SPORTING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1155, 17 January 1874, Page 9

SPORTING NOTES.

Mr Tom FAnson, the trainer, of Middleham (son of Mr William I'Anson, of Malton, the well-known breeder of Ulink Bonny, Blair Athol, Caller Ou, &c), expired rather suddenly on October 11th. I'Anson had caught cold in following his avocation, and this brought on au illness which terminated fatally in a few hours.

On October 25th a young man named Poplin, who styles himself the "Champion Prize Clog Walker of the World," performed at Radcliffe the extraordinary feat of walking 50 miles in ten hours. He walked in clogs weighing 31b., and carried 151b. on his back during the last five miles He completed his task considerably within the required time.

The death ia announced of William Sayers, father of the late pugilistic champion, Tom Sayers. The old man, who had reached 82 years, was a shoemaker by trade, and lived in Bread street, Brighton, where Tom was born. It is related that the father made an early recognition of his son's talent for "the ring," and took considerable pains to develope it in contests with the urchins of the not too peaceful neighbourhood.

The Bicycle Tournament at Tufnell Park, London, hardly fulfilled the expectations formed of it, only five mailed knights, one of whom rejoiced in the classic name of Trimmings, coming forth to tilt at the ring on their iron steeds. There was, however, some first-class bicycle racing, the champion race of ten miles being won by D. Stan ton, the favourite, who only defeated his opponent, J. Stasson, by two yards. The first five miles were covered in 19 mm. 45 sec, a time which shows that these iron horses can go a rattling pace when they have good riders.

Mr Reginald Herbert recently accomplished the task of rowing from Maidenhead Bridge to Westminster Bridge within twelve hours, for £1000 a-side. He started at thirteen minutes to six in a new gig built by Messenger, the umpire, Mr Beaumont, M.P., following in a steam launch. He breakfasted on board the umpire's boat, occupying three-quarters of an hour, and dined and took a bath at Teddington, occupying an hour and a quarter, having the race well in hand. He reached Westminster at thirteen minutes to four, having accomplished the distance, over 40 miles, in ton hours exactly. He was loudly cheered by a large crowd.

A great golfing match for £50 a side, between Willie Park, of Musselburgh, and Davie Strath, of Sfc Andrews, was played on North Berwick Links on September sth and 6th. The conditions were six rounds or 54 holes. At the end of the first day Strath stood three holes ahead, and on the following day he was declared the winner of the match by six holes. The play is said, on the whole, to have been good. Strath's driving was superior to that of his opponent, who, however, played a splendid short game. Strath's best round was 3G, under which score the round was never taken at. At the conclusion of the match, an interesting foursome was julayed between the two Morrises aud Park and Strath. There was a capital display of golfing skill throughout the game, which terminated in fay cur of Park and Strath by two holes.

The Stud Company held their first annual meeting on the 20th September at the Farm, at Cobham in Surrey. After a capital luncheon at the cottage of Mr Bell, the manager, the business of the day commenced, Sir C. Legard taking the chair. The chairman said that this company was formed on the death of the late Mr Bleukiron. It at once met with great support. At the time of the great sale of Mr Blenkiron's stud, so large an amount had been subscribed that it was determined to seizo an opportunity which would probably never occur again, to secure all that was possible of the best blood in Europe. The result had been that the company announces a dividend of 10 per cent. Tne remaining proceedings were equally satisfactory.

The writer of Athletic Notes in Land and Water says: — "Those two mighty men Donald Dinnie and James Fleming have been astonishing the weak minds of the inhabitants of Leeds by their feats of strength and activity. The former put a 161b. shot 45ft. Bin., and threw a hammer of similar weight ]22ft. 6in. These, although not by any means the champion's best performances, would a few years ago have struck the boldest amateur with terror and astonishment. Since that time, however, great strides have been made in this department of sport by gentlemen, and the Royal Engineers could send out a man who would be no contemptible antagonist with the stone, while Okford University possesses an operator with the hammer who would make even Donald Dinnie exert himself. Tossing the caber has never been introduced into the Bouthorn counties, nor is it likely ever to be popular, as these feats

of strength de not; 'afford the excitement which is required to amuse an ordinary crowd of spectators, who usually vote everything, except racing, blow, and hardly even now submit with patience to the infliction of a protracted contest at ■weight-putting or long- jumping."

