SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 19478, 30 March 1922, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY" SIR MODRED. acceptances for the first day of the Southland R.C. meeting close at 5 o’clock tomorrow night. First day acceptances for the Riverton R.C.’s Easter fixture are due on Friday night at 6 o’clock. Entries for the Trial Stakes £125, w.f.a. (Im) at the Riverton R.C. meeting close at 6 p.m. on Friday. Foo Chow and Palestrina will not be racing at the Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn fixture this afternoon. Amythas galloped very well over seven furlongs on Saturday morning and will start in the Trentham Gold Cup. The Douglas Estate mentor, Luke V ilson, will have Mountain Lion and Warpath racing at the WJLC. meeting. The well-known South Island horseman, C. Emerson, will be a visitor to the Southland R.C. Autumn meeting next week. The Hawke’s Bay owner-trainer, J. M. Cameron, will be represented at the Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn fixture by Molyneux, Tigrinia and Chant Royal. It is reported that the Invercargill-owned Roseday met with injuries on his way to Trentham, after leaving Lyttelton, that may prevent the son of Solferino racing at the Wellington R.C. fixture. Mr Stone’s promising galloper is a very unlucky horse. Despite the fact that he is one of the bestbehaved thoroughbreds in the land, he is always striking trouble. On a previous trip to the North Island he was run down by a motor car in Auckland, now he is injured at Wellington, while the number of occasions upon which he has Deen unfortunate nearer home cannot be estimated. In addition to this, he was bothered by an irritating skin disease when he left here in otherwise excellent racing condition.

It is reported that Liqueur was fit and well when he arrived at Trentham, but, if this is correct, P. T. Hogan’s charge must have freshened up quickly, as he was displaying signs of soreness when started at the Gore R.C.’s recent Autumn fixture.

Great interest will be taken in the south in the meeting to-day of Songbird (8.5) and Silver Peak (8.3) in the Thompson Handicap (one mile). It is claimed that the former races well over eight furlongs, while many good judges consider that a similar distance is beyond Silver Peak’s tether. Both horses are well-known on the Southland R.C.’s tracks and a ballot there would probably result in Mr Stone’s mare carrying the support of the majority of the voters.

Locally-trained gallopers engaged on the Tuapeka-Beaumont circuit include: —Awahau, Canton, Markilia, Windsail, and Bonnie Princess. The light harness contingent engaged to visit the goldfields at Easter time include : Dandy Dragoon, Ro ths tar, Lady Prince, Ivan C., and several lesser lights.

The electric totalisator was not used at the Cheviot meeting at Riccarton on Saturday last, one of the old-fashioned type of machines being in use. Valuable time was Jost in balancing, with the result that the programme dragged and the last race was run forty minutes late. The final event was not got off until ten minutes -to six, when the light was so bad that it was impossible to distinguish the horses properly until they were nearly home. The foregoing statement, by ‘‘Argus” in Christchurch Star, is a telling advertisement in favour of the electric totalisator.

The well known light harness horseman J. McLennan is evidently determined to retain his leading position on the winning list, as he has taken his departure for the north to assist at the Auckland Trotting Club’s Autumn fixture, beginning on Saturday next. The Christchurch reinsman-trainer, J. Bryce, is taking Man o’ War, Wild Briar and Tradesman to the Alexandra Park gathering.

That great little Oamaru-owned pacer Albert Cling, who was recently reported to be dead, is running out in a paddock at his home quarters, the property of J. Henderson. The son of young McKinney is not to be put into work again until next season, and, in the meantime, his trainer will be in the dark as to how the pacer’s serious illness has effected him.

Anent Granely’s win in the Lincolnshire Handicap, the well-known English writer “Rapier” stated on January 14th: “I am told that Granely is going to show that the eulogies of his friends are not undeserving. Mr James White is certain that Granely will beat Leighton—presumably at even weights—and if there is any foundation for this belief, we shall certainly have to loqk out for Granely.” As Donoghue’s services were secured for the son of Orby and Grania, and Mr White is one of the biggest betting owners in England, it can safely be assumed that Granely was one of the well-backed division.

It is stated that Palestrina appeared to have the measure of Castellan fifty yards from home in the Cheviot Cup last week, but the Gienapp gelding finished on gamely and was drawing away again at the finish. This reads like goose form on the part of the horse racing in the interests of Mr D. EL Roberts.

The Wellington R.C.’s Autumn meeting will open to-day and extend over Saturday. The N.Z. St. Leger Stakes, Thompson Handicaps, North Island Challenge Stakes, and Railway Handicap wifi be the leading attractions of this afternoon’s card.

