SCULLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1922, Page 3

SCULLING.

WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP. TO-DAWS RACE. PROSPECTS DISCUSSED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. The eve of the race for the world’s sculling championship finds the town full of visitors and everybody eagerly discussing the prospects. Arnst and Hadfield, the scullers?, have completed their work, though Arnst says he may do a mile as a freshener in the morning. Arnst is a decided favorite, though Hadfield’s supporters are numerous.

Those who have been in the closest touch with the challenger are very confident that there will be a new champion to-morrow, justifying this confidence by stating that Hadfield has done trials which must make him the winner, unless Arnst is absolutely back to his old form of ten years ago or more, in which case one of the greatest struggles for the championship ever witnessed will take place. Arnst certainly gives every appearance of being in fine form. Following are statements made to the Press by the scullers: —

Arnst said: “I am feeling as well as can be expected, but do not think I am quite so fast as I used to be. However, I have done some very satisfactory trials, and I feel fit to row a big race. If Darcy can beat me on Thursday good luok to him.” Hadfield said: “Everything is right with my training, also my boat. I have nothing to complain of. My present condition is very satisfactory, and if I continue to feel as well and fail to win it will be because I have met a better man. I feel sure I will justify the confidence which my friends have reposed in me. 1 will step into the boat at 12st. 41b.”

Arnst will row in the Ainslie, which was built for him by Peter Kemp. It was this boat in which he defeated Hannon. Hadfield’s boat is a peautiful model, built by George Towns. Arnst’s colors will be the old-time black, with a white fern leaf, and Hadfield will row in royal blue and gold, the colors of his old club, the Waitemata Club. The champion will scale 13st. Sib. or 13st. 91b., and Hadfield 12st. 41b. The weather promises to be fine and the race should be rowed on dead water, or a slight run out.

ARNST AND PADDON,

The Sydney Referee writer (Argus) says: “The attempt to evade the latest challenge by James Paddon for the world’s championship by accepting that from P. Hannan, an inferior sculler already eliminated by R. Arnst, is being ridiculed by sportsmen generally.” Argus goes on to say: In our issue of the 23rd ultimo I reviewed the matter of the challenges by James Paddon and J. (Pat) Hannan to the winner of the Arnst —Hadfield race, and by the last mail comes a reply from Arnst, as the following excerpt from an exchange will show: ‘lnterviewed by a reporter in Wellington in connection with the controversy in Sydney as to who is entitled to the first race with the winner of the Arnst—Hadfield match, Arnst was very emphatic in his reply; “Rules are rules,” he said, “and they prescribe that the first challenger who has paid his deposit and otherwise complied with them shall have the right to contest tHte title. Should I be fortunate enough to retain the world’s championship Hannan will get the first race. His preliminaries were arranged long before those of either Paddon or Ripley, and, despite what they say to the contrary, Hannan was in first, and will get the first consideration.” Let me answer this great stickler for adherence to the rules. Few recognised Arnst as holder of the championship after he challenged Barry, and many are still unconvinced, until The Referee came out with a clear-cut recognition of his claim —we gave the lead in the matter. Now for a word in reply to Arnst’s statement that if he beats Hadfield he will give next race to Hannan. Well, if he does, and continues to side-track Paddon, the question of further recognition of his right to be called world’s champion will have to be considered. If Arnst is successful on the sth prox. he can row Hannan, but it will end at that —and I feel sure the sporting public throughout the sculling world will endorse this view.”

In reply to the above. Arnst says that in the past there has been no greater stickler for observing rules than the Referee writer, but now that he (Arnst) has announced that he intends to abide by the rules his action is being denounced by Argus. Dick considers this attitude very inconsistent on the part of the Referee writer. Had he intimated that he intended to break the rules, he could have understood the criticism to which he is now being subjected. Had Paddon's challenge been first in Arnst says he would have rowed him, that is, of course, if he retains the title after his race with Hadfield. The idea that he is sidetracking Paddon is ridiculed by Arnst, who declares that what he would like is to meet Hannan within a week or two of rowing Hadfield, and then take on Paddon within the next couple of weeks. He wants to get all the races he can as quickly after one another as possible, so long as he holds the championship. “First come, first served,” is Arnst’s motto, and in adopting that policy he points out that he is sticking to the rules which at present govern the championship. That these rules want amending he admits, but until altered they must be adhered to.