ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9497, 28 April 1894, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET. GORDON STATISTICS. The following are the batting averages of the Gordon Cricket Club, the winners of the senior championship :— Highest Times Total No. of Score, not out. runs. Av'rge. In'ga. Ansenne *. 26 1 100 11-1 9 Ball .. .. 10 1 47 1175 4 Cotterill ..35 0 120 14" 9 Fowko ..43 1 (32 12-4 6 Could .. ..13 1 28 47 0 Memory -.21 1 43 8-4 8 KalLnder ..37 0 115 128 9 Kelly .. ..30 1 95 11-9 8 Kenderdine ..24 3 50 7"l 7 Moresby ..9 0 19 27 7 Williams ..27 0 99 9.9, 10 Williamson ..45 1 135 10-9 8 Gordon scored 1001 runs for 100 wickets—average per man, 10'0. Their opponents secured 924 runs for 83 wickets—average per man 111.

The following are the Gordon I. bowling averages for the season :—

No. of Arerballs. Mdtis. Runs. Wkts. age. F. V. Kelly .. 724 SO 311 29 107 Kallander .. Oil . 34 228 25 O'Ol Kenderdiue ..190 3 04 10 9'4 C. H. Gould ...... 207 8 105 a 13-0 Very little cricket was curried on in the Domain last Saturday. The Roller Mills commenced a match with Belmont, which was watched with considerable interest from the fact that the result has a direct bearing on the championship. > The Roller Mills were the first to bat, their innings closing for 70. J. Howard played good cricket for the 18 runs he obtained, and had hard luck in being caught just when he was getting well set. Gallagher succeeded in getting into double figures, and throughout played a most careful innings. Totman made good use of the time he was at the wickets, carrying his bat for 15. Bramley, 8, Lees, 7, were the other chief contributors. It was close on time when Belmont commenced their innings. J. Seccombe and Grindrod were the first to take up their position at the wickets, and after making 8 and 7 respectively, they were bowled by Todd. Thomas and Spurway filled the places, and at the close of the day's play had one run each, the score standing at 18 tor two wickets. The match will be concluded to-day, and will probably result in a very exciting finish. THE ENGLISH TEAM FOR THE COLONIES. The secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club has received a letter from Mr. A. E. Stoddart, who is arranging the business in England with regard to the visit of the Eng-

lish Eleven next season. He says everything is going on well, and he has no hesitation in declaring that the team will in every way meet with the approval of the Australian authorities. The following members have accepted :—A. E. Stoddart, F. G. J. Ford, Middlesex; Albert Ward, J. Briggs, Lancashire; Peel, Yorkshire H. Philipson, Northumberland; Attewell, Nottingham. Mr. Stoddart has appointed L. A. Gay, last year'j Cambridge wicket-keeper (now of Sussex), as wicket-keeper. He is considered the best in England bar McGregor, and is also a good bat. A. (J. McLaren, of Lancashire, will also be delighted to come.. He is a very tine bat and field, and played for the Gentlemen against the Players at Lord's last season. H. S. Jackson (Yorkshire) is regarded as a certainty, although he has not yet accepted. The remaining places will be filled by the best fast bowler of the year and a first-class batsman. As Jackson is a fast bowler, another professional fast bowler would not be required. L. C. Palairet (Somersetshire), who had an average last season of 26*13, would have been pleased to join the team, but is going to be married. Mr. Stoddart has given up hopes of getting him. Mr. Stoddart does not think it advisable to bring Humphreys (the lob bowler), as he is quite an old man for oricket, and would not be able to stand the work of a long tour. He could only be brought as the fourteenth man.

