Arust-Hadfield Race.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1921, Page 1

Arust-Hadfield Race.

M'ELLINGTON, Nov. 28. Richard Artist, world’s i-liampion sculler, arrived by the New Plymouth express last night on a two-days visit to M’ellingtou.

In a chat with a representative of the “Times” alter bis arrival. Artist said that, he had already done ten weeks’ fairly hard training, consisting of a couple of rows a day on the Manganni together with walking, running, and skipping exercises. His weight is considerable ieduced since he was last in tho city, and the ,-linm|>ion says lie is now down to within a stone of his rowing weight. He expects to scale into the boat List fill) on January sth.. when lie will meet the challenger, Darcy Had field on the championship ,oiirse on the M’anganui. THE CHAMPION’S BOAT.

Artist will tar,, in the Ainslic. which was presented to him in Sydney, and which lie used when he defeated Paddy Hannan on the Wnirnti river last "inter. The little era ft is Ifift. fiin long, with 12in beam, lie will use 7iu blades as on the occasion ol his nice with Ha nil,an.

The race will be rowed at, high waller. about 3.30- p.m., on Thursday. .Tanuarv stli. The course "ill be 3j miles, from the Kniwhaike Pali. There is a straight, of two miles from the start, with a heml of about a quarter of a mile, and a finishing straight of a clear mile. Spectators will therefore bo enabled to have an ideal view of the contest.

M’illinm M’ebb. ex-champion of the wVirlil, has been chosen as umpire, and Henry Cooper, who acts in that capacity at all amateur events on the Wanganui "’ill bo judge. THE CHALLENGE CONTROVERSY. Questioned in regard to the controversy in Sydney as to which challenger has the right of first race with the winner, A rust tvas very emphatic in hia rp-

ply. '-Rules are rules,” lie said, “and they prescribe that the first challenger who has paid his deposit and otherwise complied w ith them, shall have tinlight to contest the title. Should I Isfortunate enough to retain the world’s ill ani j> i 111 is Iw| >. Hannan will get the first race. His preliminaries wen- arranged before either Paddon or Ripley, and despite what they say to the contrary, Hannan was in first, and will got the first consideration.” A rust returns to-day or to-morrow to Wanganui, and "ill go into camp on the river-bank, about half a mile from the finishing post.