ATHLETIC SPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8986, 25 February 1888, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS

. * FIXTURES. ATHLETICS. February 45—Amateur Athletic and 'Cycle Sports. February —Squadron's Sports, Douiain. AQUATICS. March 10—Judge's Bay Amateur Regatta March— Sculling Carnival at Sydney April—Hanlan ▼. Clifford, £200 a-side. May Hanlan v. Kemp, Parramatta, £500 a-side. A.A.C.O. SPORTS. The question of paramount interest just at present in athletic circles is the race meeting which takes place this afternoon, on the Domain Cricket Ground, under the auspices of the Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club. If the fine weather which is now promised holds out I anticipate that the sports will be the most successful ever promoted by this popular club. No doubt the presence of Admiral Fairfax and a number of tho officers from the fleet will be the means of drawing a good attendance, and will lend some eclat to the undertaking. The entries sent in this year have been larger than those at any previous meeting, while the liandicapper may take a little kudos to himself for the general satisfaction which his schedule of starts has given, for out of the whole list of competitors but four did not see fit to accept. The three events specially for the officers and men of the warships will cause a lot of interest to the general public, and no doubt will be good contests. • The great majority of tho runners engaged in the various races have been doing good work in training, though I hear that there is » large section that have gone in for little or no training, and will go to the post comparatively raw. This state of things, especially when there are big fields, makes the task of selecting probable winners much more difficult than if all the starters ran on their merits in best form. In the Quarter-mile Race a big field will face tho starter, and as the course is a circular one, the scratch division have a bib of an extra handicap in having to run round their men. Of the two men on scratch, Lusk and Wynyard, both are dangerous though they are called on to concede as much as 30 yards, while Stone (10 yards), and Baxter (13 yards), are also not out of it, the latter being considered to have a big say. D. A. C. Brown, with 19 yards, is a stranger to our amateur ranks, but is a finely-built man for the distance, and has done some fast work in practice. 11. Owen and Myers (25 yards eacn), are two young runners that have both exhibited a big turn of speed, while Major, with 2 yards, is very likely to prove dangerous. In addition to these I have mentioned there are several engaged of whose work I have been unable to get any reliable information, and this division may furnish a " dark horse" to pull off the event. I will therefore stick to those I have named to furnish the winner, and to bring them down to three, will put Brown, Baxter, and Wynyard in the order named. In the 120 Yards Hurdles, Owen and Lusk have shown such cleverness previously over tho sticks that they are entitled to the greatest respect, though Davy with 4 yards should be dangerous if he starts. I will look upon either of the former as most likely to win. In the Onemile Walk, A. F. Burton (scratch) has a big task set him to give away 170 yards, .but we do not really know what he can do >vhon pressed. Selby used to be a very good and fair walker, and will take some .boating, while Beale (90 yards) and Fountain (170 yards) should not be far out at tho finish. For the first trio, I prefer the chances of Fountain, A. Burton, and Selbv. Of tho thirty engaged for the 120 Yards Handicap, to choose a winner is a work of extreme nicety, and the best tipster Might easily go astray in such a field. I will, without discussing anyone's chances, state that I consider H. Owcn,H. Davy, and T. Upfill as the most likely to furnish tho first man. The Mile Handicap is likely to prove ono of the most interesting races of tho day, thero being a great equality of merit (with tho handicaps allotted) among the performers. The three men at the back marks—Baxter, Diddamn, and Burton— 'they start, should all have a big say, while George, with 35, and Ti7.ard, 40, can also get over tho distance. I think they will , finish in the following orderßurton, Baxter, Diddams, with Tiznrd or Ifwerson for a boil over. In tho Half-mile Championship Race another splendid contest will be given, and the chances of R. Lusk, J. Baxter, A. Burton, and D. C. Brown are all highly thought of by those acquainted with their form. Baxter seems to me tho most likely to win, and I expect Lusk to be near him. The Ladies' Bracelet is also a race, the winner of which is extrcmly difficult _to pick, for each one of tho starters will strive his utmost for " England, home, and beauty," but still I fancy that the fair nominators of W. Stone, D. Brown, A. Farquhar, or W. Wynyard will have the best chance of having tho handsome prize clasped on their arms when the raco is all over. Of the bicycle events, the remarks that I made about training in the foot; races apply with even greater force, for there aro one or two who intend to compete who are going to the post in such condition that they will not be able to do themselves justice. In the Novice Race a close contest may be expected from the nine competitors, but the man whose chance I most like is Hammond, though Hunter will be likely to press him hard at the finish, while Nicholson, tho scratch man, will not be very far away. Although conceding n big start to the limit man in the Five Mile Race, A. G. Buchanan's sterling peaformances in previous events entitle nim to great respect, while A. Stewart is also well known as a fine rider with great spurting power. Hammond is a young rider of no mean powers, and his start (250 yds) should enable him to run into a place. I shall expect this race to finish : Buchanan 1, A. Stewart 2, Hammond 3. In the Three Mile Race A. Stewart and his brother Jack have both a good show, while Howard (30yds) has been doing sterling work, but from what I can learn I am inclined to pin my faith on A. T. Clarke as being likely to finish first, with Howard and JT Stewart in the places. The Half-mile Dash is the first event of a sprint nature that the cyclists have yet introduced into their programmes, and I shall expect Andy Stewart to win, with Lecky close to his heels.

