THE LATEST AQUATIC EVENT. MATTERSON V. KEMP, FOR £100 A-SIDE AND THE TENNYSON CUP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 24

THE LATEST AQUATIC EVENT. MATTERSON V. KEMP, FOR £100 A-SIDE AND THE TENNYSON CUP.

Many of my rowing friends may remember that when in England, sporting men were desirous of matching these men, but, nothing come of it till very recently when articles were' drawn up, and yesterday they met on the Parramatta river champion course. When Hanlan rowed Laycock on the Nepean river, Kemp and Matterson rowed for £lOOa-side, but the former was beaten in consequence of his catching the cramps.,. After coming back from England they appeared in a race at the Lake Bathurst regatta, when Kemp was again defeated, Then followed a wordy, and yesterday's boat race.

Mattersbn started a'firm favbtfrite at 2tol on him. \ At^half-past both cattgnt.the water together, Kemp rowing 40 strokes to the minute to Matterson's 38. The latter had a slight lead for 50 yards, when Kemp commenced td put power in his . boat, and gradually he worked np to his opponent, and pushing him hard, led by a length at Uhr'a Point, where the books turned,', 1 dog " on Matterson, and offers of "3to lon Kemp," rent the air. Time, lmin. 55sec. Crossing over to" Kissing Point; Kemp increased his lead' to '^wo lengths',* but nevertheless the favourite was plodding away, and before the Point was passed had decreased the distance. Kemp didn't like this, so he put on & spurt, and the beacon was left" behind iri 6miri 12sec, with a! leading of two lengths. At Putney, 1 the timekeeper announced 9min 45sec. A quarter of "a-mile on- the winning post side of Breakfast Point, Matterson collapsed, and Kemp went away, and at Oabarita Wharf, which was reached in 15§min, was 15 lengths ahead. Kemp passed One Mile Wharf in 21min 40sec, and the winning post in 22min 21^sec. Peter Kemp, who is 33. years of age, when in England with Beach, was badly beaten by Perkins and sßubear.s Bubear. .When pulling against the English 1 scullers he registered 12st 41b against list ljlb yesterday. He rowed in a boat built by Clasper. ,

GENERAL NOTES.

Not 'much work.doing'on theßandwick tracks, the weather haying been dreadfully bad of late. Mr White's contingent, under the able management of Mr' Payten, are looking admirably well, especially " Trident and Carlyon. The latter moves well, and 1 should grow into the makings of a fine ■ colt. Cranbrook is also on the improving side. Abercorn, I fancy, did rather too much work since he came out in the December Stakes, 'but if' eased off may turn out good. Aberdeen and Mr White's rising two-year-olds, with Plutarch, are also doing comfortably s well. Among the horse 6 training at Randwick at present, are some very fair performers and promising horses :— Aristocrat, First Chester, 'Frisco, Matador, 1 Yetman, Hexham, ' Cairo, Arsenal, Enfield, Pontifex, Volcano, Industry, Rosebud, ' Honeycomb, Phaon, Kingfish, and others* Pontifex, by The Pontiff from Kathleen, has joined Alsop's stable at Randwick, and Hexham has now a 'box at George Donnelly's. I hope that George will have more luck with the fullbrother to Morpeth than the Hon. James White had.

Most of my readers who resided in Australia 28 years ago, will be glad to hear that Johnny Higgerson,' who rode Veno in Zoe'fe Champion Race in 1860, is still alive. He has been very ill lately, but I'm glad to say convalescent again. Johnny belongs to the old school of jockeys. Not a better or more finished rider ever crossed a saddle. Silver Prince, the half-brother to MartiniHenry, came into the market for the Melbourne Cup last week, when it is reported on reliable authority that his stable accepted £10,000 to £500. The book who made this wager was prepared to go further and lay £20,000 to £1000. Mr Michael Fennelly has slightly improved since he visited Melbourne for the purpose of consulting Dr Fitzgerald. Homeowners in New Zealand should bear in mind that the first forfeit for the Melbourne Cup falls due on the Ist of August.

July 12.