Judging the team as far as it is composed, it will be seen, says the Sydney Mail, that it will be a wonderfully strong combination in batting. la first-class matches last season, Mr. Stoddart headed the list of amateurs, getting 2072 runs in fifty innings, once not out, average 42*14 per innings. F. S. Jackson came second on the list, getting 1328 runs in 36 innings, average "16 per innings. Palairet has an average of 26*12 for 34 innings ; F. G. J. Ford, 26-2 for 37 innings ; A. C. M'Laren, 23-22 for 21 innings : L H. Gay (the wicket keeper) has 18*5 for 16 innings. Philipson, the second wicket-keeper, we know, as he came as understudy to M'Gregor in Lord Sheffield's team, and performed very well indeed when required. On the professional side in representative matches Albert Ward , comes next to Gunn and Shrewsbury, and is third on the list, getting 1435 runs, averaging 35 25. Mr. Stoddart says he is a magnificent outfield. Brigg this year has an average of 1928 for 48 innings ; Peel, 13*1 for 42 innings; Attewell, 17"11 tor 44 innings. Taking these ten names, the average per innings would be over 260, which on English wickets is an exceedingly good one. With regard to Ford, he is 6ft. 2£in. in height, lefthander, and tremendous hitter. He scored? last season 204 not out, 107, 175, 162, 108 not out, 108, 240, showing what a powerful hitter he must be. Stoddart himself got over the century four times —195 not out against Notts, 127 against the Australians, and 125 and 124 against Surrey and Notts. F. S. Jackson scored 123 for Cambridge University against Surrey, 111 against M.C.C. and Ground, 103 for England against Australia, and 102 for Cambridge against M.C.C. and Ground. Albert Ward got into three figures with 140 for Lancashire v. Gloucestershire, and 126 Lancashire v. Sussex.

Amongst the bowlers oar old Mend Peel ranks third, getting 120 mckets for 14.28 per wicket Briggs well up with 166 wickets for 15.49 per wicket. Attewell, who was considered off colour last season, got 106 wickets for 21.61 per wicket, and Richardson and Lockwood, one of whom may come as a fast bowler, have averages between 25 and 16 rnus per wicket. Amongst the amateur bowlers Jackson got 57 wickets for 20.38, >Stoddart bowled 26 wickets for 20.25. and Ford 22 wickets for 25.8 per wicket, So that besides being very strong in batting, their bowling side will be of the very best. Mr. Stoddart will not complete the team till he gets an answer to this letter. FOOTBALL. The football season is now upon us, and the various clubs are busy practising in view ot the opening matches of the season. The following practice matches will be played to-day at Potter's Paddock — Ponsonby A v. Ponsonby B :—A team : J. Scott, Masefield • (2), Flynn (2), Ramsay, Brauud, Cruickshank, H. Cooke, Gittos, P Scott, Riley, Stewart, Hewson, and Langsford.

City Av. City B :—A team : F. Murphy, Hill, Meroer, Hales, Lavilli, Keegan, Gillespie, Binney, Stone, Hallamore, Clarke, Otway, Devin, McCluskie, McDonald, Cole, and Brown.

