CANTERBURY LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 24

CANTERBURY LETTER.

(By Our Special Sporting Correspondent St. George.)

Chhistchuhch, January 11

Mr O'Brien's sale of Peter O&beck to Mr A. I,'- „-i U r £200 would seom to indicate that he has lost confidence in the jumping ability of the grey. Peter was pulling very hard when he came to grief on New Year's Day, and I thought that was the cause of his falling. He came in without showing lameness, but I heard since that he knecked his hind legs about a 'good bit, and this also may have cheapened him. O'Brien valued him at nearly double the above prica not many weeks ago. There i« an almost unprecedented scarcity of good jumpers here at present, and especially of cross-country horses. While mentioning jumpers I may remark that Master Agnes, who is invariably described as a gelding, is not such. The statement that he was •• added to the list " after going into Sheenan^s hands was iucorrect.

The programme of the Champion Trotting meeting, projected by the Lower Heathcote Racing Club, is published. ' The champion event is a three-mile Saddle Trot, of £75 for the winner, £30 for second, and £20 for third horses, and £10 each for winners of heats not placed in the final. Twenty-five or 30 acceptors ara expected, which are to be divided into heats of five or six each, the winners of which will contend in the final heat.

So little betting has been done that I defer any detailed quotations of the Dunedin Cap and Wellington Cup betting until to-night, when the, bookmakers who have been to Auckland will have returned, and business maybe more important.

CRICKET.

The Cup matches were resumed dn Saturday, when tho United met Lancaster Park at Hngley Park, and Midland played Addington on the iatter's section •of tho Park. The first-named eleven, in each instance, has at present the best of the game, United having 129 for their first inninfre against the Park's 63 for 5 wickets; aud Midland first innings 163, against Addington 69 for 7 wickets. The United's innings was principally noteworthy for the first appearance of Tais in, a senior eleven,.and a creditable beginning n'e m£de, scoring 1T» in g&rd style/and

doing well in the field afterwards. ~W.~ Cotterill Was highest scorer with 37; his brother E. coming next with 20, both batting very nicely. Lancaster Park wont in tail first, so they may' finish better' than they began. Wilding, Dunlop, Crawshaw, and-Tay-lor are the men yet to go in. For the Midland Garrard Kcored 34 (not out) very correctly", and Buchanan, who is once more a tower of strength to his flub, put on 31 in his old form. Ashby was lucky to get 26, and tha other members of this strong eleven were in rather irregular form. Barnes only scored 1, but got five of the Addington wickets for 23 runs. I was pleased to see a good many spectators at these matches, bs it is a great incitement to players to practice in order to appear fit their' best when' their sisters and their cousins and their aunts come to look on at the matches. The Junior Cap matches are to be resumed next Saturday*

AQUATIC.

A yacht race in Lytttlton Harbour was the only attraction last Saturday. It was a handicap confined to yachts which had not been at scratch in any previous handicap, . and was won by! the Go wan, the Neva second, only 41secs behind. These yachts score four points and two respectively towards a total of points required j for the possession ,of a trophy. The various rowing clubs are busy preparing crews for the Interprovincial Amateur Regatta, which is to be held on Lake Forsyth on February 18, and which is expected to be the most successful regatta ever held in New Zealand. .The prize money amounts to £113, besides numerous cup and other prizes. Mr G. F. Wright, Christchurch, is honorary secretary, and will be glad to give all information to any intending competitors from Otago or Southland.

ATHLETICS.

Some curiosity has been evinced here as to the identity of " Scott, Christchurcb," who won the Wellington Caledonian Society's Grand Handicap last week. No ped. of that name is known here.

BOWLING.

The only match last Saturday was the Christcburch Club's annual content between English and Scottish. The latter won very easily, their scores being 21—12, 21—7, 20—21, 21—17. Total— Scottish 83, English 57. The selection of rinks for the Association tournament is pro* ceeding satisfactorily.

LATEST RACING.

Tuesday Evening The betting here on the Dunedin Cup is &* follows : — 100 to U agsfe Nekou 100 — 12 Spaae Guinea and Lochiel l»0 — 10 Disowned 100—8 Fair Nell 100 — 7 Artillery and Lady Norah 100 •• 6 Taaman, Malignt-r, Hermitage, Jtepo, Torrent, and Apropos 100-5 Eubina, Pasha, Titbit, Patrician, Derwenter, St. Ivea, and La Rose 100— X Derringer, Leon, Quibble, and Puck 100—3 Fusillade, Turquoise, Tetford, July, Moann, Huby, Wildrake, and Be e3ford 100 — 2 Thunderbolt, Cinderella, Oremorne, Bverton Lad, Knicker- ' bocknr Sam, &nd Babezahi 100 — 1 the others. Island Bay Cup. 100 to 20 agat Waitiri and Spade Guinea 100 15 Titbit 100 — 10 to 100 to 1 the otliers. Wellington Cup. 400 to 25 agsfc Administrator and Artillery 100 -20 Fasha . . 100 — 16 Lady Norah «nd Spade Guinea 100 — 10 to 100 to 1 the others.

Excepting Derwenter, nothing ia booked for any considerable amount for the Dunedin Cup, although a fair business is doing in email wagers. Only the horses named above have been backed for the Wellington events. We call the attention of owners of trotting horses and ponies to the programme of the Lower Heathcote Racing Club's champion trotting meeting, which appears in the advertising columns of this week's Witness. It will be seen that the conditions are such as to give competitors every scope for the display of their power, and it is expected that this will prove the most important trotting event ever brought to an issue in New Zealand.