SCULLING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12394, 19 February 1908, Page 2

SCULLING.

THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP. TRESIDDER v. WEBB. R. ARNST ARRIVES. ISSUES A CHALLENGE TO THE WINNER. BY "VICTOR." Every day the number of visitors arriving in Wanganui for -the sculling championship increases, and it is safe to say that by Saturday the &>wn will be crowded. Amongst those who arrived yesterday was Richard Arnst, a young man who is looked upon by the best judges in Australia as the coming champion of the world.

Arnst, as nearly dll readers of this column well know, is a New Zealand who fir=t made his name famous as a cyclist, and won the Sydney T^Kxasand in 1905. He then turned his atjfetffcipn to rowing, as he felt confident of nSPaibility to learn how to scull, and trusted" -fco his wonderful strength and stamina to do the rest. He was assisted by some 1 Christchurch admirers, and it was arranged that he should go to Sydney and place himself under George Towns to be coached. Dick had never previously done any rowing, but undaunted by this fact he set himself to his task in the most determined manner, and notwithstanding that he had several capsizes he was determYned to succeed in his object. Once he learned to sit his boat he made such progress that those who at first had been inclined to ridicule his chance of ever doing any good at the game soon had to acknowledge that Dick was going to loom largely on the sculling horizon. Then came his first race, which took place just over 13 months ago, on the 26th January, 1907, when he took part in the sculling handicap of two miles at the Anniversary Regatta, Sydney, and rowed second to G. Pearce, Dick having 36sec start. His next appearance was in Rush's Handicap on the Parramatta River on the 16th February, last year, which event he won off 31sec. His third race was in a handicap in the Maclean Regatta, Clarence River, in which he capsized. In that event lie had 16sec from George Towns. Shortly after he competed in another race on the same river, having ssec from Ben Thoroughgood , and won. Last November, at Ulmarra, he won the handicap there from scratch, Charlie Towns, who was also on scratch finishing third. At Woodburn (Richmond River), on the 20th November, he rowed fourth from scratch in the handicap, and two days later he won the Coraki Handicap from scratch, Fogwell (lsec) Wng fourth. There were 15 or 16 startersj^and Arnst was asked to give away up tSS- 65sec start in the two miles. Arnsfc then entered for the handicap at Broadwater Regatta, but as the limit was made 75 seconds (Dick being scratch) and Fogwell was given 6 seconds start, the New Zealander declined the engagement, and has. not raced since.

TJiis morning Arnst called at the "Herald" Office and "deposited with the editor (Mr F. Webb Jones) the sum of £100 and a challenge to the winner of the Tresidder-Webb match to a race for the championship of the world and .£SOO aside. In the course of a chat with Arnst I learnt Ihat he will probably row as an Australian, as he anticipates that he will be able to get backing over there easier than in New Zealand. It seems strange that one who has shown so much promise may have io go away from home to find backing for such a match. Since he has been back in the Dominion Arnst has done some rowing in clinker boats on the Avon. He looks' a bit on the big side, but very well, and he ought not to require a great amount of training to get down to rowing weight. Providing- Tresidder wins next week no doubt Arnst will soon return to Australia, but if Webb retains the title then Dick intends getting his boat up here and training on the Wanganui River, that is, if his challenge is accepted, as no doubt it will be in due course.

Yesferday morning Treaidder did a shorter row than usual, covering some Qve miles with Ford.' The pair had several dnrirts in the course of the row, and the cballc-nger showed that he can get up a lot of pice, as well as stay well. In the evening the water was very lumpy, and good rowinjr was out of the 'question. Treeiddcr nnrl Ford covered the full course, bofci' ebipr.ing a deal of water. Dick seemed much more at home in the swell and against the head wind than his pacemaker, and there can be no question but that i f similar renditions prevail on Tuesday his franco of winning- jym jjg consiflera'bly enhanced . This morning Trcsidder's task was similar to that of" yesterday. Webb had some hill climbing' and running yesterday morning in place of a row, but in the evening he was out with Green

and rowed over tho course. This mom ing he was out rtg'.iin at six o'clock, and did a >-teiidy row . It being tlie Maori Sunday to-day a large number of natives ass.-mbled at K?iwliaiki to observe the day, and a big fea*st v.-as held. Very pressing invitations were its&ucd to Webb and bis mates in camp, to flire with the natives, and the i^ai'ty accepted same, muc!= to the pleasure of the hests. Siuce Webb has been in camp at Kaiwhaiki a large number of people have made use of the tracks- through Af r Cave's property to reach the camp. "^ ■ (\nv_> h.is not the slightest objection to ti is, ...ii ' : ;c does object to the gates being leit o, __i by some of these visitors. It is to be hoped that these passing through the gates will in future close them again after them.