SPORTING AND SPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12395, 3 July 1902, Page 6

SPORTING AND SPORTS.

. .TURF TOPICS. Br " Deadbeat." Tor some time past a number of gentlem:n- who take an active interest in racing, and who are well and favourably known in the- sporting world, have been discussing tho wavn and means of establishing a. club with the .object of holding meetings ( on tho Forbury Park/racecourse. A number of .meetings have been held, and the outcome of these was that tho Forbury Park Land Company wore' approached as to terms. The result of these negotiations has led to the establishment of a club which is to be called tho Forbury Park Placing Club. The moving spirit? in the newly-formed club are several influential gentlemen. both in the racing and commercial world, and the Hon. H. Gourley has occupied the chair at tho preliminary meetings. It is highly probable that this gentleman will bo found occupying tho position of president to the club. All tho preliminaries for the registration of the club by the Racing Conference have been put in motion, ■ and at a'special meeting of tho Diincdin .Jockey Club, which is to lie hold at an early date, it is understood that the application for registration will be favourably considered. Tho application for registration has been signed by men whose namc3 are a sufficient giia; - antco that tho club will not- perish for want of enterprise, and the rcting secretaryship 0 [ (he club is iu the hand.? of Mr K. I*. who has) boon conducting tho negotiations with tho Land Company and otherwise acting on behalf of tho club. Tho membership subscription has been fixed at £2 2s, and applications for membership arc to be made to tho acting-secretary's address at tho Colonial Bank Buildings, Water" street. ' The Canterbury Jockey Club's weightadjuster anticipated tho dato on which the handicap for tho Now Zealand Cup of 1902 was to be "published by sending ()U t ] 1K a j) ot . inonts 24 hours before the advertised time In compiling this handicap, Mr J. Henrys allows himself a margin of three stone and two pounds in his; endeavour to satisfy tho owners of the 66 horses nominated for the race. OF the. number handicapped, three horse.i are. given over 9st; the samo number constitute the Sst division; 15 are contained in tho 7st division, and no less than ™ i" "iider 7st. and furnish the 6st division. Of these latter lot, 19 get iri with the lowest weight allowed by the Rules of Racing. When one glances at the large number of torsos weighted under 7st, they look as if they must bo a bad lot, and tho only reason some of them were nominated was because their owners liked to see their horses in the race. There may bo somo embryo Carbines amongst them, but their public form does not say so; but perhaps their owners and trainer? think they are suro to improve with age. At present I like the following in the handicap:—Cruciform, Nonefto, TortulJa, Pampero, Glenaladalf.* Achilles, Porirua, C,uite?n. MoUyood, Bcddingfon, Duiidns, Lady Lilliah. Fakir. Vladimir, Sicgo Gun, Exmoor, and Gbeorka. -To take a dozen of .those handieapned, I hke the following horses ill their, order:-Cruciform, Nenette. Torlulla, Glenaladale, Pampero, Achilles, Porirua, Canteen, T/ady Lillian, Bcddington, Dundas; and Melwood. GYMNASTICS. Notes nr Parallels. The Dunedin Club dm not have very largo attendances last week, the bad weather and counter attractions no doubt keeping a numbor away. Two squads were- at work on both occasions. On Tuesday H,'. G. Siedeb-rg arid E. S. Wilson were tho leaders, and on Friday Captaiti Matthews and E. S. Wilson were in charge. Captain Matthews put the mothers through some now running evolutions on Tuesday, which, when properly done, should look exceedingly well. The first Bqiiad liaye been getting a number.of now exercises, ancl are to be seen practising these- a,fter the class work is over. Wares, Galloway, Henderson, aid Latham are all showing great improvement. H. Power is another enthusiast, and ho seems to onjoy his two nights every ' week 1 at 111<5 gym. Captain Matthews and H. G. iSiedcberg ,are showing great form, both doing long swing, hackways, forwardaways. hand and foot grinds, etc., with consummate ease. The High Street Club had a very fair muster oa Monday night, when two squads, under Captain Wilson and Depuiy-captain Morrison went through a good night's work... The captain is getting the first squad into i.form for the club's .concert, which takes place on the 17th - inst. This club will not have as strong a team as previously. If they only had Sid or V. Burton, or A. Johnston, they would not be so . badly off, .but these members are unable to r put in an appearance, Tho club had a very poor muster on Thursday night, but .nevertheless some good work was gone through'. ' f . The Valley Club had two good practiced last week, On (Monday evening the py'm : nasium was open to the public, when about p.O ladies and a few gentlemcti availed themselves of the opportunity of witnessing the members of this club at work. About 50 members present were formed into one • squad, and went through numerous exercises on the horse in excellent style. This item pleased the spectators immensely, and received, hearty applause. Exerciscs on' the parallel .bars were next- gone through. Tin first squad, i:oder Instructor Gibb, then formed several effective groups, and each member contributed a voluntary exercise. The class was then divided into three squads. The first squad, under W. A. Gibb,..went' through some good work on tho horizontal bar: tho second squad, under J. Griffiths, and the third squad, under. S. Whittaker, going through some first-.clas swork on- the parallels and rings. Tho evening's work concluded with Eome figure marching, which was well executed. During the evening tea and refreshments were handed round, arid ono and all went away well pleased with the exhibition Riven. Another "open" evening will be held in a month's time'. . On Friday night the squads were in charge of J, Griffiths, S. Whittaker, and 1 li. Thomson, and under tho supervision of Captain H. Thomson excellent work was gone through. The George Street .Club had two good practices last week, though on Tuesday night the cttc.idanco was very poor, only seven members putting in an appearance. However. Instructor Gibb put tho memberj present through a good night's work on tho horizontal bar and Roman rings. Tho squad being small, they were kept' going pretty, hard. On Thursday squads under Captain M'Dciiald and J. Robertson were hard at it, and some gootl work was gone through.. The return competition between tho George Street antl Valley Clubs vfill take place on July 7 in the .Jalley Gymnasium. If the George, Street bovs wish to turn the tables, they will have to attend ir.cr'e regularly and practise Very hard, a! the Valley team are in good form. The Mornington Oltib had two gcod practices during tho week,' when the members were put through some excellent work by Captaia Galloway and Deputy-captain ;Wares,. Great, improvement is noticeable ; ih tho members, and they are keen to learn •■the new exercises. Tli Union Street Club bad two good 1 practices last week. On Monday the squads wore iu charge of Captain Israel and Cliisholm. Good; work was gone through on the horizontal bar, parallel bars, horse, and , rings. On Thursday Instructor Siedeberg was presejit, and as only about 20 mem- ■ bcri attended, he took ■ them all in ono squad, and gave them a good night's work on the horse, rings and trapeze. The members are improving rapidly, and are tailing great interest in their work. I was pleased to note that the sunlights have been , ' raised, and notf- do not interfere with the ! rings.' ; The 1 Albany Street Ciub had very satisfactory attendances last Week, and ,somo excellent work was gone through. The run- ' ning evolutions were gone through in good style..''The squads during the week Were 1 in'charge of Deputy-captain. Hudson, W. Dey, and C. Gardener. Under their able ■ instruction tho membeis are showing great improvement. The Trinity Club had a good practice.'on Thursday evening, when Captain Aekroyd put the members through a pood night's ■ work. It is a pity' this club has not got : more up-to-date aoparatus. They should consider the advisability of holding a concert to raise funds for the purpose of equipping tho gymnasium on up-to-date i lines. The High Street Ladies' Club held an open night on Wednesday evening, when a largo number of spectators (including a ' number from the • Old Boys' Club) took advantage of tho opuortnnity of witnessing the ladies at work. The opening item was-the dumb-bell exercises, which wore goVio through in first-class stylo under the leadership of Miss Mowat. ' Six of the 1 ladies then wdnt through some advanced | exerciscs. This proved a verv pretty item, 1 end evoked a hearty round _of applause from the spectators. Exerciser, on the ; parallels, horse, ladder, and back-boards ' wore next gone through, the final item being 1 , marching exercises. which, were executed in fine style. . This club has a very able iui structrcs< iii Miss Mowat, and she is to be : commendod on tho high state of efliciency : j shown by the members. i __ From. the instructor of tho Valley-, Club mI • received the following 'Parallels' ' seems. to. bo under some delusion as i»i'

