SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 16786, 14 July 1911, Page 3

SPORTING

(Notes by Sir Modred.) General entries for the C.J.C. Grand National fixture close this evening. Embrasure and Silver Blade will be nominated for minor events. As far as is' known here Prospector will be a starter at the ’Wellington K.C.’s fixture. He claims an engagement in the Hunters’ Steeplechase of 100 sovs to-morrow, and has also been paid up for in the Wellington Steeplechase. which is to be decided on V ednesday next. In commemoration of the victory of Sunstar in the Epsom Derby, Mr J. B. Joel, through his almoner, distributed money gifts varying from 5s to £5 to 200 poor families. The jumpers ParJtutu arrived at Trentham on Monday last, and is reported to be looking wonderfully fresh and well. His chances in the Wellington Steeplechase are highly assessed. Tc Arai pulled up lame after working at Awapuni on Monday last, and great trouble will be experienced in getting him to the post for immediate engagements. Trainer P. T. Hogan has Prospector engaged in the Wellington Steeplechase, while his brother Mr M. Hogan has a lease of Aberration, the horse carrying the lowest weight (9.0) in the Winter Hurdles at Trenthani. The “double” price about the pair in which the two Southland brothers are more or less interested is a very lengthy one. The most highly-fancied horses in the Wellington Winter Hurdle Race are likely to be Paritutu, Centaur, NorthEast, John, and Bollin. Compass, a Grand National Hurdle Race winner, Is not over-burdened with 10.8 to carry. It is reported that the four-year-old Otago stallion Ravenschild, by Rothschild —Ravensdale, is to be placed in the hands of a Christchurch trainer to prepare for future engagements. He is a very fine horse and followers of trotting have for some time past been looking for him to develop into a performer of the first-class. It is reported from Wellington that My Lawyer is carrying a lot of condition, but moved scratchily on his first appearance at Trentham. Optimeform, also in Mr J. Ellis’ stable, is expected to show in improved style prior to the conclusion of the Wellington fixture. The first Southland trainer to reach Riccarton in view of the Grand National gathering was P. Hogan in charge of Honest Tom. Prospector, Silver Blaze and Embrasure. . The two first-named steeplechasers are in forward condition, while Silver Blaze should hold his own In hunters’ events, and Embrasure may be seen in a new light, when he again races over the small sticks. "On Thursday last (reports the “Press”) Prospector (L. Lloyd) and Silver Blaze (Mclntosh) set out for a round of the big fences. Commencing at the double, they kept together throughout the journey and performed their task safely.’ The latter is a fine type of a hunter and is an accomplished fencer. . . . Prospector (Lloyd), Silver Blaze (Mclntosh), and Myall (G. Pine) set out for a round of the big fences on Saturday. Commencing at the double the two kept together throughout the journey, each giving a good display of “lepping.” The two latter are qualified hunters and are first-class jumpers.” Mr G. D. Greenwood, of Christchurch, visited Dunedin last week and spent a considerable time looking over Sir G. McLean’s Warrington Stud and its occupants. The progeny of Sarto, son of St. Simon, are already well spoken of, although they have yet to make a racecourse appearance, and this may have led Mr Greenwood to anticipate and prepare for a demand for Otago-bred youngsters when the Warrington lot come under the hammer early in the new season. A WELLINGTON SCRATCHING. WELLINGTON, July 13. Perceler has been scratched for all sngagements at the Wellington Racing Club’s Winter meeting. BOKING. MIXED CONTESTS DISCREDITED. MELBOURNE, July 13. Shima, a Japanese Jiu Jitsu expert, defeated Howard, the boxer, in two out of three contests. Howard, who was handicapped with eight ounce gloves, In the first bout knocked out the Japanese in a minute and a quarter. After a spell Shima threw himself feet foremost at the boxer and got the scissors grip, nearly breaking Howard’s leg. He repeated this a second time. It was not a pretty contest, and is unlikely to become popular in a civilised country. [The above contest appears to have been of a similar nature to those proposed as between champion "Jack” Johnson (boxer) and Clarence Weber (wrestler), and “Bill’ Lang (boxer) and Professor Stevenson (wrestler). Contests of this kind cannot serve any useful purpose, while brutality must always be in evidence, and it Is to be hoped that public opinion will lead to their suppression.—Spt. Edt. ]. VAUDEVILLE PUGILISM. DAVE SMITH AND THE LAW. Some amusing sidelights on vaudeville pugilism were given in a case before the magistrate at Palmerston North the other day (says Wellington “Post”), in which Dave Smith and A. Kelly, of the Jock Willis Caledonian Company, were prosecuted on two charges of having engaged in boxing contests at Palmerston without complying with the provisions of the Police Offences Act. For the police it was endeavoured to prove that the display was one of scientific boxing, whereas the defence set up that the whole affair was a burlesque. Dave Smith said that in his spars with Kelly he always gave his opponent warning when he intended to deliver a severe punch, otherwise he might hurt. He and Kelly had a system of signs, and it was not serious boxing, but an athletic display, relieved by the humours of Willis as a clown. The police evidence was that it was scientific boxing, but the late secretary of the Manawatu Boxing Association, W. H. Hankins, summed up die performance as quite a lot of tommy rot. His Worship said it was a boxing exhibition, but there was no danger of either getting hurt. LADIES’ GOLF. A ladles’ golf match for a silver button was played yesterday under very unfavourable conditions. The links were wet and in the early part of the afternoon heavy rain fell continuously. Mrs R. J. Gilmour, Mrs Prain and Miss Ronaldson tied for first place, each 5 down on bogey. There will be a playoff on Monday afternoon. SCULLING. THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP RACE. ARNST AND PEARCE TRAINING STRENUOUSLY. SYDNEY, July 13. Arnst and Pearce are rapidly approaching true form. It is stated that Pearce has greatly improved in stamina. and is now able to complete the course at high speed. Formerly he was considered only good for a mile. Arnst appears to develop a better catch with a drive, and his finish is as powerful as ever. Yesterday they met on tlie course for the first time, and raced together for two and a half miles. Pearce slightly ahead, left his pacemakers far behind. It is not known whether botli were fully extended. LAWN TENNIS. THE DAVIS CUP COMPETITION. LONDON, July 12. The Sportsman states that it is understood, in the event of the Lawn Tennis Association sending a team to Australia for the Davis Cup an Englishman fcas promised to guarantee the expenses. CURLING. DUNEDIN, July 13. A curling bonspiel was held at Naseby thia morning in beautiful weather with

