SPORTING.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16271, 23 July 1918, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING AND TROTTING NOTES.

(By "Looeer-On.") j The weights for the_Grand National Steeplechase, Grand National Hurdle Bace, and Winter Cup are reviewed in the sporting columns of this week's "Weekly Press" by Looker-On, who also discusses the prospects of the competitors a t the South. Canterbury Hunt Club's Steeplechase Meeting". j Parisian Diamond was scratched for the Winter Cup, at 9 a.m. yesterday. | Sleight-or-Hand was 'scratched for the Grand National Steeplechase at 11 a.m. ) yesterday. ! Some doubt was expressed yesterday as to whether the. South Canterbury Hunt Steeplechase " Meeting would be held on Tnurstiay, owing to the baa weather prevailing. Mr H. H. Eraser, secretary of the club, informed me last night that there was no snow on the. course, and the meeting would be held as advertised. j At the annual meeting of the Winton . Jockey Club the unusual eight of an Anglican clergyman in full war paint | comfortably sitting by the fire and look. [ ing very much at home, caused- much I amusement and conjecture as to whether he was a. joining member, of the club (writes "Sir Modred" hi the "Southland Times"). There were broad smiles on members' faces when the_ chairman

announced that Mr Webb desired!to say a few words to the meeting. From a flying start the visitor gave the meeting a description of the work of the Church Army which followed the soldiers' into every fighting front and which did not care a brass farthing what creed a man professed, but was in the field to help all. The speaker put up the very fast time of 7min 12sec, which members acknowledged to be a record and difficult for the rfverage clergyman to lower. The Church Army benefited by a grant of £5, "and the promise of sympathetic consideration when the club made its appropriations for patriotic purposes during the year. At a meeting of the stewards of the Amberley Racing Club, it was decided to hold the annual race meeting on September 12th. The report to be presented at the annual meeting of members of the North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club on Friday evening states that the year has been a satisfactory one both from a racing and financial point of view. The gross „totalisator revenue . from the Annual Race Meeting was ] £1138 os 9d. The sum of £355 has been deposited with the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, and 'there is a small balance at the bank. It must be remembered that the club has still to contribute its proportion to the losses sustained by those clubs that lost their permits. Caution, therefore, is reoommended. The club's thanks are due to Mr S. Luttrell and members of the committee who presented a cup valued at 20 guineas for competition. During the year Mr A. J. Tutton resigned the office of secretary, and Mr H. A. Archdall was appointed in his stead. The club's thanks are due to Mr Archdall for the energy displayed in obtaining new members, 51 of whom were elected during the year. The club's membership now stands at 121. The balance-sheet shows receipts amounting to £2041 4s, the principal items beingj^—Totalisator revenue £1138 5s 9d, nominations and acceptance fees £215, pates £253 2s 6d. The principal items of expenditure were: — Stakfs £520, and dividend duty £528 6s (3d. A Melbourne message snys that no New Zealanders are included in the list of first acceptors for the Australian Hurdles and Steeplechase.

(By "Searchlight.") In tho trotting' columns of tho "Weekly Press," published to-day, Lancer'* has some reference to the candidates nominated for election to the New Zealand Trotting Association. After the first payment for the Ashburton Trotting Club's New Sapling' Stakes, there remains a field of 67. No fewer than twenty sires are represented, amongst them being Logan Pointer, Harold Dillon, Brent Locanda, Wildwood Jr., Petereta, Nelson JBingen, Russell Patch, Quincey-King Cole, and the defunct 0.Y.M.. W. Kerr and E. F. Blackley each hive six engaged, Mrs M. M. Duncan five, E. E. Lelievre four, and H. F. Niccfl three. Nominations for seats on the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association for the coming year closed on Saturday. All the old members have been re-nominated, in. addition to Mr George Spriggens (North Island), and Mes'-rs H. H. Fraser, H. L. James, and A. A. Fooks (South Island). Thero are two North Island and seven South Island representatives to be elected, and voting papers will bo issued, to be returned to the secretary of tho Association on or before August 20th.