Land and Water makes the following remarks about a dog fight at New York : — " Judging from the publicity given to an exhibition of this description lately held at New York, it would appear that certain of our Transatlantic cousins are cultivating a taste for this brutalising pastime. It seems that two well-known dogs, called respectively Scalper and Brandy, were matched to fight for 1000 ! dollars, and such was the interest excited that other bets, amounting to 3000 or 4000 dollars, were depending on the result. Long prices were paid for seats, and the New York Herald evidently considered the matter of considerable public importance, as one of its columns was devoted to a detailed description of the fight, ia which we are told Scalper, after twenty-eight minutes'hard struggling, managed with his sharp teeth "to grind the life out of the old veteran." The sufferings of the beaten animal are facetiously described, and its " weak and plaintive cries " seem to have whetted the appetites of the spectators for a further exhibition of cruelty, to satisfy which the victorious dog was separated from the other in order that he might the better make the last onslaught on his exhausted and mutilated victim, whose life only would satisfy the crowd. Hundreds witnessed this disgraceful spectacle, but were not once molested, as we are told the po- j lice " were not aroused."

The writer of an article on " Sport in Japan," in a home paper, gives the following description of native wrestlers :— " I thought it was a curious sight on that hot summer day. There was the blazing sun overhead, whose rays were tempered by the mats spread over the inclosure ; underneath there was a dusky excited swarm, while there stood on the wrestling pedestal, the cynosure of all eyes, a pale, cold, white figure. He did not have to wait long. A tall powerful Japanese was ' put up,' and there was a second's hesitation while the two men — types of their race — fronted each other ; the one dark, almost copper-coloured, with swelling muscles and fat stomach ; the other five feet eight and twelve stone, skinnylooking, but as hard as marble, liight well that day did the plucky Scotchman (for Scotchman he was) struggle for the honour of the land that sent him forth. Three men were sent against him, one after the other, and the total result, if I remember right, was two to one in favour of the foreigner. The match was an uneven one, inasmuch as the stranger was not thoroughly up in the laws of Japanese wrestling, and several points were lost through ignorance, the match being ultimately finished by the foreigner spraiuing one of his toes. "

A correspondent of the Field vrites from Rome as follows: — "A hand at whist in actual play the other night is a strong corroboration of the old story, that 11,000 paupers are now wandering .ibout the Continent because they woul'l not lead a trump with five trumps in their hand, one being an honour. The result of the hand was losing two by cards, instead of probably winning three o; four by cards. Hearts were trumps. A was first loader. AB. were partners against MN\ The hands were — A's hand Ace, queen, ten, and two small trumps ; Inave, ton of spades; one small club ; king, queen, ten, nine, and another diamond. M.'shand: Three small trumps ; a;e, and five other spades ; ten of clubs ; ate, and two small diamonds. B.'shand: JKingi of trumps; king and one spade ; knave, nine, and two small clubs ; king, knave,, and four otho: diamonds. JS.'s hand : Knave, nhe, two) other trump 3 ; queen, two other jpades ; ace, queen, four other clubs. Trick 1. — A. led knave of spades, M. puton ace ; MN". won the trick. Trick 2. — H. led a small diamond, N. trumped ; MN". won. N. then led ace of clubs and a small club ; MN". win, and have a cros3 ruff. At trick 7, N. leads the best club, and A. discards the spade. N. 'b next club A. riffs with queen, and leads ace. Eventually the knave in N.s hand makes. New, if A. had led a trump originally, it isj difficult to say how the hand would hafe gone ; but B. would lead diamonds, ( and N. would show hia suit by iiis distard. If then M. leads a strengthening cllb (as he ought) and N. finesses, AB. nay make four by cards. J

A distinguished officer was litely president of a court-martial. He had sworn a witness, a raw Irish recruit, and hjld out his hand for the Bible. Judge of hk astonishment at finding it — the hand, not the book — grasped and heartily shaken by 1 Pat, who in the very broadest brogue said, ("It's meself who is proud and pleased to hould tbe hand of ye, sir ; and may St. Pitrick and all the saints of ould Ireland bless yer honour 2"