MEETING OF ARNST'S SUPPORTERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12746, 17 April 1909, Page 6

MEETING OF ARNST'S SUPPORTERS.

ENDEAVOUR TO BE MADE TO ROW

AT AKAEOA.

J. ABNST TO TAKE UP SCULLING.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 17

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 and .£SOO aside.

There was some discussion as to where the race should be rowed, the people of Akaroa having offered very substantial • inducements to the present champion to row the race at Akaroa. Arnst, who, as the champion, has the right to fix the time and place, but no right to decline to row at the time and plai-e fixed, naturally desired to eliminate as far as possible the chance of adverse weather conditions, which in an open harbour might render the result of the race more a matter of luck than sculling ability. Eventually it was decided that an en-deavour-be made to have the race rowed in Canterbury, as Arnst is now recognised as Canterbury's representative. Mr R. Heaton Rhodes, one of Arnst's guarantors, proceeds to Dunedin to-day to negotiate with Sir James Mills, managing director of the Union Steamship Company, in 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 largely depends upon the result of these negotiations. Seen by a reporter last night, R. Arnst stated that he was feeling particularly fit, and anxious that the Championship should oe 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, and proposed to go into active training at once. Hia^trainers would be Floyd and his brother, J . Arnst, and his pacemaker would be Fogwell. The race would decide whether he or Webb should fulfil the engagements already entered into by him to row Durnan in. Canada in August, and Barry in England for iJIOOO aside in the following month.

In conversation with a reporter last evening, J. Arnst (who had just returned from Dunedin after his successful attempt upon the Christchurch-Dunedin cycling record) stated it as his intention, in the near future, to follow the example of his brother, R. Arnst, and take up the sport of sculling in preference to cycling. In the meantime he intended to act as one of his brother's trainers, in order ta gain some practical experience in rowing.