ROWING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2169, 6 June 1914, Page 12

ROWING.

tßx "iIsncDET."J

THE tAST ARNST STORY. Startling News In Iμ Dominion- of Woduosdny last there appe&ied a ropriut of an article from the Svdnoy ,f Daily Telegraph" hriußiiig the ttartlinc news that "Dick" Arnst was contomplating getting into harness again, and had mapped cut a training course extending over- a period of at least six mouths, with the object of Rotting himself into condition for another try at tho world's champion, (iliip. The proposition, ns stated, h that In* ex-ehampmn is to be "staked" bv j.omo supporters in Sydney, and that he is to tram faithfully on tho Parrnmitta, and to scull daily in his attempt t<) "come back." This, ii correct, bhows a decided and most lnudablo sporting spirit on tho part of tho supporters referred to, and Arnst is fortunate indeed in tho possession of such sterling friends. It is said that Arnst has undertaken t<. fulfil his part of the contract to tho best of his ability, and 1 indeed, if ho has decided to tako advantage of this coldon opportunity, it is the rery least Uiat ho can do. Whether or not hocan reßain his one-time paco and stamina is a question that time alono can answer, hut tho nerra that he it buckling down seriously to hard trainfnji again will be very v:clcomo, Artist's MistakG In thG Past. 1 ho ox-champion is now in his thirtyfirst .year, an ago belo v thajb at- which many champion scullers have dono their best work, so there is nothing in this respect to stand in his-way. Eh irouble of eourso is his tendency 10 fleshiness, and llm fact that ha has dono 'liolhinjj to keep his adiposo tissuo down siiico his last spoil of traininp. a year ago for his match with "Jim" T?addon. This neglect t<! keep in some 6oit of condition in between his laces has always been Arnst's bane. In tho past it has meant that each of his. preparations has been accompanied by a wearying sweating-down process, with.tho attendant tax upon his stroligth and stamine. Then after each race'hus comea roaccumulation of flesh, and, in ench caso, tho reduction of weight has hccome more difficult and more woarisomo. What Are Arnst's Chanqos Now? By spreading 'tho reducing process over a period of six months, as is 6tated to bo tho present intention, it is possible that ho may bo able to iptain his full power and staying qualities, and, nt tbo" samo time, work up his pace and .improve his boat work. If so, therojs no reason why he should not turn out again as fit to row for * championship as over ho wns. but it is a lonjf end laborious task that ho is OTitcrine upon, and its'success is doubtful. Tho amount of public interest that «ill be taken in Arnst from now on will depend largely upon how Paddon fa'« 33 linVhie vnlatoh with Ernest Barry in ' September. Should, happily, tho challenger witi, then the fact that , tho tiUo .has. corns back to Australia I will tend to losEea public interest in Arnst's progress, -and will deflect, tho ', limelight from, him to Paddon. Should the last-named fail in his present quest, however, and Barry retain tho title, then will Arnst, in h,r5..r0.!0 of hope of his country, ho" accorded a 'brimming measure of interest and national solicitude m his training. Tho Wcbb-Mannon Proposal* Nothing is formally decided yet as. to the match for tho Now Zealand championship with W\ 'Webb for which j "Paddy - " Hannon is now training. ; Thoio has been some correspondence on i tho matter between tho principals and 1 tho present position is that the AVaiiganui .representative- has asked Hannon to put in a formal challenge to him. ' 'flu's , tho latter is willing enough to do, provided that ho can do so without prejudice to his claim to tho title. Ho bases this claim, on tho fact that his challenge to Fogwell, sent in after liis defeat, of A, Priddl?, was not accented, aud ho holds a letter from , Fogwcll defaulting in his favour.

"iVheu W«bb won tho world's title fr'om Charles, Towns, the' lessor title of New Zealand champion; then held by him, automatically became vacant, and was assumed by Gcorgo' Wbelch, of Ak'nroa. Whclch was challenged by Fogirell, and beat liim,; but, in a return match, tho Australian reversed tho result and took tho titlo away from him. As sdited, Fogwell formclly dc-tault-ed to Hannon, co the last-nauied's claim is apparently in order. Bcfoto lnaving Sydney Hrnnon' r'ecoived a letter from Vi'obb' in reply to r. coniniunicaticii from him as to the prospects of a race, which he" took to amount to an agroomont to meet him, and on tho strength of which ha camo over to prcpnro for a match. • So it appears that both scullers- are kc n n I oiinnch about meeting—tho only, point tA bo decided t<; as to which ia to fill , tho rolo of challenger. Hannon Training Here. Meanwhile Ilanuou is getting in .as much boat work in tho bnrbour as tho weather ~n ill permit, and is busying himself bet\\(x?n while in workinp up his stake moneys. H'o ia living §at Rona, Isav, but comes to town daily, and whenever possible gets irt two lour rov\s poi diem-, going out from tho Star shed at 10 30 a n>,, and 3.30 p.m., It is rcmnrktblA to see how .the coaching and experience on tlio- other sido have developed his "culling, ability. AVln-ii a ircmber of the W'ollington R.C. there \ras nothing nbnat his bnat work to differentiate him from the ordinary amateur club ficnller. but ho ia veiy different, .now, li l tlio long, slMidy work' lie has boon doiiiij there is nothing by ttli»'> one can judge his pace, but ho Iμ W qiiirod a cleanness of blade work niui ■ good .long swin'p that should, if combined with the driving, power that liis iwwcrfnl phvsiquo hints' at, make him a specdv sculler. Tho result of further ncgotiationr with the Webb pai.tv will be awaited with interest, and in th" riieantimo "Moioun" wifliei Hannon every success in his offorta to raise the sinews o{ war.