ATHLETICS, &c.

Otago Witness, Issue 1894, 9 March 1888, Page 25

ATHLETICS, &c.

On the 18th inst., a match for £50 a side, over 440yd8, was decided on the Union Athletic Sports ground, Queensland, between Arthur Coningham, a local ped., and J. M. Yates, of Warwick. The track was heavy owing to rain, and whilst the race was being contested a slight shower fell. Yates was the favourite at even money, and he won by lOyda, in 53sec. On Saturday last the Carrington Ground 150 yds Consultation Handicap came off, with the following final results:— E. A. Martineer, 35yds, £150, 1 ; W. Pearson, 25yds, £25, 2 ; R. Walker, 29yds, £15, 3 ; D. Braithwaite, 30iyds, £10, 45. Time, 12sec.

Surprise has been expressed that Slavin has not deigned to reply to the challenge made by " Professor " Jackson, who is anxious to meet him, any how and for auy amount up to £500. A friend of Slavin's here received a wire from him from Dnnedin, in which the well-knownboxer states that " the match between he and Laing had not yet come off, and that he could not return uotil it was over." If he cannot return until the match is over, surely the least Slavin could do was to have communicated with Jackson. Seeing that he is so anxious for a meeting with the Bable gentleman, Slavin's rencrissneHS is the more incomprehensible, and his friends in Melbourne cannot understand it.

At the Apollo Hall, on Saturday, Corbett and E. Jackson boxed eight rounds for a purse of £25. The set-to was one of the squarest things in the line I have witnessed for many a long day, Both men fought very gamely, and

fairly pumped themselves out. The match ended in a draw.

Last night Keegan undertook to knock Peter Boland out in six rounds for a purse of ,£3O. He failed to do it, and Boland won the " dust."

AQUATICS. For the regatta to be beld in Port Phillip early in November of this year, during the Centennial Exhibition, a lengthy programme was approved of at a general committee meeting held on Monday evening. For the information of outside competitors it may be stated that Port Phillip is a magnificent sheet of water for yacht-racing, and has a clear area for deepdraft sea-going vessels of over 400 square miles. Being land-lecked, the ocean swell is not experienced, and the influence of the tide is not felt. The prizes are very substantial, those for the Challenge Race being £500 and a gold anchor valued at £100 ; second, £100 ; third, £50. In addition to this there are six £100 prizes, three £50, seven £40, and a number of £30, £20, &c.

On Saturday last the South Melbourne annual regatta was held on the Albert Park lagoon, when everything passed off satisfactorily. Kemp and Hanlan are taking a spell just now, but Trickett is doing everything possible to get fit for his match with the latter.

George Perkins would make a match with Kemp if the latter would lay £500 to £200. When the two met on the Thames in 1886 for £100 a aide, Kemp made the fastest time on record for 1 mile 5 .furlongs 100 yards— namely, Bmin 57sec — but collapsed at the end of two miles, and allowed Perkins to win anyhow.