ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

AQUATICS.

Now that the annual regatta is so near at hand there is a considerable stir in aquatic circles, and preparations are going most actively forward for the various events. For more reasons than one the Champion Whaleboat Race is attracting a large amount of attention. The field is expected not to be a very large one owing to the unexpected withdrawal of all the Auckland Association Clubs, but I will be greatly, mistaken if the event itself does not prove one of the most genuine and toughly contested races that have been rowed on the Waitemata. The crew from Waitara, which just last week put down the Onehnnga men, are eager to compete, and will probably arrive here today or to-morrow. Our friends from the Manukau are quite as willing to again measure strength with their erstwhile conquerors; while the sturdy Thamesites have a crew in splendid fettle, and they are well known as most formidable antagonists, while the absence of their old rivals, the Waitemata, enhances their chances of winning the race. Besides these, I have also seen an Auckland ere- whose members I shall refrain from me., jning under the present circumstances. One or two are old rowers, and the others are sturdy and not inexpert with the oar, and the form they displayed wheD I chanced to see them in their quiet practice, may astonish many when it is displayed, iu public. The third-class yacht race promises' to be a most keenly-contested event, and the field is sure to be a large one, while the number of new craft enraged lends additional interest to the contest. In the grade above these small hookers the Spray, Tawera, Moana, and Mapu will compete. The first and last are well-known " flyers," and the Tawera will, I believe, have the benefit of a good suit of sails and an "old hand" at the helm, so that her chance of victory is by no means to be despised. The" Moana, though slipping through the water nicely in practice, is, in reality, untried, but from her make and shape she seems to me likely to prove a clinker, and I should not be astounded if she caught the judge's eye first. • There is always some difficulty about the maximum length in the first-class open-boat race, and this has cropped up this year. The owners of the 18-footers hold with British tenacity the idea that their craft, because of their inferior size, cannot compete on any terms with 20-footers. The commit-* tee appointed to control this race have been very lenient this year in regard to time allowance, and the maximum craft have to concede no less than 2i minutes per foot. There seems but little doubt that if a race had been made for 18-footers alone a good field and good contest must have ensued, but the claims of those who only last year built 20footers must be recognised, and I hope to see the smaller craft graciously accept the liberal handicap and boldly join in battle with thenopponents on the 29th. The two rowing races set apart for the members of that injudicious but well-mean-ing body, the Auckland Amateur Rowing Association, should produce good fields, indeed the Association's reputation as a true sport-encouraging institution depends, in the eyes of the public, upon the measure of support which they give to these events so jealously hedged in with conditions on their behalf. The race for life-rafts will prove an amusing item, but I think that some more bona fide species of contest should have been 'selected to fill the gap caused by the nonappearance of the naval race. The good old , race for coasting steamers' boats does not deserve to be quite dropped out, and might be suitably revived under the condition that the crews are bona fide members of the various steamers' companies, while the choice of craft might be left to be agreed upon by the competitors mutually, for I understand that the possession of a superior craft by one vessel has been the means of causing a lack of entries for this event. The following details will be found interesting The sculling match between C. Stephenson and G. Bubear for £50 a-side was rowed over the championship course, and resulted in an easy victory for Stephenson. A strong southerly wind was blowing, and as the tide was four hours on the ebb, this made the water very lumpy. Mr. J. E. Myers acted as umpire, Mr. J. Blackman as timekeeper, and Mr. J. Richards as judge. Bubear won the toss, and chose the southern station. The men got away well together, but Stephenson soon gained a lead, and at Uhr's Point had a length and a-half to the good, the time to that point being 2m. 10s. On the way across to the mile point the water was very rough, and both men splashed badly. Stephenson steered inshore, and then rowed along in the smooth water, gaining the mile point in 7m. 275. Bubear steered straight for the point, and was 265. later, he having bad water all the way. From this out Stephenson had the race in his hands, and won easily. He passed Putney in 11 in. 305., leading by about t\*>nty lengths. His time at Cabarita was 18m. 255., and at One Man Wharf it was 22m. 28s. He stopped several times, and passed the Brothers in 22m. 435, Bubear being about fiftt i lengths astern. The splendid day's sport provided at the dock last last Saturday by the Auckland Swimming Club reflects credit upon all concerned, while the performances of the competitors are worthy of equal praise. May there be many more such gatherings, and may Southern contestants join in rivalry with our local cracks The performances of Herbert J. Bailey, who won the 100 yds Championship in the fastest time on record are worth noting. Though only a lad of 17 years he has, since the forming of the Auckland Swimming Association, placed the following wins to his credit-.—Boys' Race under 16, Judge' Bay Regatta; Boys under 16, Auckland Swimming Club; Calliope Handicap, 200 yds, Auckland Swimming Club; Club Championship, 100 yds; Handicap, 150 yds, Auckland Swimming Club; Quarter-mile Championship of New Zealand; 100 yds Championship of New Zealand, Hamilton Swimming Club sports; 100 yds Championship of New Zealand, Auckland Swimming Club sports. _ A nice little trip for Aucklanders inclined to the natatory art is offered by the Hamilton Swimming Club races on February 20 next. The N.Z.A. Swimming Association has allotted a couple of championships to the club, and the popular secretary, Mr. C. G. Knox will be glad to receive entries up to the 18th inst. ATHLETICS. The approach of the Amateur Championship Meeting has infused a large amount of interest into athletic doings, and the Domain each morning and evening presents a very ousy appearance, i have heard it remarked in several quarters where the opinion expressed is not an idle one, that the A.A.A. Club are doing unwisely in appointing a man for several events, and in this opinion I must say I agree. In the 250 yds Handicap, Hutchison and Laird are both selected as the champions of the local club, while the same pair are to compete agaiust one another and all else in the Quarter Mile. On past performances it certainly appears that Laird's best distance is the 250 yds, and Hutchison is without doubt our best man over the quarter. To run these two trying races against allcomers seems to be somewhat spoiling the men's chance at their best distance, and if one had been apportioned to each competitor the selected athlete would have felt bound to reserve himself for that event alone, and probably done better. The old saying " It is always well to have a second arrow in your quiver," however, is the argument used by the A.A.A. Committee, and I must admit that it certainly has a good deal of prudence to recommend it. The Sydney Mail says :—" According to eight timekeepers W. T. Macpherson ran 100 yards on the Association Cricket Ground on Wednesday in 10s. You can number on the lingers of one hand all the professional pedestrians in Australia who can do the same." I fancy that on both hands you could count all the known athletes in the world who can compass this record for the distance. The certain absence of Hempton from the meeting is now confirmed, and great regret is expressed thereat. In the sprint events he was the only real rival that the Sydney flyer, Macpherson, was afraid of, though I am told the " boys" in Wellington aro sanguine about J. M. King. In the Mile and Half-mile the competitors are mostly new men to me, save or course our local competitors. Of the pair chosen I fancy Hutchison, though making his maiden effort at the distance, will prove superior to i his confrere Winks, but you really "never know till the numbers go up." Concerning the Hurdlers, there is but little doubt that our "erstwhile Aucklauder Batger is the hardest nut to crack in the lot. The South Island " reps" are not quite up to real champion form, and Macpnerson, stouthearted as he is, cannot, I fancy, do justice to himself in both sprints, and over the sticks. We have here only one jumper now, Owen, and, though he has disappointed me often, I still fancy he is "a good\ui. I learn he is getting into nice form, and will therefore be very close when the worsted is broken. Though our best walker, Peace, is rather short for a " great gun" at this style of work, he "gets there just the same, and his time compares very favourably with that of those arrayed against him. r- -..-•. Next week I will probably have more definite news to chronicle regarding the visitors, indeed, I hope to have met and welcomed the majority of them here by the 31st. The handicap events are progressing most I favourably, and the competition promises to i 1 be very keen in all. I