Randwick training tracks were well patronised on Saturday morning, when fine weather was the order of the day. Carlyon and Aberdeen ran once round the inner track, the firstnamed pulling up very sore. Trident and Volcano negotiated two miles. The gelding in the last time round led the champion by a length for threequarters of a mile, when he threw up the sponge. Both horses galloped exceedingly well, more especially Trident, who appears to be a glutton at his work. After the two mile spin the son of Robinson Crusoe looked as fresh as when he started, and had Payten wished would have gone another turn. Trident has filled out splendidly, and his legs are as sound as a bell. Volcano improves with age, and his performance on Saturday was very satisfactory. Abercorn had scarcely any advantage over Cranbrook in a mile and a-quarter pipe-opener. 'Frisco, the winner of last Sydney Cup, in company with Aristocrat ran one mile the a-quarter in 2min 16sec, thegrey having all thebest of the black at the finish, which, considering the weight that was up, speaks volumes for Aristocrat, who I look upon as the best racehorse of his colour that has raced since the days of Saladin, and Savanaka. Monaghan's pair— Rosebud and Honeycomb — then acquitted themselves in a manner which pleased their trainer. Rosebud is by Mußket out ef Rosarina. Yetmaa had ihe best of Lancer and Home Ruleinabrushof a mile, and was followed by a twice round spin by Hexham, who appears to move pretty freely, covering the ground with a very easy stride. Phaon ran a brilliant mile and a-half. Cairo and Arsenal worked on the tan, and the Melbourne Cup winner of 3886 showed no signs of having been blistered, i ". i'<>, by the easy manner in which he covered 10 furlongs, proved that his "poor feet " are beginning to give him ease. Should Cairo's trainer but have the good fortune to bring the son of Goldborough fit to the post for any of the important handicaps that he has been entered for, hn will certainly prove another Arsenal. Mitrailleuse and Paladin covered three-quarters of a mile in good time. Notwithstanding the work that this mare has been undergoing since she arrived from New Zealand, she is looking and going wonderfully well. " First Chester negotiated the Hawkesbury Handicap distance 'alone, followed by old Willeroo. Blairgowrie moved pretty freely in a gallop of seven furlongs ; and" the rest of Mr Lamont's horses indulged in easy work. The Hon. James White and Messrs " Cooper and Roberts' rising two-year-olds filled up their time yith three-furlong spins. This wound up the gallops of Saturday, which were repeated this morning, with the addition of Mr Oxenham's contingent, of which I think Enfield to be the best: • "Warrior" paid a visit to the Hon. James White's stables yesterday, and interviewed Mr Fennelly in reference to the paragraph in the Australasian of this week touching his retirement from Kirkham stables. It is with feelings of regret that I have to report that Mr Fenuelly's life must be of short duration on account of the dreadful malady he is now suffering from — cancer in the stomach. Mr Michael Fennelly was known to many of my sporting readers as a man between 18st and 19st weight.

Woll he can scarcely now turn the scale at list. Ho informed me, that on the advice of the leading men in Australia, he has made up his mind to relinquish training and retire into private life for the rest of his days. I consider Mr Fennelly to have beenMr White's right-hand man from the first day that gentleman's Hotspur won him his first race. Had it not been for Fennelly Mr White would never have owned that brilliant three-year-old Nordeufeldt. I ana glad to say that Mr White's successful trainer will be able to retire with a good banking account.to his name. Mr, Pay ten, who has for some years been under Mir Fennelly, now takes charge of the Hon. James White's string of horses, and I wish him every success. Mr Lyons' racehorses— Too Soon, by Anteros frbm Steppe, and Queeiiic, by Anteros'from Tres

Deuce, arriveii from Auckland, by the steamship Tarawera, at, Sydney wharf in the, best of condition, and/were at once , taken to Camdin, where they will take up quarters at. N. Pay ten's stables. Soring Landey, who , served hisap. preuticeship 1 kt St. Albans, Geelong, bad charge of the horses during the passage over from New Zealand. , >