AQUATICS. Things are a bit quiet in the aquatic lino at present, though tne resuscitation of tho Ponsonby Regatta promises to supply plenty of sport shortly. Although the measures taken for the re-organisation of this once popular meeting are as yet in a very early - stage, the committee have set about their work in a very whole-hearted manner, and indications are not wanting that on Easter Monday a big day's fun will be provided in the waters of our western suburb. A very wise stop has been taken in the introduction into the programme of a number of events that will be amusing and interesting to that section of tho public which does not profess to have any great knowledge of rowing or sailing matters. These will likely include several canoe races, a log race, a men-o'-warsmon race, dingy race, etc., and the courses will be so laid that those on board the flagship will have no difficulty in witnessing eacli event from start to finish. • In the whaleboab races we may expect to see the rival crews who competed in the Auckland Regatta again struggling for supremacy, a contest which is sure to evoke great enthusiasm among the spectators; while the several gig and sailing races will also bring together big fields of competitors eager to have another chance of proving, or disproving, the supposed merit of their antagonists. Altogether the Ponsonby Regatta ot 1888 promises to be a successful venture.

The Waitemata Boating Club will hold their annual trial fives this day week, and a large number of crews are getting into training to have a chance of carrying off tho gold medals. In a week or two the St. George's Club pair oar races are also to come oft', and will be very, keenly contested. They will be followed, on the 10th proximo, by the Judge's Bay Regatta, which promises this year to be as successful ana popular as heretofore. ■

Hanlan and Kemp. few day subsequent to the sculling championship race between Kemp and Clifford, which the former won so easily, a well-attended meeting of rowing men was held at Beach's Hotel, for the purpose of hearing the articles in the Hanlan-Kemp match read over. Ib was agreed to fix the date of the match for the sth May next. The following is a copy of the articles binding the match :—"Articles of agreement) entered upon this 14th

day of February, 1888, between Edward Hanlan, of Toronto, on the one part, and Peter Kemp, of Sydney, on the other, wherein they do hereby agree 'to row a straightaway boatrace over the championship course on the Parramatta River, from the' bathing-house at Charity Point to a boat moored off the beacon on Tho Brothers Rocks, on Saturday, the sth day of May, 1888, for the championship of the world and a stake of £500 a-side. The first deposit of £100 a-sido has now been placed in the hands of Mr. George Adams, who is hereby appointed stakeholder for moneys in the albove match; the second deposit of £200 a-side to be paid into the hands of the said stakeholder (or proxy) on the sth day of April, ISBB, nob later than the hour of ten p.m. ; the final deposit of £'200 a-side, making a total of £1000, to be paid into the hands of tho said stakeholder (or proxy) on the 4th day of May, 1888, at Beach's Hotel, King-street, and not later than ton p.m. The race to start between the time of four and half-past four p.m. on tho afternoon of the same date. The start to be by mutual consent; but if the two competitors fail to start within 15 minutes the umpire (who shall be appointed) shall have power to start them by signal or otherwise as he may judge best. In the event of only one competitor being at the said starting place at the above time and place fixed for this race, no matter what cause may prevent the other competitor from being present, the umpire shall have power to start the one man (competitor), and in the event of him rowing over the course, the umpire shall award to him the stakes and the title of champion sculler of the world—the race to be rowed under and according to the new and recognised rules of boatracing, such as govern the Rowing Association of New South Wales. The umpire's decision to be final and binding, and subject to no appeal at law or otherwise. Either of the above competitors failing to comply with any of tho agreements herein mentioned in these articles shall forfeit all claim to monies or title mentioned in these articles. ' The race to take place in best and best boats. It is hereby mutually agreed that Mr. be umpire in the above match, and that he be chosen on or before the night of the final deposit being made. His decision shall be final, and subject to no appeal. (Signed) Edward Hanlan, Peter Kemp. Witnesses—R. A. Watson, J. G. Deeble." It is expected that Mr. T. Strange will be appointed umpire. The sculling race for the championship of England and £100 a-side, between Wallace Ross, the American, and George Bubear, of England, was rowed on the Thames on the 13th inst., when the former won easily by four lengths. Time, 23min lOsec.

MISCELLANEOUS. On Wednesday last the cricketing members of the raen-o'-warsmen from the Nelson, Calliope, find Diamond patronised the Domain Ground and played an enjoyable match. The Nelson was pitted against the remainder of the fleet, and won by 11 runs on the first innings. Lilly white has definitely decided to bring his cricket team to New Zealand, and it is expected to arrive here by the Melbourne mail, which is due at the Bluff on March 19. They will then come on to Christchurch, and will play against Canterbury on March 22 and following days. They then go on to Wellington, where they commence a match on March 26. After playing the Empire city representatives, they come back to Christchurch and play a return match, which is set down to commence on March 29, after which the team will leave Lyttelton for England via Rio. The Christchurch Referee has the following : —" It is probable that a muff match will be played in Ha<doy Park in a week or so's time, when the Mayor and City Councillors will play against a team of citizens." I commend this idea to the favourable notice of Mr. Dcvore and his confreres in connection with tho sports for the squadron, which are to bo held on Monday next. R. Davis, the South Australian cycling champion, won a Two-mile Bicycle Handicap and a Three-mile Handicap at the Centennial Cycling Club's competitions at Adelaide, on January 26th. He started from scratch for both events.

The near approach of the visit to our shores of the team of English footballers has awakened our local kickists from their summer hybernation, and the events for the coming season are being eagerly discussed, and a general hope is expressed that Auckland may be able to put as good a team in the field as did battle last year against Otago. There is nothing to prevent this, if the question of practice and early choosing of the team is attended to without delay. To further this object the several clubs should call their annual meetings and elect their delegates without wasting any time so that the Union may go straight to business when it meets on the 22nd proximo. Jason*