Rowing.

Southland Times, Issue 19480, 1 April 1922, Page 9

Rowing.

With the arrrival of a party of Australian scullers headed by Champion James Paddon, Maoriland sculling enthusiasts should have plenty to occupy their attention with during the next month or so. Chief interest will of course centre round the big race between Paddon and Hadfield which is only three weeks off. Both of the contestants are putting in solid work on the Wanganui River. Last Sunday Hadfield, the holder of the champiohship, gave Archie Sharpe | the N.Z. Amateur Champion, five lengths' start over two and a half miles and caught him, but Sharpe had a pair of sculls which did not suit him. Paddon is improving daily, and his party are now confident that he will be in great fettle on the day. Judging by the way he is shaping, they are very hopeful that he will regain the title for Australia. Hannan having won the New Zealand sculling championship by defeating Fogwell on Saturday, is reported to be anxious to row the winner of the Hadfield-Paddon race for the world’s championship. Arnst, however, has prior claims to the next race for the title. In the meantime Hannan will probably have to defend his New Zealand title against Archie Sharpe, the present amateur champion, who is willing to row Hannan and can get the necessary backing. Casey, one of the, Australians who are pacing James Paddon, is also anxious to make a match, and is prepared to row Hannan on the Wanganui River if a match can lie arranged within the next few weeks, for £lOO a side. A match for Sharp? would be very popular, as he has many admirers who regard him as likely to prove a great sculler. There is every prospect of a big sculling handicap being arranged for Saturday, April' 22, on the Wanganui River, and tne probable contestants will include Arnst. Webb, Hannan, Sharne, Fogwell, Larsen and Casey’ and perhaps Paddon and Hadfield, who meet for the world’s championship on Easter Tuesday, four days before the suggested date of the handicap event.