MELBOURNE SPORTING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1672, 8 December 1883, Page 21

MELBOURNE SPORTING NOTES.

(By our Special Turf Correspondent, " Warrior.")

Tuesday, November 27. For the last three days the chief topic of conversation among betting men has been the match between Michael Rush and the exchampion (Edward Trickett), which takes place on the Paramatta River, N.S.W., on Saturday next, for £200 a side. At the clossfi of the Melbourne Cup meeting I paid a visit to Sydney, in which city I remained until called upon to report the Wagga Wagga race meeting. During my stay in Sydney I witnessed the final heat for the Krug Champagne Trophy, won by by Mr Fittes, the Victorian representative. I have seen some first-class sculling matches, but this one waa a very hollow affair. Mr George Brett, the Sydney amateur oarsman, had performed on the Lower Yarra during the carnival week very meritoriously, beating Tom Woods, the Footscray don, very easily, and in consequence New South Wales fancied Brett very much, and lost their good sugar, Fittes rowing home the easiest of winners, the plucky Sharlaud, the Tasmanian, rowing thiid. This being the second time Mr A. W. Fittes has won the much-coveted prize, the trophy becomes his property. In the evening, having a few spare hours to myself, I called in to see Messrs Laycock, Trickett, Punch, Hunt, Larry Foley, and George Donnelly. These gentlemen, I may say, represent rowing, fighting, and horseracing. Ned Trickett was standing behind his bar serving " cocktails " and a lemonade straight when I was signalised. He was very glad to see me, we baiug friends of seven years' standing. I don't think he ever looked better or in such good sculliug condition before. " Well," said I, " what are you going to do with Rush?" He replied, "I am going to serve him as I did Laycock in the champion ship on the 29th of Auguat 1879 — beat him easily." Trickett informed me that it his condition would only stick to him he wouldn't be afraid to row Hanlan again. Whether Ned was indulging too much in Colonial blow, next Saturday and the following Saturday will show. At all events I left him with my best wishes, and took my departure for Woolloomooloo. — [Our cablegrams show that Trickett won the match.— Ep. O. W ] Laycock had quite recovered his strength, but his leg was scarcely strong enough to bear much weight on it. Since the accident he must have gained fully two stone, and to anyone who didn't know him, he would appear more like a sheepshearer than the champion oarsman of Australasia. Elias said he felt certain that the unfortunate accident would not in the least interfere with his prospects against Hanlan ; hi fact, he believed his leg would be much stronger if anything. I asked him, in the event of the Canadian hero not accepting the propo a als made to him, what was he preparad to do. He informed me in a few sentences :—": — " If Hanlan won't come to Sydney, ['11 issue a challenge ts the best man in Australia ; and if I thrash my opponent to the satisfaction of my friends, accept similar terms from Hanlan that have been offered to him, and row for the championship of the world on the Thames." \ He ridiculed the idea of Ned Trickett attempting another defeat at the hands of the American. Elias assured me that he would bo able to go into practice about Christmas time, six weeks from which time he was prepared to meet either Rush, Beach, Trickett, or M'Donald. For my part I prefer Elias Laycock, caretaker of Shaik Island, to Elias Laycock, publican. Trickett in his best days was a quarryman, but as soon as he took to publio-house-koeping he fell off wonderfully, and has never been the man since. The same may happen to the champion of Australian waters. Larry Foley has again promised his betterhalf that he won't indulge in fighting any more. Larry won't give in that Miller knocked him out of time in science, and cays that he wouldn't be afraid to meet him next morning. I would advise Foley, who is a very quiet man, to put the shutters up, stick to his pupils and public-house, and leave the fighting to other aspirants to the ring. When I went into George Donnelly's place I wa3 all at home, for I was then in the company of one of the best jockeys that ever had amount at Randwick. Many a time has he ridden Sydney Tim Whiffler to victory in days gone by. George congratulated me on tipping Martini-Henry and Sardius in the Witness, but blamed me for not going for the former for the double. This is all very well, but who would have thought of a three-yi;ar-old carrying 7st nib to victory. Donnelly han a few hoi>es in training. From the conversation I had with him he believes that Mr Smart has in Warwick a much better colt than Archie, and that in the son of Maribryuong Mr White's colt will have a thorn. Of the present two-year- olds he believes the A. J. C. and V.R. C. Derbies of 1884, will be won by either The Bohemian, Garfield, David L or one of Mr White's. The nttxt nrtwninfc I

was on the Randwick training-ground shortly after daylight, but very little work was done. Fennelly had several two-year-olds out for an airing, and Martini-Henry looked none the worse for his trip from Melbourne. The lawn and stand, and the course in general have undergone extpnsive improvements since I was there last ; ani with the exception of Hobarfc, I look up -n Randwick course as the prettiest I have ever visited. The following evening any of ray readers, if they had been in King street, would have seen " Warrior " rushing away to Red f earn to catch th > Sydney and Melbourne train — your correspondent, with about 100 others, being bo^nd for Wagga Wagga to be present at the