SCULLING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LX, Issue 9347, 19 April 1909, Page 5

SCULLING.

ARNST AND WEBB

WEBB'S CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

(By Telegravh — Press Association.) CHRISTCPIURCH. Last Night

At a meeting of R. Arnst's guarantors, last evening, it was unanimously decided that Arnst should accept Webb's challenge to row for the world's championship aud £500a-side. There was some diseussiou as to where the race should be rowed, the people of Akaroa haviug offered very substantial inducements to the present champion to row the race in Akaroa, while Arnst, who, as the challenged party, has the right to fix time aud place, but no right to decline to row at the time and place fixed, naturally desired to eliminate, as far as possible, any chauce of unfavourable weather couditious, which iv the open harbour might render the result of the race more a matter of luck thau sculling ability. Eventually it was decided that an endeavour should be made to have the race rowed iv Canterbury, as Arnst is vow recognised as the Canterbury representative. Mr R. Heatou Rhodes, one of Arnst's euarautors, will proceed to Duuedin to-day to negotiate with Sir James Mills, managing director of the Union Steamship Company, with regard to the transport of spectators to and from Akaroa in the event of the race being decided there. The final decision as to the place at which the race will be decided will largely depend upon the result of these negotiatious.

Seen by a reporter last night, R. Arnst stated that, feeling particularly fit, and anxious that the championship shall be rowed with as little delay as possible, he anticipated that the date to be fixed for the race would be towards the end of May, aud he proposed to go into active training at once. His trainers would be Floyd aud his brother J. Arnst, and his pacemaker Fogwell. Tne race would decide whether he or Webb should fulfil the engagements already entered into by him to row Durnau in Canada in August, and Barry in England for £1000 a-side iv the following mouth. In conversation with a reporter last evening, J. Arnst, who has just returned from Duuedin after a successful attempt upon the Christehurch to Dunediu cycling record, stated that it was his intention in the near future to follow the example of his brother and take up the sport of sculling in preference to cycling. Meantime ho intended to act as one of his brother's trainers, in order to gain some practical experience.