: Ike' Foulsham was' oa Bandwick training ground this f morning. Next /week he will dispose of his stables at Melbourne and take up his. abode here, Mr William Cooper baring purchased Allsop's stables at Rand wick for mm. • In future Trenton, Niagara, and the rest of dlr W. Cooper's horses will be schooled at Randwicfc. Mr A. Drake's horses— Spade Guinea, Pasha, Rocket, Teddy Yuflle, and. Vinaigrette-rshould arrive in Sydney from Christchurch to-morrow. Mr' A. Moss, who is over here in the capacity of manager to Mr Drake, has made arrangements with Mr Thomas Taylor, proprietor of the Race course Hotel,' Randwick, for their accommodation. My sporting readers may rely upon being coached up in the doings of Mr Drake's horses, as my residence adjoins Taylor's boxes, and I am about a good deal daring the day. Mr Moss, engaged the stables for three months, with the understanding that if they suited they would! remain 12 months. This looks as if Mr Drake intended running his horses in Australia instead of New Zealand.

Sydney Tattersall's have purchased a piece of property in Castlereagh street for £19,000, for the purpose of building* a clubrripm notwithstanding the publication of a letter in this week's Australasian, poition of which is as follows, I think the committee has acted wisely in purchasing the same : — " I need scarcely add that this statement took many by surprise ; in fact, in glancing round the room it soon became* patent that the proposition would be carried, nomatter what arguments might be adduced against the purchase. As the saying is, it was all cut and drted. If it had been as many thousands per foot as hundreds it would rot have made any difference to the bulk of those .present ; they were determined to -have it, and knowing they had a majority, carried it. ... Now, this club numbers nearly 500 members on its roll, yet on a vote of 50 (just one-tenth) a vote justifying the purchase of a property at £5000 more than its assessed value was ,carried. , , , . It was strange that this important matter was not discussed to a larger meeeting, which could have been convened during the week prior to the Steeplechase meeting. But it was quite evident that too many present was nob desirable; then again, no publicity whatever was given to it through the press. It is customary with us to advertise all our special and general meetings and state their object; bufe nothing of the sort was done in this case. And although perhaps double the attendance might not have altered the result, still tho aspeqfc generally has not been satisfactory. . ... I regret to say our club is getting a strong 1 Home Rule ' party in it, who have an idea they can rule. There is no doubt they combine considerable influence ; but it will be a sorry day for this institution, or in fact any when factions are omnipotent — A Mbbibbk." It's all very well for "A Member". to write such rot as above. The matter was never " out and dried." AH the members of Tattersall's Club were quite aware of what was going on. How could they get 500 members to roll up ? Amongst the 50 that were present were to be found some of the shrewdest; and best business men in the city, who know the value of property. "Was it at all likely that the owners of this property would dispose of it at Richardson and Wrench's value when they knew full well Tattersall's Club had for a long time past been after i£, I have much pleasure in commending the committee for purchasing such a suitable spot for a clubroom, and have no doubt, but when the building is finished, will be a useful ornament to the city.

Your friend the Hon. E. Mitchelson appears to have a run of bad luck in Australia, for news is to hand that the promising colt Garter King (brother to Escutcheon) met his death last week at Flemington. It appears that while cantering he was seen to falter, and an examination proved that ho had completely smashed a pastern, one of the ligaments also being severed. Considering the cost, 490gs as a yearling, and that he was engaged in the Maribyrnoiig Plate, V.R.C. Derby, and Caulfield Guineas, the loss should bo a great one to his owner.

, Chesham, and a number of Mr D. Cooper's horses, will be sold shortly by Mr T. S. Clibborn.

The Australian Jockey Club have published their programme for the Spring meeting, to b& held at Randwick on the 17th, 20th, 22nd, and 24th September. There are 24 events, and the added money is £5750. Wah, who was one of those tipped to win tho last Queen's Birthday Stakes, by " Beacon " of the Sydney Globe, has changed hands from Mr Carroll to Mr Brown, who beca>r c the purchaser at 500gs. Wah only 12 months ago was sold for £100. This horse is a regular clinktr, and can beat the best of them over six furlongs of ground.