ROWING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 58

ROWING.

William Webb, champion sculler of the world, ie reported to have quite thrown off the effects of hie recent illness. He has had a few fast training sprints on the Wanganui River, and he hopes to go lo the post on December 15, in his match against Arnst for the championship, as fit as ever he was. Dick Arnst, the young New Zealander, who has already proved himself worthy of having his name entered in the annals of the world's famous athletes by winning the " Sydney Thousand,'' and who has shown remarkable form with the sculls, in at the present time in training for bis match against William Webb. "Yes," said Arnst, when seen by a rerepresentative of the Daily Telegraph, " Webb has covered my deposit of £100 to race for the world's championship honours and a side wager of £500, and I am expecting the articles through now by any mail to clinch the arrangements. I had a little difficulty at first about getting the match, as Webb stipulated that he would not race if Pearce defeated me, but now that is all cleared up. "As for myself, I have never felt better in my life. lam stronger in every way, my seat in the boat is firmer, my methods generally havo improved by leap 3 and bounds, and above all (this with a laugh), I have shaken off ihat old game of mine of turning turtle. I 6end the scale round a-t 14-st 4lb now, but intend racing somewhere in the vicinity of 13st; that will be about 181b I will have to take off. "I intend spending about three months in Wanganui before I race with Webb, so as to get used to the river. I will take two

shells over with me, both of which were built by George Towns. My training in New Zealand will commence about 10 or 11 weeks before the race, and I hope to give a favourable account of myself, when it does come off. " I tried hard to get Webb to- row on the Parramatta, but he would only do so on my guaranteeing him a £1000 gate. That I could not see my way clear to do, and . so the race will have to take place over there. " When I was in New Zealand lately I was challenged through the press by a New Zealand sculler named George Welch, to row him. I replied to his challenge, and stated that I would race him in Sydney for amy sum he liked to put up, either a fortnight before or after the race with Peaa-ee. At the present time, though, I have had no reply. '" You will no doubt wonder why I ana going for such a big r.mteh as the championship, considering I have only been rowing a little while. Well, the reason is that I have tried hard for the laet 18 months to ret a match, but no one would race me, so I had to look elsewhere. Pearce is the first man I will have a match with by the time I meet Webb. "If I am successful in my race with Webb, I will not draw the line anywhere with regard to challenges, but- will m«et them all as they come. " I* want to 'say <hafc I »ik« rowing immensely, and think it is the best sport an athletic man could go in for. Bicycle riding is nothing to it. "Oh! there is one little thing I would like you to mention for me, and that is, about a paragraph that appeared in one of the New Zealand papers. It stated that I said that my supporters were only after the money, and not the sport. Well. I deny that statement point blank, and &ay that I have firm supporters in Chri>stchurch, who are sportsmen to the backbone. "As soon as the articles ome over I will let you know." When asked whether he thought he could beat Webb, Arnst modestly replied: "I will do my best." CHAMPIONSHIP OP AUSTRALIA. WANGANUI, August 18. Whelch, the Akaroa sculler, telegraphs that he does not intend accepting Thoroughgood's challenge to row for the championship of Australia. WANGANTJI, August 20. Whelch's backer wires to "Victor," the Herald's aquatic contributor, that the Akaroa sculler has reconsidered his decision, -v and intends accepting Thoroughgood's challenge to row for the championship of Australia on the Hunter River. CHRISTQHURCH, August 20. The Akaroa correspondent of the Lyttelton Times slates that the stakes have been subscribed by Akaroa residents.