Grafton Av. Grafton B.—A team: H. Smith, McGill, Clayton, E. Young, J. Brady, Lee, C. Hay, Rev. P. Williams, Hancock, Broberg, Stephenson, Christie, C. Brady, Dr. Makgill, Pennalligen, Kallender. B team : Cromwell, Creagh, Jackson, F. Batton, D. Hay, Evers (2), Young, MacCormick, Harley, Cunningham, Laird, Scott. C. Ball, McMillan, Warner, Patterson, W. Martin, Gallagher. Grafton lIL (Juniors) will practise at Epsom, when sides will be chosen from those present. Suburbs footballers meet at Potter's Paddock, when teams will be picked from among the first, second, and third fifteens present. The Newton District Football Club will hold a practice match at Potter's Paddock. Teams will be selected from the following players :—L Mills, Donald (3), A. Walker, W. Walker, Beamish, Bradburn (2), Murphy. Freeman (2), Kelly (2), J. and G. Walker, Warnock, Johns, Slade, Knox, Roberts, Airey, Gussy (2), Parsons, James, Webber, Dean, Riohards, V ilson (3), Casey (2), Dunningham, Lawrence, Wrigley, W. Mills, Williamson, A. Wilson, Taylor, Smith, Rylance, Walton (2), Preston, Crisp, Beauth, McCullooh, Farrell, Fielder, R. Wade, Lummy, Bosham, Geard, Duffin. Parnell A. v. Parnell B. —A. Team: Hedges, Brodie, Kissling, Simpson, Elliott, Edmonds, Ronayne, Anderson, Clarke, Beamish, Geard, Evitt, Wright, Moore, Holmes. B. Team: Crozier, Mitchell, Lawford, Edgecumbe, Fitts, Watkiss, Paarce, Gordou, Hull, Whitley, Grattan, Kay (2), Evitt, Scholeld, Pilkington, Hazelmau, Hough, Taylor, H. Speight, Wood, Mollis, Wilson and others. The North Shore Club will practioe in Mr. G. Niccol's paddock, Cheltenham Beach. Teams :— Fifteen : Whitehouse, Breen, Branson, Lankham, Niccol, Moffatt, Oliphant, Cassels, Marshall, Speight, Valentine, Inglis, Mays, Mann, Nicholson. Eighteen: Cuff, Clark, King, Walker, Harvey, Ford, Parsons, Quinn, Buchanan, Blandford, Wooller, Sullivan, Hynes, Gerrard, Beeston, Brown, Chamberlin, McDonald. ASSOCIATION. A match will be pla.yed on the Domain Cricket Ground to-day between the West End and the Grafton. West End : Evans (captain), Flicker. Osmond, E. Jones, Cash, Harris, Owen, Batty, Barclay, Howard, Pheney, Rotherham, Stewart, Merritt, Jowitt, and Whelan. Grafton: Thomas, Manton, Cantley, Holland, Smith, Fielder, Totman, Kelly, Martin, Shaw, Blair, Sloman, Greville, Winthrope, Twiname. At a meeting of the New South |Wales Rugby Union committee, the hon. secretary announced that it was decided that if arrangements could be made for sending a team to New Zealand, it would go in August, and it was also resolved to invite the Queenslanders to play in Sydney on the 21st and 28th of July. 'CYCLING. Training for 'cycle racing in America is such a serious business, that there is really nothing very astonishing in hearing of a school of training being opened, with Zimmerman himself, and Troy, the trainer, as chief masters. It is to be at Freehold, where there is a half-mile track, and a house has been taken capable of stabling 100 colts. Clubs and the trade, of course, will be supplied with speed merchants, warranted sound, pure amateurs, at the lowest terms. " Does 'cycling strengthen hearing and eyesight?" was the topic broached at an impromptu 'cyclic debate recently. It could hardly be oalled a debate, however, for the whole of the assembly were in the affirmative. Doubtless night riding, when the 'cycler's ears and eyes have to be constantly on the alert, is mainly responsible for the improvement of tkese organs. His trained eyes and ears are able to distinguish objects and hear sounds long before those of the average pedestrian, and he is able to locate the position of a lumbering cart with the instinct born of ; long practice.

