ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 12

ROWING.

(By "Mercury.") HAGNEY OUT AFTER R. ARNST. Ho Throws Down His Challenge, A matter of interest in tho_ sculling world is contained in the following, taken from a recent issue of the Sydney k "l'ra'nlc Hagney has issued a challenge to ex-champion sculler 'Dick' Arnst. Ho called at the 'Surf officc with Ins backer and manager, Mr. S. Senhouse, and put up a deposit of .£25. Hagney says he can get backing up to .£250. In the event of the ex-champion not agreeing to a stake of .£2OO, Haguey will . sign, up for <£100, but no less. ... , "Haguey has ;been resting for nearly three months, and the spell lias done him a lot of good. Ho lias had a couple ot rows during tlio week, and is sculling better now than, over he did. Ho is confident that ho can beat Arnst, and bases his opinion on the fact that tlio ex-chain-pion could only give him lOsec. when tlrey rowed in New Zealand, and that then he had been in the gohio only five months. ... "When Hagney commenced his sculling career ho had to commenco at the top instead of at tlio bottom of tlio ladder. His first race , was with ex-Australian champion Ben .Thoroughgood. Since then lis lias beaten some good men. "Whether Arnst will accept or not is a matter for speculation. He announced last week that ho had definitely retired from sculling, but when interviewed by a 'Sun' representative at Newcastle, lie said ho might have another go later on. As Hagney has not stated when the rata should, bo rowed, Arnst may consider it worth while to come back to 'the game. How Will Arnst Answer It? This may possibly tempt Arnst out of his self-enforced retirement, but it is very doubtful. He is not likely to bother himself unless there is a title of some kind involved, and, in all probability, " 19 answer to Hagney will be to towns and Co. first, and then to talk business. And, really, if nagney is in earnest this would «ceiu to be his better course. He should first race Towns for the JScw South Wales championship, then, if successful, l'addon for the Australian title, and then no doubt the purso and the gate money might attract Arnst if. he . beat Paddon. As it is the ex-cliampion is not likelv to run the risk, of being beaten by a rank outsider —that is not Arnst s wa).