SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 17757, 7 September 1917, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY SIR MODRED. The annual meeting of members of the Southland Racing Club will be held in Allen’s Hall at 8 o’clock to-night. It might not be out of place to suggest that the Southland R.C. give serious consideration to the supervision of the local training tracks in future. Keen competition in the racing game naturally makes trainers anxious at times, the caretaker has to protect his preparatory circuits as best he can, and the Track Committee of the past has not always been available for consultation. Similar troubles have arisen on every other course where a number of horses have been worked and a way out has generally been evolved, hence it should not be a very serious matter to adjust things here. To the writer’s mind, the time has arrived when the trainers using the tracks should be given some official recognition when disputes arise or in deciding which tracks are to be used on working days. It may be mentioned that the system of consulting two representative trainers has been found to work exceedingly well at such an important centre as Riccarton. The retiring members of the Southland R.C. are;— Messrs H. S. Irving, D. R. Jones, A. Macaulay, F. H. Moffett, H, Nichol, J. B. Thomson, and G. B. Webb. For these vacancies the following nominations will be considered this evening:—Messrs'A. Bissett, E. W. Howorth, H. S. Irving, D. R. Jones, A. Macaulay, F. H. Moffett, H. Nichol, W. R. Petrie, Thos. Price, and G. B. Webb. It is a far cry to the day of the New Zealand Trotting Cup, but somebody has surely been inspired, as it is reported that last season’s winner. Cathedral Chimes, has already been supported down to a short price for the leading light harness race of Australasia. FOOTBALL. S.R.F.U. MEETING. The executive committee of the Southland Rugby Football Union met last evening, there being present ; Messrs A. J. Geddes (chairman), R. M. Isaacs, T. Meredith, D. Campbell, I. Jenkins, A. Derbie, J. Butler, J. A. Doig, F. Morton, G. W. Woods and Dr Crawford. The New Zealand Rugby Union advised that the letter from the Canterbury, Otago and Southland Unions asking for a special meeting of the dominion governing body had been received, and would be placed before an early meeting. The Invercargill Football Club were granted permission to travel to Riverton on Wednesday next. The Schools’ Association advised that September loth would suit the local schools for the representative match with Otago.— It was decided to advise the Otago Union accordingly. In view of the fact that the Saturday competition for the Sports’ Protection league Banner is still in such a position that four teams have a winning chance, it was left to Messrs Geddes, Derbie and Butler to arrange for the remaining matches. Saturday fixtures were approved as follows —Banks and Law v. Foundries, Rugby Park No. 1, 3 p.m.; and Warehousemen v. Public Service, Rugby Park No. 2, 3 p.m. This latter match is not to count in the competition, but will be simply a practice game. LADIES’ HOCKEY TOURNEY. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. G. In the Ladies’ Hockey Tourney, Canterbury defeated Manawatu by 3 goals to 2. The game was a close and brilliant one. Wellington heat Wairarapa by 5 to 2. Wairarapa played a good game, the contest being closer than the scores indicate.