ATHLETICS. AUCKLAND AMATEUR ATHLETIC AND CYCLE

The following are the handicaps for the various events of the sports carnival to be held in the Domain on Saturday week, May sth, in aid of the Garrett fund :— 440 Yards Hurdles.—T. Roberts, scratch : W. H. Mai tin. 111 yards ; E. T. Laurie. 22; J. W. Burgess, 22 ; P. Biodie, 25 ; D. F. Stewart-, 28. One Mile and a-half Walk.-A. F. Burton, scratch J T. F. White, 40; A. J. Poplo. 160; E. C. Bow, W. H. Rush, 200 ; F. Drum, O. McGilJ, 210 ; A. A. Creamer, H. N. Cossar, 220; A. Tilly, J. Carrigan, 250. 76 Yards Handicap.— H. Buchanan, C. Weston. scratch ; A. Jones, J yard; C. Hesketb 2} ; W. C. Rhodes, Si; F. Barton, F. Murphy, J. A. Rogers, H. W. Boyd. H. B. J. Bull, F. J. O'Meara, H. McLennan, 4 ; W. E. Younu, W. S. Moore, J. Knott, •. Warner, J. Waters, J. Crammond, J. H. Danes, O. Blandford, G. Roper, 4}; T. C. Murphy, H. B. Willis, T. F. Wilson, 5 ; J. A. Mcleod, J. Meldrura, A. Moncur, C. F. F. Allen, si; D. F. Stewart, W. H. Morton, 6 ; J. Fairweather, F. Ballin, W. H. Draffin, 160 Yards Handicap.— J. H. Buchanan, C. Weston, scratch : A. Jones, 2J yards ; W. C. Rhodes. 51; V, Barton, J. Waters, 6; C. Hesketh, J. A. Rogers, F. .1. O'Meara, A. P. Johnson, G. Warner, 6J ; F. Murphy, T. F. Box, H. McLennan, W. H Francis, J. Crammond, H. V. Buchanan, 7 ; J. H. Davis, 7J; M. Chapman. W. E. Younjt, W. S. Moore, V. Poland, P. C. White, 8; G. Blandford, O. Roper, T. V. Wilson, R. J. Hall, Si ; H. B. Willis, T. C. Murphy, 9J ; J. Meldrum, 10; A. Moncur, luj ; C. V. V. Allen, 11 ; J. Fairweather, 11* : D. F. Stewart, W. H. Morton, H. N. Goldwater, 18; F. Ballin, 13. 44'» Yards Handicap.—H. B. J, Bull, scratch; W. C. Rhodes, 3 yard*; F. J. O'Meara, F. Murphy,

9; A. P. Johnston, 1C; J. Craicmoud, W. H. Francis, 12 ; O. 8. Frost, 14 ; J. H. Davis, F. Poland, 16 ; a Koonan, A- Moncur, 17 ;P. C. White, 18; A. Clark, 19 ; H. N. Goldwater, ,?. Meldrum, 80: W. S. Dickey, W. H. Draffin, 21 ; G. B. Osmond, L. Bedel], 22. COMMITTUEMEN'B Race (handicap), 100 YARDS.— A. Smith, scratch ; I*. F. Upflll, J, W. Winks,2vardß; A. F. Burton, * ; A. H. Cotter, VV. C. Speight, H. Surman, 6: B.L. Holle, F. W. Edwards, H. Nicholson, 6 ; ,W. M. Service, 7; C. S. H. McKinney, 9 ; G. H. Powlev, J. Halydsiy, junior, 10; B. J. Esatn, IS. Half-mile Handicap.—H. G. J. Bull, scratch; G. A Bradburn, It) yards ;< G. MoLeod, 20; A. IS. Parker, 22; V. Murphy, 36; G. S. Frost, 35 ; H. B. Buchanan, 36; B. Clark, 40; P. Barry, 40; Q. Smith, 40 ; ■F. W. Thomas, *5 ; F. Atkin. «5 ; M. O'Connor, 45; E. T. Laurie. 18 : E Sutherland, 50; R. J. Cromwell, 60; A. Olney, 60 ; W. Donnelly, 60. . One MILK Hanwcap. —W. Farquliar, scratoh; G. A. Bradburn, 70 yards ; A. E. . Parker, 80; A. Sanders, 80; A. Dacre, 80; M. O'Connor, 80; J. H. Short; 80 ; ,W. Johns, 85 ; F. VV. Thomas, 95 ; F. Atkins, 65; A. Olney, 110. , ■ . . Steeplechase.—J H. Short, scratch; G. S. Frost, 3 seconds, G. McLedd, 5; A. Dae re, 8: A. Sanders, 8; M. O'Connor, 10; C. Speight, 10; F. Atkins, 15; R. Noonan, 15; P. Barry,"lS; E. Bow, 30; H. N. Goldwater, 30. . , " < \

