Latest Canterbury News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 838, 23 March 1888, Page 13

Latest Canterbury News.

(By Fossicker.) Christchurch, March 19.

I journeyed to Culverdenon Friday last to assist at the Amuri Turf Club’s popular little meeting ; but when I say that all those who went out to the course got a thorough drenching, it can well be imagined that things were not very enjoyable. It rained hard th 6 whole day, and the excursionists from Christchurch did not have a very rosy time of it. After arrival at Culverden, a very welcome and good lunch at Thos. Cooper’s, of the Culverden Hotel, was partaken of, after which a move was made to the course, where there is no shelter from wind or rain. Details of the racing would not be very interesting to your readers, but I might -mention that Mr Lance’s Premier followed up his victories the previous Friday at Huruuui, by appropriating the Amuri Cup Handicap of 30 sovs., two miles, and the High-weight Handicap of 15 sovs., one mile and a half, in both instances being piloted by his owner. Playboy beat three others in the Hurdle Race of 20 sovjl, about a mile and a half, and Mr Lance’s Archduke, by Kins of Clubs—Marie Theresa, list 21bs (Kingan), got home in front of Securus, Forward, Playboy and Patch, in the Culverden Plate of 20 sovs., one mile and a half. Monday being St. Patrick’s Day was largely taken advantage of by Canterbury racing clubs, the most important of which, however, was the lower Heathcote Racing Club’s Meeting. Fine weather after rain put the course in good order, but the attendance was only moderate, the public evidently tiring of the frequent meetings at Heathcote. £1694 were put through the totalisator. Derrett met with a nasty accident in the last race of the day—the Hack Race. After riding a grand race and getting his mount (Briarleaf) home by a neck by splendid riding, the mare fell and rolled over Derrett, who, when he recovered consciousness, was found to have a dislocated shoulder. He was attended to by Dr. Prins and taken home, and from latest accounts I hear he is progressing favorably. The racing was started with the Handicap Hurdle Race, of 45 sovs., one mile and threequarters, and Mammoc, by Perkin Warbeck—Ruby, aged, 9st 121 b (Stewart), got home 'la neck in front of Golden Butterfly and Rocket in 3min 39secs, paying a dividend of £2 6s. The Maiden Plate, of 20 sovs., w.f.a., one mile, fell to Raven, by Fleur de Lys, 4 years, Sat lllb (Moore), beating Briarleaf (Derrett), Allana, Manilla, and Equity. Time, lmin 53secs. Dividend, £2 3s. Wanda beat nine others in the Saddle Trot of 45 sovs., three miles, in 9min 4sec3. Dividend £4 Us. The principal event St, Patrick’s Handicap of 60 sovs., about one mile and a quarter —saw six come to the post. Hermitage was installed favorite in the machine, winning easily at the finish, the placed horses being as follows :—Messrs

M. and C. Hobbs’ b-h Hermitage, by Cado- [ gan—Macsiccar, syrs, Sst 91b (Matthews), 1; Mr G. Clement’s b g Noimaaby, aged, 6sfc , 101 b (Cusdin), 2 ; Mr P. Hanrahan’a b m ’ Lavender, 6yrs, 7st 21b (Clever) 3. Mr A. A. Emery’s b h Chantilly, 4yrs, Sst 51b (carried Sst 91b) (Evans) ; Mr S. Higgott’s ch h Patrician, syrs, 7st 13<b (Derrett); Mr E. H. Ilankin’s b g Alpine Rose, syrs, Gst 121 b (carried 7st (Holmes), also ran. Hermitage closed on the leaders in the straight and came home on the outside an easy winner by a length. Time, 2min 19sec. Dividend, £1 14s 6d. The Novel Handicap Trot in Saddle, of 25 sovs., two miles, was won by Jess (40aec), beating thirteen others. Time, 6min 16secs.' Dividend, £5 14s. Veto won the Pony or Galloway Race of 20 sovs, once round and a distance, four others being behind him. Time, lmin 40secs. Dividend, £1 11s. Red Ensign, by St. George —Red Rose, 7st 131 b (McGrath) put down Eringobragh, Sst 121 b, Tornado, Sst 31b, Sensation, 7st 21b, The Mikado, 7st, and Opera, Cat lib, in the Flying Handicap of 35 sovs., about five furlongs. Time, lmin 64secs. Dividend, £2 10b 6d. Raven went out a hot favorite for the Hack Race of 10 sovs., about one mile, but his only opponent, Briarleaf (on whom Derrett had the mount) pulled through by a neck owing to the splendid horsemanship of Derrett, and paid a dividend of £2 13s 6d.It was in this event that the accident above referred to occurred. The stewards, after deliberation (though Derrett of course was unable to weigh in), decided to award the stake to Briarleaf’s owner and the totalisator money to her backers. The decision was a popular one. Dudu’s nomination has not been accepted for the New Zealand Cup, owing to her nominator being on the list of defaulters at Tattersall’s.