cricket! 19 Auckland v. Gordon.—Thefan n »: ' m represent the A.C.C.Messrs t taj A. M. Beale, E. C. Beale, J. T Howl ei '. V Neill. T. Neili, A. O'Brien, Rev. f W ards (captain), A. Seccornbe, J c' \v , h- til and T. H. Wilson. ' We Wet ) M Auckland 11. v. Wanderers —Th , II lowing will play for the A.C C. •—\f f-lfl Brassington, Cuff, E. Forbes,. Pr it ess H ton, Hawken, F. Hill, K. Macrae ft' li Mulgan (captain), E. O'Keefe, J. 3' "K. 1 and J. Smith. Emergency :F. John=* ° e I i Borland United v. St. Mar-' 'M United team: Yates, Lynch. IB Stemson, Harvie (3), Hawkins ,lJh„ > 19 Miller, McKinney. ' j I'f

([from OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT I Taupiri F r ;j. Cricketers here are anxiously waitin * hear from the Paterangi Club whether ft ■ challenge to play a match in Sydney Sn . r will be accepted. This will be virtually / e the championship of Waikato f or 1? T season, for Paterangi and Taupiri are . doubtedly the only two clubs in the distrit this year worthy of the name. nc °

THE ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS Last evening Mr. Jas. Halyday received if the Imperial Hotel the following excelled list of entries for the championship contests i the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Assock tion, which are to take place here rf" February 6th and 7th next. a Three-mile Walk —A. F. Bui-ton, G. p PI , W. Creamer, Vf. Selby, Best. Ace ' *• 100 yds Flat.—B. Owen, M. 11. Laird. Five-mile Bicycle. -A. G. Buchanan a n Howard, 11. S. Short, H. Reynolds. ' ** °- High Jump.—E. T. Laurie. Half-mile Flat.—A. Smith, J. c. Hutcbi«n« t W. Winks, J. A. Stewart. Mm > J--12,'JYm Hurulks.—B. Owen. 250ms Flat.-B. Owen, M. 11. Laird, J c Hutchi on. . Tkn Mile Bicycle.—W. Selby, A. G. Bucham, H. S. Short, A. G. Howard. Uanatl Long Jump.—T. F. Upfill, J. A. stewirt J Maciae. ' Three Mile Flat.— G. Clarke, J. a, Stew art.

One Mile Walk.—A. F. Burton, G. Peace A W. Creamer, W. Selby, Lowe, Best. ""' '• One Mile Bicycle.—A. G. Howard, L. E. HoS id an.

One Mile Flat.—J. W. Winks, J. A. Stewart A S. Clarke. Quarter-MILE Flat.— H. Laird, J. c. Ha' chison. PUTTING Weight.-T. F. UpflJl, T. B. O'Connu N. McLean, J. Macrae. Quarter-mile Husidlks.—B. Owen. TWENTY-FIVE- Mile Bicycle.— A. G. Buchana H. S. Short, N. P. Aickia. W. Selby, A. G.H pole Jump.— ¥. Upfill.