,' i The number" of . entries received for the various events must be considered very satisfactory, and the handicapping can leave no cause for complaint. A good afternoon's sport can therefore be relied upon. In all the events the limits have been considerably reduced, and the scratoh men given an opportunity of showing their ability. The 440 yds Hurdles looks a. good thing for Roberts, but he will hav« very formidable opponents to meet in Brodie and Martin. The One and a-Half Mile Walk has a field of twelve. A. F. Burton, the scratch man, will have a much better chance on this occasion, and if in bis best form should require a lot of beating. H. N. Cossar and A. A. Creamer are also well treated.

The 75yds Handicap has a field of 33, the limit being 6£yds. Buchanan and Weston are on the scratch, while Jones has half a yard. The latter has been running very well at the last two meetings, and I expect to see him well to the fore in this race. Weston's name figures again on the list, but I do not fancy his chance. His running at the late North Shore meeting was not anything like his old form. J. A. Rogers, G. Warner, and J. Crammond are well treated, and should be well up. Hesketh has not been favoured by the handicappers. He ought not to be asked to give start to the last three named. The 150 yds Handicap has a very large field, and should prove a very interesting event. In this event Jones has 2£yds from Buchanan and Weston, and this is in my opinion as much as he can expect. Hesketh has a muoh better chance in this event, having 6£yds, and is on the same mark as Warner and Rogers. W. H. Francis and Crammond are well treated with 7yds. The 440 yds Handicap has twenty entries. H. Bull is on the scratch, and the longest start he has to give is 22 yards. G. S. Frost, who ran so well at the Snore meeting, has 14yds, and with this should be well satisfied, and if in the same form he was a few weeks ago will no doubt get a place. W. H. Francis is another of our coming men over this distance, and will " probably give a good account of himself next Saturday. The Half-Mile Handicap looks a good thing for Frost, who has 35yds. G. A. Bradburn with 18yds cannot complain and will be close up at the finish. Thomas and MoLeod are also well in. Eleven entries have been received for the One Mile Handicap, W. Farquhar, F. W. Thomas, and Parker appear to be well treated. The Committeemen's Race (handicap), 100 yds, has a good field, and the contest will be worth watching B. J. Esam has 15yds start, and if aids to last the distance will be well to the fore. J. Haliday, the genial secretary, has 10yds start, with which he should be contented. F. W. Edwards has been put back some distance and will require to beat the pistol to get to the tape first. All the members of the committee have entered, but some of them are very doubtful starters. LAWN TENNIS. This afternoon the Eden and Epsom Club will conclude the season, and it is hoped that members and their friends will turn up in good numbers for the occasion. • The cup won by Miss Spiers at the Christmas Tournament as lady champion of the colony, will be formally presented to her during the afternoon by the president of the club, Mr. A. Heather. The remaining inter-club matches between th„ Devonport and Onehunga Clubs will be played off on the Devonport ground, as the Ouehunga lawn has been closed for the season.

The inter-club matches between Auckland and Parnell will be finished off this afternoon. The matches will oommence at; half-past two p.m. sharp. , The following are the players On the Parnell lawn : Messrs. Harrison and Stevenson (Parnell) play Messrs. Scherff and Kisseli (Auckland), Messrs. Robison and' Tempest (Parnell) play Messrs. Biss and Baker (Auckland), Miss 1., George and Mr. Upnll (Parnell) play Miss Ring and Mr. Goldie (Auckland). On the Auckland lawn : Miss Wrigley and Mr. Bagnall (Auckland) play Mrs. Blair and Mr. Rich (Parnell). The West End Club have also some matches to play against Auckland, but these will have to be deferred until next week. It is impossible to say how the clubs will stand until these matches are played. Parnell and Auckland will very likely be first and second respectively. The Parnell Club has at present fire wins more than Auckland.

