SPORTING

Evening Star, Issue 19327, 13 August 1926, Page 9

SPORTING

GRAND NATIONAL MEETING COMICAL WIHS BIG EVENT ' FRENCHMAN'S FINE DISPLAY OF JUMPING [By St. Claiji.] CHRISTCHURCH, August 12. After iieavy ram overnight the weather did not look promising early tins morning for the • Grand .National Hurdle Race Day at- Riccartou, but botere the programme opened the clouds cleared away and a bright, sunny afternoon followed, with the course gradually improving. For an off day the attendance was good, but again sombre hues were the most popular amongst the dresses and wraps on the lawn. Good Rom ran a good raco in the Hunt Club Cup, but had no chance of boating Birkenoso. Ho (returned quite a good price for running second. Tholomou looked _ a winner at the distance post in the Woolston Hand* cap, but was unable to shako olf Precious over tho last 60yds. Rosenor looked to hold a winning chauco until KJOyds from the post, where ho was badly interfered with. An inquiry afterwards resulted in L. G. Morris, tho rider of Tholomou, being cautioned to be more careful in future. Frenchman, after his good display in the Grand National, was well supported ill tho Beauford Steeplechase, and, giving one of tho finest displays of jumping seen at the meeting, led all tho way and won easily. A good favorite in Master Peter fell at the kennels double. He jumped badly for M'Seveney, who did not give him his head as Rangi Thompson has been in the habit of doing. Master Peter was afterwards purchased by Messrs Preston Bros., of North Otago. The field for the Grand National Hurdle Raco was a fine one, and the public would not hear of Ngata being Ibeatoii, but though well placed at tho end of two miles he then quickly retired. Listening Post was one of the lirst three at the end of two miles, and after hitting the first hurdle gave a faultless display of good fencing. He was not seasoned enough to see out tho long journey. With five furlongs to go Comical was rushed to the front, and had a lead of a dozen _ lengths when he turned into tho straight. He attempted to shirk tho last hurdle, but Burt rode him into it, and though he won by fully five lengths he was a very tired horse, and led an equally tired field. Adjutor never showed up, and tho last two to_ finish were ’Frisco Mail and Little River.

