TROPHY HANDED OYER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18017, 16 February 1922, Page 8

TROPHY HANDED OYER.

SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

A DISCORDANT NOTE.

MR. McCULLOCH'S T.

[by telegraph.—own corresfon ent.J

DONSDIN. Wednesdtj.

Some little time after the conclusion of yesterday's race for the Sanders Cup rumours gained currency that the Murihiku had lodged a protest against both the Desert Gold and tho Heather that they had sculled out of a calm patch. Additional colour was lent to these by the fact that the ceremony of presenting the cup, which had been fiicd for 8.30 p.m., was deferred. It appeared later, however, that this was due to tho fact that the executive controlling the contest had to determine the appeal lodged by Mr. McCulloch against the dismissal of bis protest with reference to tho alleged crossing of the half-tido wall by MuriJiiku ill Saturday's race.

At about 10.30 p.m. tho executive announced that tho appeal could not bo entertained. It alto felt it necessary to maka tho statement that no protest had been lodged in respect to the race yesterday afternoon. Theso decisions were mado known at, a largo gathering of yachtsmen and others held in the Town Hall, at 10.45 p.m., for the purpose of hearing the formal announcement of the result, and witnessing the'eercmony of presenting tho cup. Tho Mayor, Mr. J. 6. Douglas, presided, and visiting fjid local officials, together with *ho crews of 4lie various competing boats, occupied the seats round the council table. The Mayor opened the proceedings by calling on Mr. A. C. Hanlon, commodore of the Otago Yacht and Motor-boat Club, to make the formal announcement of the result. Mr. Hanlon .-tated that at 9 p.m. a meeting of the executive of the cup contest had been held to consider the ouestion of Mr. Mcculloch's appeal against the decision of the judges in reference to the allegation that the Murihiku had crossed the half tide wall in the course of Saturday's race. The executive had come to the de- ■ ision that it had no power to entertain ihe appeal. As there was no question t of interpretation involved in the dispute no right of appeal existed. Continuing. Mr. Hanlon said it would :-eem that the only appeal could be as to interpretation of a rule, whereas this was a pure question of fact. The point at i>sue was whether Murihiku crossed the wall, or whether she did not. The judges h-'ard the evidence of fhe crews and also independent evidence, and decided that there was insufficient evidence to show that the boat went over the wall, and they therefore dismissed tho protest. Having done so on the ground of the fact of insufficiency of evidence, the executive had now held that the appeal could not 'ie. As regards that afternoon's race 'hose present had heard the executive's minute read, (Loud applause.)

" Clean, Hard Fight."

The Mavor congratulated the Auckland- Yacht and Motor-boat Club on the fact that it had won, and at the same time he commented on the very slight difference between the competing boats. It had been a clean, hard fight, and tho Ancklanders had captured the valuable trophy. The Linnet (Canterbury) had put up a remarkable performance all through the contests, and with the Southland and boats had made matters very interesting. There might have been an element of luck in some of the races, but luck was part and parcel of every sport. On behalf of the Otapo and other losing clubs he wished Auckland yachtsmen the best of luck over their win, and assured them that all the present competitors would go to Auckland next year in pursuit of the trophy. He had much pleasure jn handing over the cup to Mr. J. B. Johnston, commodore of the Auckland Yacht Club. (Loud applause.) Mr. Johnston said he was not going to disguise the fact that they were proud of Uieir win. He supposed they were due to win the cup seeing they had travelled t.he preatest distance in an attempt to [jet it. He did not say for a moment that Desert Gold was the best boat. The " hard luck " boat of the contests had been the Linnet, which should have been in the finals.

"So far as we were concerned," continued the speaker, " we missed the wind yesterday, but we caught it and I am pleased that we caught it at the right time." In conclusion he paid a tribute to tho hospitality of the people of Dunedin, and said that if Auckland could do as well next year the success of these contests was assured.

Otago lo Try Again. Mr. Hanlon. on behalf of the Otago Yachting Club, said he echoed ever)', word which the Mayor had said in presenting the trophy. Last year Otago had defeated Auckland in the Cup contest in its own waters, and now Auckland had returned the compliment. (Laughter.) But he could assure them that Otago would go forward again, if not with the boats it had got, then witli son® more boatsContinuing, Mr. Hanlon said he had also received a letter from the Governor-Gen-eral expressing his disappointment at not being able to visit Dunedin to meet all the yachtsmen and to sail his own boat! Mr. Hanlon expressed tjie deep sense of gratification which they all felt at the interest displayed by Lord Jellicoe in these contests,

" Should Be Fair Play."

Mr. McCulloch, who was received with applause, said ho deseed to congratulate Auckland on winning the Cup. "At the same time," continued Mr. McCulloch, "I do not consider that we got a fair go. I wm told in Auckland that I would never have the pleasure of managing a boat again, but I won the races here and did .sail the boat again. Our own representatives were up against me. I know that. Tbev and others know it, too. I am pleaied that the Desert Gold won the Cup, and I am pleased to have been associated with her crew and the crews of the

other boats, all of whom w;re real good sports. They all came here to win the Cup and thev sailed good races. The protest which 1 lodgid was not fully considered. I may be speaking rather straight but that is what 1 think about it. It was done, however, and they got away with it. I wish Auckland success and hope the future contests will be as keen Anyone can win a race," added the speaker, " but there should be fair play.' Mr. E. J. Kelly (Auckland), one of the judges, said he was surprised at what Mr. McCulloch lia<) said. Tho evidence in regard to his protest had been taken fully, not only from the crew of the Heather but from tho crow of the Murihiku, Captain Duncan (the chief pilot), and also from two outsiders. Even then tho judges did not give their decision but went to see the place for themselves on the following day. He did not think Mr. -McCulloch would have protested had ho not believed he had good grounds for doing M), hut be should now accept the verdict of the executive.

The Mayor Interposes, At this (tape the Mayor rose and deprecated the introduction of anv further controversial matter. 1 hey werft satisfied in ptago, he said, that the race had been iairly won. Mr. Kelly added that the judges, including the Otajjo representative, were unanimous m dismissing the protest, nf'tu f t^, en P rcHent ed a miniature (Lllli i c *P tain of the Des "t 'of tlTcre? 6 me<Sa ' S t0 the memWs Mr Johnston, j n re p| v congratulated the city on behalf of tho visitor .on the C'td'T •!•»!■ the yachtsmen of Ml *• Jit "