THE WORLD OF SPORT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 582, 5 July 1913, Page 7

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

RACING. Glenmore has been given a good, chance in the Wellington Steeplechase,'; in which be has been let in at list 31b, bat on the form shown on the track Bercola with list lib, has a large circle of admirers. Kauroa has been given 10at 131b, a weight he is fully entitle to on his performances at Wanganui, and it would be no surprise to see him beat his stable mate, Glen- j more. Darby Paul, 9st 111b, is a fine jumper and a great stayer, so that bis chance must not be overlooked. He shaped well in a spin over the big country at Wanganui the other morning. Dorando is such a consistently fine jumper that his chance with lOst 91b is held in high esteem. I Immediately on the appearance of the weights Coronetted was backed With five horses in the steeplechase fort the Winter Hurdles. Thirty-four horses have been entered for the O.J.C. Grand National Steeplechase, and a like number for the Grand National Hurdle Kace. Paritutu is the on'y previous winner of the race engaged in the steeplechase, while no previous winner of the big hurdling event figures on this year's field. Red McGregor, Hautere, and. Bercola, a trio of Great Northern Steeplechase winners, are carded for the C.J.C. Grand National Steeplechase but Mar ton is the only Great Northern Hurdle Race winner represented in the big hurdling event at Riccarton. # . v 'According to the "Dominion, Bercola Will not be a starter at Trentham this month, but will be reserved for the Chris tchurch double. The Canterbury sportsman, Mr R. J. Taylor, has four horses in v»ork at present, all of them jumpers, St. K>vin, the star of the team, has had an enlarged hock since his'return from the North, but is quite sound and working well. T. Lloyd, who trains for Mr H. J. Cameron and other owners at Marton, will have a strong team of jumpers for the Grand National Meeting, including Glenmore, Kauroa, Marton, and Kufus. „ „

Mr H. J. Cameron has got hold of a likely-looking sort in Aha, the gelding by Firearm, which he purchased whilst at the Great Northern Meeting. Aha is installed in T. Lloyd's stable at Marton. and will be got ready for the Hunt Cup, to be ran at the Marton Jockey Club's meeting on September 3rd.

In view of the statement of the jockey Whalley that Tracery would have won the Ascot Gold Cup but for the interference of the spectator Hewitt, it is interesting to note that Tracery won the Burwell plate,beating Stedfast, at Newmarket last month. An account of the race is to hand by the laßt mail. The London "Sportsman" says:—'The meeting of Stedfa3t and Tracery provided a most interesting race, and partisanship ran high. Tracery had not run since winning the St. Leger, while Stedfast had already been seen out this seasun. when he gave an immense amount of weight and a decisive beating to horses which are capable of winning good raceß. One bad almost as many friends as the other, though Stedfast was supported at the shorter price. The others were practically ignored, though on the chance of a turn-up, 3uch as occurred at Newbury, some gave support to the three-year-old Aldegond. The start took place out of sight, and when they came into view Coora was showing the way to Tracery, with Stedfast creeping up next the rails. The latter pair soon came away, though Saxby, on the outside, was seen to be drawing up, and for a moment a surprise seemed possible, whereupon Whalley shook upprscery, which scored cleverly, while Jackdaw succeeded in beating Stedfast for second honours."

FOOTBALL. The team to represent the Maniapoto Rugby Union against Rotorua has been picked, and a fairly strong combination has been got together. The selectors are always more or lesß hampered in their work in consequence of a number of eligibles being j unable to travel. However, the tourists on this occasion are fairly representative of the strength of the Union, and should put up a good fight against the Thermal region representatives. The standard of football in the King Country is steadily improving, but there are several weaknesses which will have to be overcome before the local football can be termed first - class. Among the forwards there is ample weight, strength and pace to provide a pack fit to take the field anywhere, but a greater knowledge of the finer points of forward play is necessary before that desirable end is attained. Clean hooking in the scrum is rarely seen in any of the club games, and thiß is greatly due to lack of combination. With a good lock, and plenty of support from the middle and back row men the front rankers are given a chance to get the ball, and strict attention should be devoted to packing the scrum properly if the machinery iB to be made complete. A gratifying feature of the local forward play this year is the manner in which the forwards come round after overrunning the ball. As long as a man gets behind he makes an obstruction for his opponents to get past. When he is waiting in front, or on the fringe of the scrum he is an obstruction to his own team j and is likely to get his side into | trouble. The Maniapoto backs this year are of the galloping order and with practice should make a formidable combination. One of the chief weaknesses which has been evident in the club games is the inability to pass smartly. Time after time good scoring opportunities are lost by slow and erratic passes being given. _ A short, sharp pass coming waist high to a roan is difficult to miss, while a pass coming any other way very often benetfi the opposing aide.