SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 443, 8 December 1908, Page 3

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Victor, in the Wanganui Herald, remarks : —“ The fact that Webb’s friends refuse to lay odds on his ability to win, dose not necessarily mean that they think Arnst has as much chance of winning as Webb. Since, however, it is admitted that every oarsman and sculler in Sydney is a firm believer in Arnst, and Sydney people claim to be the greatest authorities on sculling in the world, can it be expected that we here are going to lay odds on our man, who is regarded by so many Australians as sure to be beaten? Just here I might say that my qwn opinion is that is not going to meet his Waterloo on the 15th December. I may be wrong, but I have certainly not yet seen Arnst do anything to cause me to think he can beat Webb. Of course, it may be that a revelation is in stpr£ for us on week next, but I feel confident that the championship is safe ip Webb’s keepipg, bar apcidents. I pm well aware that many fancy that Arn§t has not shown his best form here yet, and that on the day we are ip for a big surprise. This may be so, but until X have ocular demonstration of the big fellow’s ability to beat Webb, I intend to pin my faith to the Wanganui oarsman. We are told that it is going to be another Hanlan-Beach race, that Arnst will keep driving Webb along at such a pace that the latter will eventually be rowed to a standstill and the cyclist will then go on, and pick up that ,£I,OOO and the championship title. Good luck to him if he can do so. I’ll believe it when I see it, but until then I am content to let Webb carry my money, though I am looking forward to seeing a most exciting struggle.”