WAN GANTT. ARNST EXPECTED TO, BE TRIED | OUT. SPECIAL TO TUB “ TUIEW.” WANGANUI, January 7. Thoro i.s no gainsaying that Wanganui's sculling horizon is bounded by Williann Wobb. The fact that the ex-world’s ohampion was successful in j rowing iti msel l into tine final has fairly galvanised the concluding stage of the Wanganui first-class; sculling handicap into au absorbing topic of conversation locally. On Wednesday, and even on Thursday residents of riverside town litre apparently indifferent about the? contest. Ihe prospect of Wobb having another cut at •the burlv Taitapu man, however, has brought' forth all their enthusiasm, and to-morrow’s race, with such a promising new -‘.star’' as Hagney holding a Jiaml'icap advantage of say six lengths and Wobb about two from Arnst, should prove quite one of tho greatest aquatic struggles over seen. A general opinion prevails that but, very few yot know how good a man Dick Anrat Is. To-day’s test should be for him something like a clip horse being tried out with one pacemaker for tho first mile and another to pick him up over the hitter half of tho journey. That i.s the way in which many good judges ‘anticipate to-day’s final will pan ’ontT A groat deal will depend upon the steering of the heat winners. W ehb unquestionably was the only one, to he erratic in this important direction, w-hilo Arnst could not have covered loss water had ho had the services of an experienced cox. Hngnoy, too, suffered very little loss through his nbooring. As regards tho condition of the three contestants, Hagney will probably bo nearest the top of his form, for he has come on a lot since lie rowed a t Foxton, when he and Wobb wore the two worst conditioned men taking part. Arnst will doubtless be all tli-o hotter for the pipe opener ho had on Thursday, npd ho was out twice to-day and put in some very solid work, for which he is a glutton. Not a little anxiety prevails among Wobb’s foilonvcrs that tho gruelling race ho had on Thursday. whom by no moans thoroughly wound tip, will prejudice luis prospects for to-morrow. To try and accuraitelv anticipate tho judge’s placing I will declare tho trio in tho following order: Arnst, ser ... ... ... 1 Hagney, lOsoo 2 Webb, 3seo 3 The Consolation Handicap will be rowed first, and news of the final of the first-class handicap should reach Wellington between 4 and 4.30 p.iu. Thirteen minutes for the two miles appears to have a reasonable prospect of being broken. There are indications of tho fine weather spell breaking to-night.