OUR SPORTING CHRONICLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4297, 21 August 1875, Page 3

OUR SPORTING CHRONICLE.

The programme of the Auckland Regatta of 1876 ha 3 been settled by the committee, and will be published before this reaches the eye of my readers. It will be seen that two new races have been introduced, namely, a race in four-oared gigs for amateurs under 21 and an all-comers scullers' race confined to novices under 21. The latter is intended to encourage rowing among those young fellows ho have passed the dingy age, and yet who ha\ e not attained the strength and experience necessary to give a chance of success in the open four oared outrigger race. The other is well calculated to bring out new talent among tha junior members-of our amateur clubs. Up to the present time these have had very little inducement to keep themselves in practice, consequently we have heard of very few promising oarsmen cropping up among the recruits. It is a mistake to look for our future champions from new-cjir.ers who have learut their rowing in the old country ; the colony should now begin to bring- out good men of its own. There is any amount of material to work upon. Our young men here, even those who are not bound to muscular labour to gain a living, have more opportunity of inuring themselves to physical training than the same class have at home; and even with a deficiency of. mentors there is no reason why we should not produce some oarsmen of sterling quality. It is to be hoped that the captains of the various dubs will all stir themselves to see that^they are well represented, and, if they do, I shall expect to see this race one of the most interesting of .the day. An important alteration in the programme is that all the amateur races are confined to members of recognised rowing clubs who shall have been in existence for at least three months before the regatta-day. This is important, as it will lie a guarantee that the competitors will be strictly amateurs ami will exclude the Dick, Tom, and- Harry class of outsiders, who generally crop up in such contests in other places, and, dubbing themselves amateurs, "go in lemons" for the money. The rule defining an amateur has undergone a trifling revision; the alteration does not fully meet the always-present difficulty on the matter, but perhaps the rule as it now stands is as nearly as possible what is desirable in such a community as ours. No stand is made on social position, as is the case in England, but the law simply stipulates, iu addition to the competitors not being professionals, that they shall not be engaged in any trade or calling requiring the use of great muscular labour. All objections under this rule axe to te made on or before the night of the general entry, and in order to enable this to be done, the amateur ' nominations will be received a week before the others. This is a capital provision, as it will removo the possibility of any protests being made against a crew solely on account of its success.

The Auckland Rowing Club, at a general meeting, have authorised the committee to send to Melbourne or Sydney for a new fouroared gig. It is time that they did so, for the old Wonder has seen her day, and is not up to carrying a heavy crew. The fact of £26 being subscribed among the members present at the meeting shows tha£ there is plenty of enterprise in the club. It is believed, that the whole cost—estimated at £45 —will be made up by special subscriptions without interfering with the funds of the club.

An interesting little note in the J?Uld of otli June, informs us that the first regatta was held on the Thames on 23rd June, 1775. The races took place near Uanelagh Stairs, and were described as an amusement recently introduced from Venice. By this month's English mail we get the account of Henley Kegatta. Who, that has ever witnessed this splendid gathering of the picked gentlemen oarsmen of England, can ever forget it ? Charles Reade gives an excellent description of it in his novel of " Hard Cash," but even this falls short of the reality. The magnificent straight course of nearly a mile and a half, from Remenliam to the line old bridge : the Poplars on the left-hand bank, the first point of vantage in the struggle; the verdant meadows on either °ide, with the shouting crowd following the races; the gay jerseys and machine-like action of the lowers (for style is everything at Henley) ; the card-sharpers busy in the intervals with their interested groups of young dupes; the quaint old town itself, with its pleasant hotels and gardens running down to the river opposite the winning-post; above all things the bridgo with its congregated carriages containing faces and forms, ailu. costumes too, of beauty unsurpassed in the world ; nay, thr. very anxiety pictured on those lovely faces for the success of brothers or sweet-hearts —given a bright sunny day, and all combine to produce a scene of "rare and transcendant brilliancy to be sought for in vain elsewhere. Henley may be justly termed the Goodwood of rowing. There is none of the rowdyism and struggling for places which is to be seen at the University contest at Putney. Everything at Henley is aristocratic and refined. It is athletics gilded, and its athletes are the crime ih l la crime of muscular Young England. The following are the names of the winning crews in the races this year : —Grand Challenge Cup (eight oars), Leandcr Rowing Club first, beating London, Thames, Ist Trinity, Cambridge, Moulsey, and Kingston. Silver Goblets (pairs), Cliillingworth and Herbert, Ino R. C., who beat Long and Gulston, the crack London paii on a duke. Visitors' Challenge Cup (fours), University College, Oxford. Diamond Challenge Sculls, A. C. Dicker, Cambridge. Wyfold Challenge Cup, Thames 1!. C. Stewards' Challenge Cup (fours), London R.'C. Ladies' Challenge Cup, Dublin R.C.

The football meeting called to discus 3 the proposed trip to the Southern Provinces came off on Wednesday night. The names iriven in of gentlemen anxious to go do not comprise, at present, a really representative team, but it is understood that several good players may yet find themselves able to join the band. Dunedin had not sent any reply to Mr. Henderson's challenge, but a response is expected every day. Greymouth writes up wishing to be included in the round, but it is feared that their desire is not likely to be fulfilled, owing to the difficulties of travel, and the importance of a quick return. The committee are now busy raising subscriptions, which will be reported at a general meeting next Wednesday. If they should not reach the anticipated amount, an entertainment is to be given in aid of the funds at an early date. It is calculated that about i-'SO will be all that is wanted, and as more than double this sum was subscribed for the cricketers, there should be no difficulty in collecting it.

The acceptances for the Melbourne Cup number oS, which may be considered to imply very satisfactory handicapping on the [.art of Mr. Barnerd, who would appear to be quite able to do without the much talkedof Board of Advice. Now that Hawkesbury will be coming on directly, we shall, most probably, hear of some important movements in the' betting on the race. Most of the favour? ites up to the present are only what are called "public horses." Stable commissions will be now thrown into the market, and the effect will be to revolutionize affairs very consider ably.

I see by an Otago paper that a full sister to Lurline came into the world last week, Mermaid having dropped another filly foal to Traducer. The successes of Lurline and Castaway indicate that the various strains " nick" in this union, and the career of the new offshoot will be watched with some interest. Hotspur.