SCULLING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3047, 18 November 1908, Page 6

SCULLING.

WHELCH TRAINING HARD.

By Telegraph—Press Association,

CHRISTCHURCH, November 17. " In a letter received on Saturday by Mr M. G. Daly, Whelch states that he feels fairly well now, and is training hard. He has secured a pacer named Hancock, who is a very fair man. They do the course twice daily, doing twelve miles well. They keep this up'tili the last week, and then once daily over the course. The tide at the time of the race will be / nearly low, and the two contestants will have to scull against it. Whelch is still going down in weight. He now scales 9st 101b. Two steamers will follow the race, and two lie on the course. At the regatta to be held to day, Whelch and Thoroughgood (scratch) and Hancock (28sec) have been entered in a handicap race of two miles. Opinions are very varied as to the big race, many thinking Whelch is too small to beat a big man.

Dick Arnst, who will row William Webb for the sculling championship of the world at Wanganui in six weeks' time, writing to the Sydney "Star," says:—"l am doing splendidly with my training, and have nothing to fear about getting into form. lam only eight pounds over my weight, and that will be just rice to work upon. I have been rowing twice daily, and taking walking exercise as well, so when Fngwell arrives from Sydney to pace me he will need to be in good form, otherwise he will be of no use to me. "I will be off up the river into camp as soon as possible after Fog well and Peter Neilson (my trainer) arrive, and will then settle down until after the race. Webb has not been doing much work so far, and from what I can gather does not intend to do mucb. He is rowing in real good style and ought to be pretty hard to beat. Of course, naturally, the people here think he is invincible, but that will be proved on December 15th." By the same mail the "Star's" Wanganui correspondent writes:— '"'Arnst put in a very attractive bit of rowing during the week when having a solid spin over three miles. The water was a bit lumpy, but this did not appear to affect the challenger, as many anticipated it would. eHe was rowing at about 25 to the minute-which rate he maintained throughout. His catch was better than ever, being much keener, while there was an absence of that rolling which was previously so pronounced, and his beat ran very well indeed between the strokes. The few who saw the spin were unanimous in saying that his improvement was a surprise to them, and they are wondering how much better he will shape before the day. Those who see most of Arnst think more of his prospects each week, recognising that he is a better oarsman than many people here give him credit for being. "Webb is going along steadily,

but will not go up river until some three weeks before the race. He is v in the best of health and condition, and his friends are very confident."