TROTTING.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 141, 11 December 1897, Page 3 (Supplement)

TROTTING.

R. Henry has left for Auokland with a strong team of trotters —Winnid, Sailor Boy H , Kupai, New Year, aud Hordern. It appears that the reason that the South Island Association refused to pass the programme of the Canterbury Trotting Club was on account of the rules not being complied with by the Club in regard to payment of fees due to the Association. Of course, should the Canterbury Trotting Club hold a meeting without the sanction of the controlling body all homes competing at the meeting would be disqualified by the Association, and the disqualification would no doubt be endorsed by the North Island Association. Our London correspondent writes : One of the most important trotting events decided in England of late years came off at Mancheßter recently. This was the attempt of Mr. T. Smallwood to cover 40 miles and 600 yards in two hours with three horses. Hb selected for the task the famous Benuy O. (holder of the three-mile British record), jfchyllis Wilkes, a well-known stayer, and a five-year-old American mare recently imported named Kitty Collins. All ijhree Jiorses performed splendidly under Smallwood's skilful handling, and enabled him not only to achieve the feat indicated, bub to improve upon it by more than 2£ miles. Commencing with Kitty Collins, Mr. Smallwood covered the first 4 miles 600 yards, in 13min 23 l-3seo. Phyllis Wilkes was then taken in hand and, improving upon her predecessor's display, enabled her driver to compass S miles 600 yards in 25min 14sec. Benny C. wa,s then called upon, and, travelling extremely well for five miles, gave Smallwood a good half minute's advantage of time, the watch showing 37min 68sec. Kitty Collins then took up the running, but at 17£ miles Phyllis intervened. She trotted to suoh purpose that at 20 miles 600 yards, the olook indicated 58miu 1 l-sseo. At 22 miles Benny C. oame on again, and when taken off for Kitty Collins at 2Q\ miles people were offering 10 to 1 against time. Kitty performed fairly well in the next five miles, and was put aside in favour of Phyllis at 3l£tnilea 600 yards. With the aid of a little pacing Phyllis Wilkes covered tho next five miles in 13min 52sec, thus leaving Benny O. a very easy task to accomplish. The record holder laid down to his Work in good style, and the 40 miles 600 yards aimed at was covered in 53inin 19 l-sseo. Mr. Smallwood kept the stallion going, and when two hours had sped the distance done was 42 miles 160 yards — a splendid performance.

This story is told of an eccentric Hasting* parson. One day, on visiting the belfry, he found a whitewasher whistling a dance tune as he forked. The paraon reproved him sharply for choosing such music for suoh a place. ' Beg your pardon, sir,' said the man, ' but I forgot where I was,' and then to Show he was sorry he started whistling the ' Old Hundredth. 1 His hand, however, kept time with the music, and go the ' Old Hundredth ' made the whitewash brush go wonderfully Slow. < ' Oh, geibaok to your dance tune,' the old paraon shouted, 1 or the job'U never be done.