Centrepiece showed that his win in the Brabazon Welter was no fluke. He beat 1 a good field in the August Handicap. Bugle Note ran a fair raoo, but Master Sandstone petered, out badly over the last two furlongs. Happy Days hit a fence at the end of five furlongs in the Sprcydon Hurdles very hard when running second. After this ho gradually dropped back and finished last. Chickwhcat boat a hot favorite in "Nippy after a groat finish in the Islington Handiwp. Mountain Lion was prominent for seven furlongs, but then dropped right out. Heather Lad, who looked well, was never dangerous. Apache was outclassed. The bracketed pair, Birkcnose (Bir-kenhead-Shhnose, ridden by A. M'Donald) and Punjanb, was strongly backed in the Hunt Club Cup, 21m, with Message Boy and Mainspring the only others of the starters supported. Naughty Peter fell at the first fence of the "kennels double, and interfered with Mainspring, who ran off at.tlio second fence. Birkcnose and Punjanb led the field for nearly two miles. Then Birkcnose shot out and led Good Form and Message Boy over the last two fences and won ’ very easily by three lengths from Good Form, with Message Boy four lengths off third; Flourish and Punjanb next. Nyanza fell at the fifth fence and Mazaraa ran off at the same fence in the last round. Time, omin 33sec. Totalisator, £2,G55j. In the Yvoolston Hack Handicap, Gf, Peho and Flying Mist were withdrawn, and Imitation was made a good favorite, with Serotina, Paper Bose, Precious (Sutala—Roden, ridden hy J. Barry) and Tholomon next in demand. From a good line Taboo, on the rails, and All Colors, on the extreme outside, wore the first to show out, and when they had gone a furlong the loaders were Taboo, All Colors, and .Rose,nor. At the false rail (3J-f) Taboo was Just in front of Oriflamb, Roscnor, Tholomon, and Precious. Rosenor got a hard knock a furlong from the post and settled his chance. Precious tackled Tholomon in the last furlong, and beat him homo by a length. Imitation was two lengths further back third, just in front of Fairy Herald, Paper Hose, and Sarty. Time, Imin 17 l-ssec. Totalisator, £5,342J. Uncle Bob was withdrawn from the Beaufort Steeplechase, 2iun, for which Master Peter (who was ridden by M'Brearty, as Rangi Thompson had decided to make the Grand National Steeplechase his last ride over country) was made a good favorite, with Passin’ Through, Frenchman (Directoire—Danube, ridden by A. Youngman), and Omahu the next best favored. Frenchman at once went to the front and led King Abbey, Tuki, and Omahn to the first fence. After crossing the kennels double Frenchman was well clear of Master Peter (who was jumping badly) and Kendal, and at tho stand double Kendal nearly tipped out. Frenchman was ten lengths clear at Cutts’s, where the order behind him was Master Peter, Kendal, Passin Through, and Omahu. frenchman continued to show tho way along tho hack, and at tho Kennels double was five fengths clear of Master Peter and Kendal, Master Peter falling. Then Frenchman drew right away from Kendal over the next three fences, and beat him easily by six lengths. Tuki, ten lengths away, just beat Passin Through for third money; Omahn and Red Cent a long way back. King Abbey fell at the fourth fence. Time, Srnin 12 2-ssec. Totabsatnr, £4,RnG,-. For tho Sumner Hack Handicap, Im, Sporting Girl and Gay Life wore withdrawn, and the public would only back John Bradbury and Mime who between them carried most of the money, Jubilant, Clare Crag and Mali Jong (Comedy King—Gbu San, ridden by R. Mackie) being the best backed of the others. Mime was the .first to show oqt, hut was quickly joined by John .Bradbury and Solfello. After gointr a couple of furlongs Cocb-y-Bondhu ran to tho front and led Jarrieticro. with Mime and Solfello a couple of lengths further back. This was the order into the straight, where Solfello headed Coch-y-Bondhu and led to inside the distance post, where Mah Jong appeared on the outside of tho field In the run to t)ie post Mah Jong won comfortably by three lengths from bclfello. with Jarrietiere two lengths away third, followed by Jubilant, Waterloo, and Mime. Time, Imin 47 1-Ssec. Totalisator, £5,352. ' Kawini was withdrawn from the Grand National Hurdles, about 2}m, and Ngata (M'Donald) was at once made a verv hot favorite, with Black Cruiser (M'Rae) and Crown Coin (R. E. Thpmson) the best backed of the others, llangatahi (MTavish). Listening Post (Shaw), Sayanora (Scobio), Lucullent (Rowe), and Comical (Merry Moment—Mint Queen, H. Burt) were also well supported,, then came Maunga (Manaon), Nukumai (Rennie), Comedy Prince (Towlor), Little River (Warner), Dubious (M'BreartyH ’Frisco Mad (Dawson)* Adjustoj; (Rirth.Y©4,