gads the North-East Valley and Mornington Clubs' challenge. In the first place, tho Valley did not challenge tho Mornington, as you stated in last week's notes, but the Mornington challenged the Valley. Again, you say tho conditions are onesided. You would not. say that, I think, if you knew that the Mornington challenged tho Valley. In that caso the Valley have every right to make the conditions. I think the conditions are very fair. Tho exercise! proposed are as follows:—Five exercises on the short horse (class movements), sis exercises on the long horse, parallel bars, one set exercise and ono voluntary, Roman rings, two spt exerciscs (slow), ladder, forward and backward march, horizontal liar, one set' exorcise and one voluntary (swinging; timo allowance, two minutes), ropos (up once and down slow). The Valley Club also 4 suggested that ?ac'u team consist of six men, and that the competition bo held in the Valley Gymnasium, and that Mr W. A. Gibb should act as ono of tho \ judges, the Mornington Club securing their own; also that tho exercises bo set by Mr W. A. Gibb, and that they have a return competition in the Mornington Gymnasium, when the Morningtoti captain could set tho exercises." Tiiis is t'ne position of affaire as stated by the instructor of the Valley Club, so if there is anything stated here which the Mornington Club think incorrect, I will put their statement in next week's ootas. These competitions are to be encouraged, as they create a great deal of interest in the various clubi. I would suggest that the clubs consult each other in rogard to the exerciscs set, and ask the association to appoint a iudge, or else leave it to the association to arrange the exercises. I am sure the association would bo only too glad to assist in 'this way. This arrangement would prove much more satisfactory to both sides I would very much like to see this'competition arranged, and hope <iext week to bo able to repor; that matters in connection therewith have been nettled. With regard to the exercises proposed, more exercises should be net on the, horizontal- and parallel bars, and lena on the horse.