SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 126, 20 February 1908, Page 3

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

TRAINING FORM. ' ARNST CHALLENGES ' THE' WINNER. . (BY TELEGRArn —SPECIAr, CORRESPONDENT, 1 ; '' ' • V/ansanui, February 19. ; R. Arnst wasted very little time, after.his arrival in letting his intentions l)o' known, for, shortly after 10 o!clock this mornin", he callcd .on the editor of.'tho f 'HorakT and deposited £100 as a deposit to bind a match with tho winner of the Webb-Tresidder contest. Should the-Australian win, Arnst will very likely soon return to tho Land of the Blue-gum and go into training; preparatory to making his first bid for tho world's championship. -If Webb wins, • however, tlio ox-cyclist will got his boat up there, and will get into fettle on the Wanganui River. Provided he can ' get backing in 'the Dominion, he ,will row.- as'.a.New Zealander; otherwise, as ho can get tlio necessary money on tho other side, ho will race as an Australian. It would bo a great pity if this turned out to bo tho case, as ho is looked upon as a coming; champion. Webb, of course, cannot last tor ever ' and when his time comes to step down, it would bo gratifying to know that he merely handed over the title to a fellow-countryman's keeping, instead of seeing it go oversea. Webb and Tresidder did .their usual work to-day, the lumpy water ' giving them. a chanco to show their watermanship. Tresidder is doing occasional fast work now, and left the last mile behind at a fairly good bat. •' ' .

.• Fogwell was out on the river to-day, but took matters easily. He has not been afloat since November, and is, therefore, a bit out of: condition; He lias a 'nice, taking style, very like Ford's.

Judging by reports ..of the large l number of visitors who may be expected to be coming, it is. increasingly evident that tlio transport of the crowd up the river is going to bo a very tough proposition. The scullers' representatives have, made, and' are making, an effort to cope with the traffic, and to take everybody offering. Every steamer that can be lured-.has,been secured but half as many again should have no difficulty in filling up with passengers if only half the lumber come who have specified their intention to' do so.

It seems not unlikely that there will be a good many disappointed ones left, but if such is the case,; it will be from no desire to disappoint 'would-be spectators, but from sheer, inability to pack 600 people into a steamer which only carries 400. A good many will go up by land, and I am told that almost everything on wheels in Wangnnui has been hired or otherwise brought into requisition for the day.