ami Bonomcl Cfilson). Comical was first to break the line and led Rangatahi, Little River, and Ngata to the first hnrdlo, where Comedy Prince fell. Rangatahi then took charge from Little River, Ngata, Comical, and Dubious, but at the end of half a mile Little River drew out, opening up a gap of six lengths from Rangatahi. who still headed the next bunch. Passing the stand Little River was shorn ng the way to Rangatahi, Ngata, Comical, Dubious. Listening Post, and Maunga. RangataTii took charge again at Outts s, with Dubious, Listening Post, Ngata, Comical. Lucullent, and Maunga in close attendance. Comical then made a forward movement, and was in front seven furlomrs from home. Rangatahi. Listening Post, Ngata. and Lucn'llont were next. A furlong further on Comical had a lead of four lengths, and at the five furlong post he had increased his advantage to eight lengths, Lucullent at this stage being second, with Raima tahi heading the nest bunch six lengths further back, where Ngata was dropping hack beaten. Comical turned for home with ten lengths’ lead, and jumping the last fence came in to w ; n very easily by five lengths. There was not much between Lucullent_ and Maunga at the last hurdle, but in the run home Crown Coin drew out to beat Maunga by two lengths. Black Cruiser finished fast and was fourth, followed by Lucullent, Sayanora, and Ngata. Time. smin 59 l-ssoc. Totalisator, £8,261.}. Sun Up and Warhavc'n were withdrawn from the August Handicap, 6f, and Civility was made a better favorite than lie Choucas, this pair being ranch better backed than Imitation, Kilbronsyth, (The AceEquipment, ridden by F. E. Jones), and Master Sandstone. Imitation and Moorland led to the straight _ from a bunch which included Centrepiece and Holferitc. On reaching the course proper thp two loaders were done with. Centrepiece and Solfcrite going on together, -with Kilbronsyth putting m a good run. Centrepiece drew out 10 heat Solfcrite by a length, while Kilbronsyth finished _ well half a length away,* with Tuahino and Bngle_ Note next. Time, Imin 16sec. Totalisatcr, £6 9111, In the Spreydon Hurdles, IRn, Revel was sent out a slightly better favorite than Wharncliffo (Thurnham—Takahau, ridden by E. Sbaw), Rangi Sarto, and Happy Days, who were all evenly backed. Happy Days led Axle over the first fence, and they were together at the stand fence just in front of Revel and Lord Leslie. At the next fence Axle was in charge from Happy Days, who hit very hard. Happy Days was well done with at the far turn, where Axle was several lengths, clear from Wharncliffo, with Revel and Knreao next. Wharncliffo was in charge on landing over the last fence, and went on to win comfortably by two lengths from Glument, who finished fast and just beat Axle out of second money. Rangi Sarto and Revel were next. Time. 3min 21 1-oscc, Totalisatcr, £5,736}. . T All started in the Islington Handicap, l}m, and Nippy was sent out a very warm favorite, with Olympic. Heather Lad, Rivalry, Royer, and Chickwbeat (Buckwheat —Petal', ridden by JBeale) the next in demand. From a good start Jubilance and Steel Bar got chopped out, and Chickwbeat, Mountain Lion, and Olympic wore the first out.' After going three furlongs Mountain Lion was just clear from Nippy, but f/ter going another furlong Jubilance ran round her field and joined Mountain Lion, the pair leading Rover and Nippy round the far turn. Jubilance led into the straight from Roucx and Nippy. Rivalry got through at the distance post, and headed Jubilance. Then Nippy, Rouex, and Deucalion challenged *Rivalry, and opposite the stand Chickwbeat (wide on the outside) put in a great run, which landed him a winner by just over a length from Nippy, Rivalry, Rouex, and Deucalion, who almost finished in lino. Time, 2min 13 l-sscc.. Totalisatcr, £8,049. The investments for the day were £47,115, compared with £4i J 93 on the corresponding day last year.

LAWN TENNIS. DAVIS CUP TRIALS. Piess Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, August 11. In the doubles Lott and Chapin defeated Chandler and White in the final test of the series, (5-4, G-4, l-(i, 7-9, 6-4. Tilden and Johnston defeated Richards and Williams, 6-2, 6-1, 6-7, 7-5. —A, and N.Z. Cable. SOCCER. THE CANADIAN VISIT. The New Zealand Football Association last night definitely agreed to a personal allowance of 300 dollars per man in the Canadian team’s tour of the dominion next year. The acceptance is subject to approval at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association on September 7. The Manawatu Association was allowed to retain the £3 profit of the Canterbury-Manawatu game instead of paying it "to the Football Associations trophy fund. RACEHORSE DESTROYED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Press Association. MELBOURNE, August 13. While galloping at Caulfield, Englcficld broke a fetlock, and had to be destroyed. RUGBY. At Stratford yesterday Taranaki beat Thames Valley by 19 points to 0. RUGBY LEAGUE. OTAGO t. CANTERBURY. The Otago team to meet Canterbury to-morrow at Christchurch will be:— Full-back.—W. Vorratb. Three-quarters.—R. Oliver, J. Hansen, L. Connolly. Five-eighths.—B- Eckhoff, D. Sullivan. Half-back—J. Webber. Forwards. —F. Rodgers, J. O’Connor, D. Fitzgerald, J. Burring, T. O’Connor, M. Cameron. Emergencies.—B. Jacobs, L. Davis, E. O’Connor. HOCKEY. CANTERBURY BEATS NELSON. In a representative match at Nelson yesterday afternoon, played on a slippery ground, Canterbury defeated Nelson by 4 goals to 0. In the first spell tho local team had considerably the better of the game, but the second half was an oven one. For the winners, goals were scored by Golfoy (3), Williamson, and BelL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY. Nine entries have been received for the New Zealand ladies’ hockey championship tournament, which commences at Invercargill on August 28. Tho centres which have entered teams are: Ruahine (Dannevirke), Wellington, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago, Eastern District (two teams), and Southland (two teams). Strong committees have been formed, and a queen carnival has been arranged to secure funds for entertaining the visitors.