ATHLETIC SPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9307, 9 March 1889, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS

|In* consequence of the refusal of the Amateur Club to allow its members to compete in the sports which were being organised by the Auckland Rowing Association for March 23rd, the latter body has decided to allow the proposed fete to lapse, and so far the A.A.A.C. nave triumphed, if it can be called a triumph, to have been the means of killing sports of which they themselves are the chief promoters in the city, because, forsooth, a kindred institution had the hardihood to endeavour to run a meeting in the same month as theirs. However, it is perhaps just as well that the Rowing Association has decided to forego athletics, and it is to be hoped that its executive and general members will turn their attention and energies in the direction of holding a series of aquatic events upon Lake Takapiuia, if not this season, at least early next year. The programme of the Amateur Athletic meeting is now out, and comprises a wellchosen assortment of fifteen events, which offer reasonable chances of success to all classes of its ninny members. It is expected that the entries will be as numerous as at the last meeting, and several of the most enthusiastic pedestrians have already commenced to take preliminary training. There are two championship races to be contested at the meeting, and these will cause additional interest. The first, the Club Championship, over 200 yards, will not probably oring out a very large field, but, as the pick of the runners will meet on even terms over this excellent testing distance, a splendid struggle is confidently anticipated. So far as I have vet learnt, B. Owen, T. Moresby, H. H. l3avy and C. J. Elmslie are likely competitors. On account of the length of time occupied in its running, the 25 mile Bicycle Championship will be run on a separate day, Easter Tuesday, and will be pretty sure to bring out a representative field. By the last mail from America, I have received the February number of a receutly published magazine of recreation called "Outing." It is a neatly got up brochure of some 100 pages, well printed, and excellently illustrated. It deals with all brandies of A merican outdoor pastimes during the previous month, and contains a quantity of diversified and agreeable reading concerning the winter pursuits of our American cousins, as well as detailed descriptions of several of their largest athletic institutions. Many hints that are extremely valuable to oarsmen, pedestrians, and others are given; while a useful summary of the records during the month is appended. or railway reading it is just the thing for youthful travellers. AQUATICS. I hear that the well-known yacht Maseotte, which has such a deserved reputation for speed and sea-going abilities has this week been disposed of to Mr. E. Moore, who intends to take the crack to Coromandel. Last Saturday was a quiet day as regards aquatic fixtures, but the splendid weather which prevailed caused nearly all the yachts iu the harbour to be "out and about," though the light wind at times caused some vexatious delays. The oarsmen of the several clubs were also busy in practising for trials, &c. On Thursday evening a gig race took place' off Shelly Beach between two crews ot the Ponsonby and Wost End clubs, for trophies to be purchased by subscription among the contestants. The competitors were : W. Scott (P.R.C.), J. Fisher (W.E.R.C.), A. Mclndoe and C. Graham (P.R.C.) against J. W. Dickson and P. Scott (P.R.C.), and F. Atkinson and W. Cossar (W.E.R.C). A close race ensued all the way, and but a few feet separated the boats at the finish, the umpire giving his verdict in favour of W. Scott's four. I understand some dissatisfaction arose at the decision, as several of the spectators held that Dickson's crew were ahead at the finish. This sort of thing is foolish, for if a judge is appointed, his decision should be, and is, final. The annual meeting of the Judge's Bay Regatta Club, which has been fixed to take place on the 13th and 27th April, promises some interesting sports to both yachtsmen and rowingmen. The programme comprises eleven pulling and swimming events, diversified to suit all classes of oarsmen, while the sailing races, which are held on the 27th April, contain contests for the smaller classes of yachts, smacks, and open boats. One of the most interesting races will be the whaleboat event for junior oarsmen, lOat and under, in which it is expected that the crews who competed against one another in the annual regatta will once more measure their strength and speed. The members of the Swimming Club are preparing steadily for their gala, which is to be held shortly in the Calliope Dock. Considerable accessions have been made to the club's list since the last carnival, and some new blood is expected to be prominent in the various races. Last Saturday was an interesting one to frequenters of the Domain Ground, and the Gordon v. United match was watched throughout with eagerness by the partisans of both clubs, as upon its result depended the possession of the Cricket Association's senior cup for the present year. It will be remembered that on.the previous Saturday Gordon had been disposed of for the comparatively small score of 94, and five of the United wickets were down for 39. Testro and McPherson, the two not out men, started to the trundling of Williams and Lusk, and although the bowling was very straight, and the runs came but slowly, the two men made a inont stubborn defence, and brought the score beyond 70 before Testro was splendidly

caught by Clayton at mid-on, after playing an exceedingly careful innings for 16. Hawkins followed, and began at once to hit freely, but when he had made six he was magnificently caught by Moresby in the long field off Williams. Harvie filled the vacancy, but only to see McPherson get out, lbw, to a ball of Williams. McPherson's innings was by far the best of his side, his 25 being obtained by sound cricket. McCormick came next, and Harvie drove Williams to>theofffor 4, bringing United's score to 88. The excitement had now reached a high pitch, as a loose ball or piece of bad fielding would give United the match. Williams was now changed for Lusk, who started with a maiden. In Meldrunrs next over Lusk caught McCormick off a hard high one in the slipsnine wickets now being down for 88. Johnson, the last man, filled the breach, and started with a single off Meldrum, bringing the score to 89, or 5 behind Gordon. Lusk bowled another maiden to Johnson, and in Meldrum's next over the end came, Lusk oatching Harvie in the slips. There was great excited congratulation at the finish, and the Gordon men received a round of applause for their really fine play. The fielding of all was exceedingly , good, and to it must in a great measure be attributed the result. There being still nearly two .hours to play out time Gordon again went , to. the wickets and compiled 110 runs for 5 wickets before the bell rung, Williams playing a sound innings for 39, H. B. Lusk and Moresby also batting well for their respective scores of 27 and 24, not out. MISCELLANEOUS. The local footballers are getting anxious to know the definite dates of the Poneke-Pon-sonby and Poneke-Grafton matches. They are not yet finally agreed upon, but the former will either take place on the Saturday after Good Friday or Easter Tuesday. The Grafton men are making arrangements to play the Wellington men on Easter Monday forenoon, so as not to interfere with the races. The bicycles on which Messrs. Langdown and Wilson scored their successes at the recent Dunedin meeting were the first co-lonial-made machines used for racing. They came from the atelier of Mr. Kent, of Christchurch. A party of 'cyclists 13 being organised in America, which, will, it is proposed, start from America in May next to ride through Ireland, England, France, Switzerland, and Germany. The organiser of the team reckons that the party will get back about the beginning or September, and that it will cost the party £90 each. The party will be limited to 25. interest local footballers to peruse the record appended of the Poneke team last season. In all, the first fifteen played ten matches, of which nine were won and one drawn, and they scored 45 points and had none scored against them. The record of this team now stood : —Matches played, 55 : won, 45; lost, 7 ; and drawn, 3; 35 goals and 72 tries being scored to 5 goals ana 6 tries. No less than thirteen members of the club have taken part in representative matches— namely: Ellison, Gage, Storey, Roberts, Moorhouse, Reich, Sim, Thompson, Williams, Muir, Merlet, Moore, and Mclntyre. Jason.