ARNST V. WEBB.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9100, 20 March 1908, Page 2

ARNST V. WEBB.

Dick Arnst, the strapping young athlete who has nut up ft deposit to row William Webb for the sculling championship'of the world, passed through Wellington on Wednesday, and, accompanied by Harry Floyd, left by the Patoena at midday for Nelson, whence the pair are to cycle through to Christchurch, Speaking to ft Dominion reporter, Arnst said that in response to a request to inspects certain stretch on the Manawatu river above the Wirokino bridge, he diverged from his track to “nave 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, bus it seems about as good a course as I bare seen. ” In speaking in this manner about the Wirokino stretch, Arnst did hot in any way suggest that the race w th Webb should be rowed there, but he stated that he would probably put in hie 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 bis racing skiff, that has stood to him so well in Australian fffitflrß Both Tresidder and Webb are pigmies compared to Arnst in the latter’s present condition. Ho mnst scale nearer to 15 tsouo than 14 stone ha* rather short neck, very broad shoulders and a deep chest, and big shapely legs. Both Tressidder and Wbbe -are fine in the lower limbs, which may be an advantage In a racing skiff, but there can he 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 13 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 Warrnambool to Melbourne effort), and enormous physical power, Arnst should prove a difficult man for Webb to cut-scull. Mr' TuOk (Webb’s backer) told Arnst that he would need a motor in his boat to beat his man, but so far the cyclist-oarsman has not placed aoy order for such gear.