SCULLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16714, 21 April 1922, Page 7

SCULLING.

PAODON AND HANNAN. CHAMPION’S INTENTIONS. (Special to the “ Star.”) WANGANUI, April 21. In reference to Hannan’s statement that he wants to row Paddon for the championship and not meet- him in a. private match, Paddon states that if Hannan wants the title he will have to go to Australia and row ou either the Richmond or the Clarence River. He won the title for Australia, and intends to take it back with him, and will not row anyone in New Zealand for it. He is willing to row Hannan right away for anything from £2OO up to £SOO aside, but the title will not be included. Paddon says that Arnst is entitled t-o the first race, for the title, by virtue of his challenge being in first and in order, and, as Arnst’s deposit has been covered by Mr George Deifort on behalf of Paddon, it is evident that the Australian intends to accommodate Arnst at the earliest opportunity. Now that Paddon is in form, he wants to get all the matches he can as soon as possible until he loses the title.

It may be that he will have to quit tho gam© at any time owing to the lumbago trouble from which he suffered severely at periods here. On one occasion he had to bo lifted out of his boat, so bad was he through an attack coming on while he was rowing. it was only the fear that lie might have a recurrence of the trouble on the day of his race with Hadfield that made his friends doubtful of the result. Considerable interest is being taken in to-morrow’s race for £SO a-side between J. Casey and Archie Sharpe, the pacers of Paddon and Hadfield respectively. It is expected to be very evenly contested. Both are promising young scullers, anfl th© winner should soon be heard of against some of the more pro minent scullers. Some ridiculous statements have been going the rounds as to the Wanganui people being so carried away in their judgment as to offer 10 to 1 on Hadfield. As a matter of fact, it was only with difficulty that 6 to 4 could be hbtained by those anxious to back Paddon. Most of the best judges hero would have fancied Paddon’s chance but for the fact that his back had been troubling him. Certainly some of Hadfield’ s more ardent supporters declared him to be phenomenon, but this view was never shared by leading sculling authorities, who knew that Hadfield was not a finished sculler such is Webb, and were confident that the latter was a better man in his day than Hadfield can possibly b© until lie improves in style.