SCULLING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 393, 24 March 1908, Page 3

SCULLING.

Webb v. Arnst.

Dick Arnst, the strapping young athlete, who has put .ip a deposit to row William Weld) for the sculling championship of the world, passed through Wellington last Wednesday, and accompanied by Harry Floyd left by the Pateena at midday for Nelson, whence the pair are to cycle through to Christchurch. Speaking to a Dominion reporter Arnst said iu response to a request to inspect a certain stretch 011 the Manawatu River above the Wirokino Bridge, be diverged from his track to “ have a look.” “ What do you think of it ? ” “It looks great, said Arnst ; “ better than Wanganui, for there is a three mile stretch without a bend, and there is any amount of water. Of course, I haven’t sculled over it, but it seems about as good a course as I have seem”

In speaking in this manner about the Wirokino stretch, Arust did not in way suggest that the race with Webb should be rowed there, but he stated that he would probably put in his first month’s training on the Manawatu. He hoped to shake off some flesh in cycling through to, Christchurch, after which he intended to do a week’s deer-stalking in the Wairarapa, in which district he has a lot of friends. Early in April he is to leave for Sydney to bring over his racing skiff that has stood to him so well in Australian waters.

Both Tressider and Webb are pigmies compared to Artist in the latter’s present condition. He must scale neater to 15 stone than 14 stone, has a rather short neck, very broad shoulders and deep chest, and big shapely legs. Both Tressider and Webb are fine in lower limbs, which may be an .advantage in a racing skiff, but there cannot be no denying the enormous pressure that can be placed upon the stretcher by the man who won the Sydney Thousand. Arnst says that he can get down to thirteen stone, a weight a good deal above the average of champion oarsmen, but with lusty youth a proved doggedness in tests of endurance (vide his Warranambool to Melbourne effort), and enormous physical power, Arnst should prove a difficult man for Webb to out-scull.

Mr Tuck (Webb’s backer) told Arnst that he would need a motor in his boat to beat his man, but so far the cycilist-oarsman has not placed any order for such gear.