BREEDER'S NEAR CALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 41, 18 February 1941, Page 12

BREEDER'S NEAR CALL

FIGHT AGAINST SEA

STRANDED ON KAPITI ROCKS

(By "Rangatira,")

Only long experience of the fishing waters round Kapiti Island enabled the well-known Otaki breeder and owner Mr. J. S. Adams to save his outboard motor-launch and the lives o| himself and two companions in the southerly storm on Friday. The first squall caught them in the channel between Tokomapuna Islet and Kapiti Island; but ■ shortly after they had started for shelter the motor broke down. The three men —one of. them 84 years of age—had to resort to the oars, but the swells were up to eight feet high and the increasing squalls hi ■ all sight of land. For four hours they rowed round without getting anywhere, at the end of that time being almost completely exhausted and in apparently hopeless plight. Towards evening there was a brief break in the storm, and, sighting Brown's (Sugarloaf) Islet over on their beam, they made for it, losing it again in further squalls, but finally stranding on some rocks off it. A difficult landing was made, and just before dark one of the party managed to get round and attract the attention of the fishermen who live on the neighbouring islet. The party was rescued and spent the night and most of Saturday at the fishermen's huts. Grave anxiety was felt at Paraparaumu for their safety, and it was not relieved till after 6 p.m. on Saturday, when, ; with the seas abating, a launch was able to bring the party and the outboarder to the mainland. All three, including the octogenarian, who had been twice tipped into the heavy seas after the launch had stranded, were little the worse for the experience. Mr. Adams, who is now a very keen fisherman, bred for many years from the Merry Moment mare Musical Mpment, the dam of Shining Star, Royal King, Tupurangi, Golden Chest, Maestro, Colerica, and others, some of whom he raced himself, and others he has bred are Golden Enterprise (whom he was racing last season), Diamond Cutter, and Royal Tinge. No Impossible Task. Although Roydl Chief has a big job ahead of him to win the Dunedin Cup under 10.4 on Thursday, toe task is by no means beyond his ability. Some big weights have been carried to success in important events at Wingatui, and only five years ago Silver Ring won the Dunedin Cup under 10.6 as a six-year-old in what was then race record time of 2mm 30 3-ssec, figures that have been beaten a couple of ticks since by Studley Royal three years ago. Royal Chief failed under 9.8 in the race two years ago, but he was then first up following a spell since the spring in Australia, whereas this year he has recent solid form to back up his claims. There is a view that he might be "slipping" a bit, but his form this season is certainly against any such contention, and, after all, he is now only six years old, an age at which one might expect him to be at his prime. On Thursday he will be having his first race from the stable of Mrs. j. Campbell, who will also have Wardress carrying her own colours in the event. Sham Boy Appeal. The Dunedin district committee has dismissed the appeal of Sham Boy's connections against the reversal of placings with Circular Note at the Waikouaiti Meeting on New Year's Day. The finding of the district committee included: "This committee is satisfied that Sham Boy interfered with Circular Note, and that it has not been proved that such interference was caused by the fault of some other horse or rider, or that the horse or rider interfered with was partly in fault. This, however, does not dispose of the 'appeal, as it has been objected that the judicial committee had no jurisdiction by reason of the fact that he protest was not lodged in time, nor in writing, nor was it accompanied by the requisite deposit. This objection was not made to the judicial committee by the appellant's representative, who, however, was present _and took part in the hearing of the protest. This committee considers that the provisions in Rule 326 in regard to lodging of protests are not conditions precedent to the jurisdiction of the judicial committee, but are a matter of procedure for the benefit of the respondent and may be waived by him. This committee therefore holds that there was a waiver by the respondent, and it is of the opinion that the judicial committee was right in finding that there was wilful interference. It therefore dismisses the appeal and directs that the deposit be returned." Riders for Dunedin. Riding engagements made for the opening day at Dunedin on Thursday include:—L. J. Ellis, Lady Derby, Royal Chief: S. Green, Happy Night, Gold Nugget, Kurawhi, Leighnor; A. Didham, Trench Fight; A, Messervy, Schoolgirl, Doria, Palfrey, Alias;' C. Stokes, Gay Parade, Espionage; A. E. Ellis, Wardress; C. Wilson, Winning Rival, Pleading, Bird of Prey, Blue Abbey, Knight Commander; R. Refister, Donadea; C. Fox, The Wrecker, alo Alto, Cymric; W. Caddy, Lord Midas. Turf News in Brief. Woodville first-day acceptances are due at 8 o'clock this evening. Rangitikei and Carterton nominations are due at 9 o'clock this evening. Mr. F. H. Bustin, of Wellington, one Of the part-owners of the two-year-old Tetratina, has leased a yearling Theo— Arab Song colt, a half-brother- to Nereus and Arabic, from Mr. F. B. Donnelly, and has placed him in J. J. Waller's stable. Beau Vite, who has already been shipped to Australia, will have his first racing there at the V.R.C. Meeting, which opens on March 4. For her win at Tolaga Bay, Diana Tetrix has been rehandicapped 51b to 7.10 in the Woodville Cup. The jockey G. Cameron has lodged an appeal against the suspension for one month imposed upon him by the stewards of the Rotorua Racing Club for careless riding. The appeal will be heard by the Auckland district committee on Thursday. Now out of his apprenticeship, W. J. Mudford has not been meeting with the same measure of success over the past two or three months that won him prominence last season, but he has had some stiff propositions to bring home, and when he was on better horses at Egmont recently he brought home two winners each day. In the programme for the Autumn Meeting, to be held on March 27 and 29, the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club has provided for an increase in stakes of £420 over the two days. The Hawke's Bay Cup has been increased by £100 to £500, and on the second day of the meeting a new race, to be called the Hastings Hack Cup, of £200, 1J miles, has been instituted.