keen ice, when 56 players participated. Several of the morning games were well contested, lasting over four hours. Towards mid-day the weather became milder and the ico dragged in consequence for the afternoon games. BILLIARDS. PERTH. July 12. Stevenson, the billiard player, who was a passenger by the Orvioto. declares that it is only a matter of time when the hazard stroke, as played by Gray, will come under the ban of the Billiard Association. CRItKET. GENTLEMEN BEAT PLAYERS. LONDON. July 12. In the second match the Gentlemen defeated the Players by 130 runs. For the Players Hobbs carried ins bat through the innings, scoring 154 (not out). Le Contour captured five wickets for 9S runs. A GOOD SCORE. LONDON, July 12. Received July 13, 10.30 p.m. Mead, playing for Hampshire, scored 109 in a match against Leicestershire. AMATEUR ATHLETICS. NEW ZEALAND’S STATUS. DUNEDIN, July 13. A meeting of the Dunedin Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held to-night. On the motion of Mr Divers, it was resolved: — ‘■•That it is the opinion of this meeting that the time has now arrived when New Zealand should be recognised as a separate country in connection with international Olympic games. The committee also decided to forward a copy of the resolution to Wellington, Canterbury, Auckland and Southland Centres, and that their co-operation be asked for; also that the Boxing, Lawn Tennis, Swimming and Rowing Associations be written to and asked to received deputations from the Centre on the matter. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. APPEALS DISMISSED. WELLINGTON, July 13. At a meeting of the New Zealand Football Association Council last night, an appeal from the Otago Association’s decision In ordering that the WaikariRoslyn v. Ravensbourne match be drawn was received from both clubs concerned. The Council decided that Otago Association’s decision must stand. Gordon Football Club (Auckland) appealed against a decision of the Auckland Association in ordering their second division match with North Shore to be replayed. It appears that the referee ordered a free kick against North Shore for their goal-keeper lying on the ball, and from this kick a goal was subsequently scored. The appeal was dismissed. SCHOOL HOCKEY MATCHES. School hockey matches will be played on Saturday on the Rakiura Ground as follows: North v. Park, at 2 p.m.; Middle v. Waihopai at 3 p.m. Mr Dobie will act as referee.