AQUATICS. The St. George's Rowing Club have been rowing off a series of heats for the Thomas Challenge Cup. Two of the heats have taken place, and the final will take place this evening. A yacht race, in which the Prince of Wales' yacht Britannia competed, took place at Marseilles on March 4. The Britannia came in first, 20 minutes ahead of the Marquis Ridolfi'a Oretta and M. Florio's Valkyrie, and thus secured the prize of 2000 francs and a medal..- The winning yacht was loudly cheered as she came in by a large number of persons assembled to witness the finish. The weather was superb. A boat race, which was somewhat novel in character, inasmuch as the contestants were ladies, was rowed on the placid waters of Shell Cove, Sydney, on April 11. The boats used were two galleys belonging to H.M.s. Orlando and H.M.s. Ringarooma, there being six ladies, friends of the officers of the warships named, in each galley. A party of ladies and gentlemen 'from Government House proceeded to the trysting waters in the Government launch Premier, and were afforded an excellent view of the race, which was most keenly contested throughout and resulted in a win for the Orlando's galley, which was " manned" by Misses G. Smith, M. Smith, Dight, Green, Roulston, and Lamb, and steered by Captain Arbuthnot, of the Orlando. THE YACHT RACE ON THE RIVIERA. The International Steam Yacht Race from Monaco to Genoa took place on February 27, in splendid weather, and resulted in a close finish between M. E. A. Perigou's Faavette and Mr. James Gordon Bennett's Namouna. The five yachts started from Cape St. Martin at 9.26 a.m., and the Fauvettte immediately took the lead, followed by the Roxan.i, belonging to Prince George of Leuchtenberg. At 10.50, about an hour and a half from the start, the Namouna passed the Roxana and went on in close pursuit of the Fauvette, which, however, succeeded in holding her own, and crossed the winning line off the Cape Benigno lighthouse at 2.22 p.m., the Namouna following at 2.27. The other yachts were close up, and three minutes later the Forus, belonging to M. Alexandre Konsnetzoff, arrived, followed at 2.40 by the Roxana, the last to cross the line being Baron Arthur de Rothschild's Eros, at 2.44. The distance sailed was 75 miles, and the time occupied 4 hours 56 minutes, thus making the rate of sailing of the winning yacht a shade over 15 knots an hour. The sea was calm throughout the race. INTERNATIONAL YACHTING, In a recent interview in London with Mr. C. Oliver Islin, the late owner of the American yacht Vigilant, with a representative of Reuter's Agency, the question of international yachting was discussed. Speaking of the America Cup, Mr. Islin said .—" No challenges having been sent in for the America Cup, there will be no contest this year. What may happen in 1895 I cannot yet say, as it depends upon the action of English yachtsmen, and whether they send in any challenges. Nothing has been decided regarding Vigilant's engagements. I have at present no intention of sending her across the Atlantic." Replying to questions regarding the Vigilant's ability to cross to England, Mr. Islin remarked "Of course she is quite capable of crossing; the Atlantic. I nave no doubt she would do as well in the open sea here as she would at home. It must be remembered, however, that she was not built to sail in the Solent or the Thames. On one occasion in the Solent the Navahoe had to turn no less than 16 marks in the race. The Vigilant could not do this, as she was not built for the purpose." Mr. Islin further said: —" I know nothing definite concerning the statement that Lord Dunraven and Lord Wolverton will probably challenge for the America Cup with a new 70-feet boat. Lord Dunraven is bringing the Valkyrie home this spring, and she will not race in America, but I am greatly surprised at the suggestions made, that this is because the Americans will not race him. No proposition has been made by Lord Dunraven, and no challenge has been made by him. It he really wants to race he can get all he wants. The Vigilant and the Colonia are both ready to meet him. No large cutters " continued Mr. Islin, " are being built in the States, although many smaller boats are being laid down. The old Volunteer, which defeated the Thistle in the America Cup, is being altered to a single-sticker, and will be raced this year against the Jubilee and the Colonia." , , .