There was a small meeting at Waimate (South Canterbury), on Monday, but nothing of consequence competed. There is no betting on the Autumn Handicap worth recording. CRICKET. The Senior Cup matches at Lancaster Park were brought to a conclusion on Saturday last, when the Park-eleven beat their No. 2 fifteen by 6 wickets, and Addington fifteen beat Lancaster Park No. 1 fifteen by 10 wickets. The scoring all round was very low, the rain of the previous day having made the wickets dead,' and Crawshaw, with 22 not out, was the largest scorer in either game.—'The Senior Cup matches in progress at Hagley Park were also to have been continued, but for some reason several ‘ knights of the willow ’ failed to put in an appearance, the rougher and more excitable game of football presumably bolding out greater inducements to them, consequently the games have been abandoned. The Senior Cup has been won this year by the Lancaster Park eleven, who have an unbeaten record. They have not won the Cup since the first season of its institution—lßß2-83. They worked hard for their success, as, besides practising hard, they have spent their money freely in getting Fowke, Frith and Cooper to play for them. FOOTBALL. Several' of the town clubs had practice matches on Saturday last, but the form shown was for the most part very moderate. It is rather early as yet to judge the strength of the clubs, but unless the East Christchurch show a lot of improvement I fancy they will have to resign the position as champions during the coming season. The Christchuroh Club appear to be fairly strong on paper, while North Canterbury and.Merivale should also be well to the fore in the race for the premiership. I hear that there is a serious split in the Sydenham camp, and that probably Allardyce and Sutherland, two of their best players, will leave the club. We are promised an addition to the senior ranks by the amalgamation of the Canterbury College aud Normal School students’ clubs, and the new combination should be able to place a strong team in the field. 'WHEEL. The North Canterbury Bicycle Club held an afternoon race meeting on their splendid track (the best in New Zealand) at Rangiora on Satuiday afternoon. The attendance, which included some visiting wheelmen from Christchurch, was not large, but the racing was capital, though a Btiff breeze blew. W. J. S. Hayward, a very promising rider, belonging to the Christchurch 8.C., carried off the largest share of the spoil. He won the One Milo Bicycle, with a start of 40yds, easily from the crack, Wilmot (scratch) second, another champion, Bean (scratch) and six others. Time 2min 51 and 2-sths sec. This he followed up by appropriating the Three. Mile Handicap from the 150yds mark in 9min 16Jsec. Wilmot (scratch) was again a bad second. Bean (scratch) and four others started. - Hayward (400 yds) also took the final event—the Ten Mile Handicap —easing up aud beating Carl (800 yds) by a couple of feet, P. Keir (1760 yds) third, and four others ; Wilmot and Bean, from scratch, again being competitors, but clean out of it. Wilmot did not finish. Time, 31min 15 and 4-sths sec. B. U. Burlow won the Two and Three Mile Roadster Handicaps from scratch, and Wilmot (scratch) beat N. F. Ha’l (100 yds) second, Sean (scratch) third, and two others in the Five Mile Handicap. Time, 15min 40 and l-sth sec.