SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1926, Page 9

SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

AVALON TO GO SOUTH. SIX PROVINCES COMPETING. The new 14-foot Jellicoe-class boat Avalon was chosen last evening to represent the Auckland province in the sixth annual contest for the Sanders Cup, which commences at Dunedin on February 19 next. The selectors. Messrs. E. J. Kelly, W. A. Wilkinson and E. Culhane. together with the vice-chairman of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association. Mr. C. H. Palmer, met at 7 o'clock last evening and unanimously recommended that Avalon be selected to challenge on behalf of Auckland. This recommendation was later confirmed by the association. The selectors also decided that Mr. J. Patrick, the skipper, and Mr. F. Cloke. owner of Avalon. be chosen to go South, and that they be asked to submit the names of three members of the crew for the association. Avalon was built this season for Messrs F. and W. Cloke by Charles Bailey and Sons, the original designers of the Jellicoe one-design class. Five test race* were held. Avalon winning four. It is expected that the boat will be shipped from Auckland during the first week in February. - The Dunedin defender has not yet been decided; two races are still to be sailed. Wellington has chosen Peggy, which has won seven out of the eight trials.. Konini has been selected for Napier, being the only representative of this .class there. The Christchurch boat has -not been selected, trials still being held between four boats built this season. Murihiku will again represent .Southland, and will be shipped to Dunedin in time to give Carrol Hansen and his crew several weeks' practice on Dunedin waters. At the meeting of the Yacht and Motor Boat Association last evening arrangements were made to hold three "'Picture Nights" at the Strand Theatre to help raise the necessary funds to finance sending Avalon and crew to Dunedin. Messrs. C. H. Palmer. E. J. Keliy and W. A. Wilkinson were chosen as delegates from Auckland at the forthcoming cxntest. The contests were inaugurated in March, 1921. when Iron Duke was defeated by Heather, which took the Cup to Dunedin in 1922. Desert Gold regained the cup for Auckland. In 1923 Rona successfully defended the cup in home waters. In 1924 the contest was held in Wellington, Rona again being successful. Last year lona won the Cup in a decisive manner and took it back to Dunedin.