THE OXFORD-CAMBKinn* t,„7_"" The fifty-first boat SL w ttACB - Oxonians and Cantabs took *l.£ fcwee, i, *• 17, over the course from P&£ V $*"** the Shin at.Mortlake, and re3^' rid * 6 t( » for Oxford bV three MdVffif ft! l ,u a wi « time being 2lm. 395. There w^ 8 ' 118 ' . th ° The water was smooth and coS?wS° * b L - Blight haze Oxford in the Win Wtha manded odds as high as 5 to 1 J?}?** comdown to 3 and 2to 1 By nine nN 0n tha haze began to lift, and when "he ° °°£ the made was nearly Rone. Almost at X i Wa ? moment a change was made in thJ, kst bridge crew, F nich beh* Jk -° Rmfor tope as the bow. Oxford w ™ ltuted and took the Surrey side Th V? tas made at twenty minute past nin? i- Wa " bridge getting away first, with a' Urn " forty-two-to-the-minute gait Oxford „^- ty with a long steady, forty stroke d Th lrtlD i vantage to Cambridge was soon | ost f„ r * d ; Off Creek, reached in lm. lis., the kl\. at even. At the soap works Oxford[hal * i*",' though a grand race was being Jull e d r"" 1, bridge being less than halt-a-lenS fl 8"?" both rowing steady at thirty.sixSke? 1 ! Craven Steps a marked contrast wV. I' At able. The dark blues were wort! b T, v ' clock-work Cambridge's -prflff K 8h 0 r? and scratchy. Their boat hunV ort each stroke and at the steps Oxford t? eu few feet ahead. Both wete weU ward Surrey shore, and at the one mil? ►, passed in 4m. 255. after the start Ox i J 6 ,' by three-quarters of a length iSM™ bridge spurted and pulled UD and i„ spite of wild steering, succeeded ingettiw within half-a-length of Oxford; but & put on a h«tle. more speed and drew aw av Opposite Lead Mills, neariog Hammersmith bridge, Oxford put on a beautiful spurt driving the shell under the bridge a full length ahead in eight seconds and 16 seconds x hei gallant dark blues were pulling stron • with Cambridge apparently beaten /{ Thornyoroft's works.Oxford seemed to have the race so well m hand the crew eassd yet increased the lead to four lengths. He however the Cambridge men made a splendid spurt, cheered on, by their supporters and succeeded in cutting down Oxford's 1 sad to three lengths at tire Devonshire Meadows The next point in the race was Barnes rail'way bridge. There Oxford was leading by a clear four lengths Cambridge apparently demoralised, and Oxford finished an ea v winner. Cambridge did not actually row past the judge, the crew was so completely collapsed. In spite of the apparently long can between the boats at the winning line I fi« race was pulled. Oxford showed race power and after passing Hammersmith bride.' seemed to leave the Cambridge crew a* though the boat of the latter was at anchor The time is much slower than that of last year, but the conditions were by no means so favorable. The flood had grown tired of waiting for the start, and long before the finish was reached the crews were rowing in dead water. _ It was not an exciting race but like all "Varsity boat-races it was worth looking at, as both crews tried, though Oxford was not extended. One most disastrous feature of the race was the conduct of the Cambridge steamer. That wretched craft was unable to keep up with the parade, and at the finish must have been a quarter of a mile in the rear so that while its passengers may have been able to see that the Light Blues were badly beaten, they could hardly have been in a position at any point in the race to see how magnificently Oxford did their work. The aggregate weight of the crew and coxswain of the Oxfords was 106 stoue 9 pounds. That of the Cambridge crew 102 stone 5 pounds. Of the previous contests Oxford won twentyseven, including the races the last four years. Cambridge victories are twenty-two, the last race in a dead heat. Last year the dark blues won really a splendid race by two and a half lengths in 18 minutes and 47 seconds, the best time on record, as 19 minutes 21 seconds was the best previous record. Lynx.