Keen observers present at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday last declare that the Southland pacer, South Star, failed to stay in the one mile saddle event. The same thing was noticeable at the last meeting at Forbury Park.

The imported American unhoppled trotting stallion, Lee Norris, won the two-mile harness event of his class at Timaru very easily in 5.12. He started a very .warm favourite. It is freely prophesied that G. S. Smith will have a high-grade performer Under his care, provided the stallion from the United States remains sound.

Roy Reed is said to have recovered from the effects of the injuries he recently sustained when Epitaph got away with him and crashed into a fence. The Trentham horseman is expected to be riding again at the Wellington R.C. meeting.

The Hawke’s Bay correspondent of the Christchurch Star reports that The Hawk is having a brief let-up from active toil, after a hard season’s racing. Remembering that he was ’a late foal, The Hawk has stood the strenuous campaign well and he looks ready to resume work at any time.

The Auckland Cup winner, Starland, has done no good in his racing on the flat for some time past. He is now to be tried over hurdles. His owner, Mr G. L. Stead, has had Rangi Thompson at Te Awamutu schooling the Nassau gelding.

The fact that the Gore Racing Club lost £145 4/7 on their recent Autumn meeting, while the Government, without risk or expense, collected £1832 12/1 in taxation, must impress interested persons as being very unfair in several ways. New Zealand is quoted at Home and abroad as a democratic country, but this claim cannot be maintained when the section of the public who find relaxation and amusement in the turf are imposed upon to this extent, while the opposing faction escape scot free. It means that the sporting division of the population are being asked to carry more than their share of the load of taxation arising from the Great War. It has also to be remembered that the Government taxation of £1832

represent the whole of the State charges, against the G.R.C. gathering, as increased railway fares, and postal, telephone and telegraph charges have also to be included, and they will surely represent a considerable addition to the total quoted. Reports are to hand from various North and South Island centres to the effect that breeders and owners of thoroughbreds, men of means, contemplate selling off or curtailing their studs, and many have already done so, and this is not as it should be in a country where all are supposed to possess equal rights. The politicians who are recognisable for this state of affairs cannot say that they have not been warned, as it has been pointed out over and over again by men who know the game, that racing is being over-taxed, but they prefer to blunder on, urged to action by the exhortations of that narrow-minded, gold-loving and intolerant section of the community who are classed as wowsers, people who are opposed to sport in all its phases and are always keen to sit in judgment on their neighbours and make them pay for a love of sunlight, fresh air and a natural love of competition which these selfish, greedy Killjoys do not understand. It is not a fair proposition that the Government should exact immense sums of money from racing clubs without due regard to the losses or gains of the bodies who establish and control a popular amusement. Maioha and Tinihanga, who have been indulging themselves in the paddock for a long time, both look well. They will probably be put into work again shortly, with a view to next season’s racing. The C.J.C. caretaker, Mr P. D. McNab, officiated as starter at the Cheviot Racing Club's meeting on Saturday. It was his first appearance in charge of the barrier on a race day at Riccarton, and he is reported to have ecquitted himself with great credit. Judged on Saturday’s performance (says the Star), Mr McNab has a great future as a starter, if he decides to go seriously into the business, for which he has many natural qualifications, Mr Eric Riddilford has decided to hold a clearing sale of his thoroughbred stock next week, and the lots to be sold will comprise brood mares, foals, yearlings, and horses in training. The sale wall be held at the Lower Hutt on Friday, March 31. The brood mares are Chakwana (Hierarch) —Peace), with a Boniform filly foal at foot and stinted to Catmint ; Cooing (Boniform) —Ringdove), stinted to Catmint ; Talitha (Martian —Hebrew Maid), stinted to Absurd ; Madame Butterfly (Martian —Grand Opera), stinted to Absurd ; and Happiness (Hierarch—Peace), with an Absurd filly foal at foot, and stinted to Catmint. The horses in training include the three-year-old gelding Nym (Barform —Ringrose) and Scion (Boniform—Lady Jean II), and yearling fillies by Kilbroney from Chakw’ana and Nassau from Talitha. AN APPEAL DISMISSED. JOCKEY G. YOUNG STANDS DOWN (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 29. The Canterbury District Committee dismissed the appeal of the jockey, George Young, against his suspension for one month imposed by the W aim ate stewards in connection with the race for the Waimate Cup. Young’s mount, Palestrina, was alleged to have interfered with Red Gown. This decision will necessitate the Christchurch jockey standing down over the Wellington R.C. meeting, consequently another rider will have to be secured for Gloaming. GOLF. INVERCARGILL LADIES ’ CLUB. For the opening day foursomes the following is the draw : K Mrs Carr and Miss Lillicrap v. Mrs Handyside and Miss Watson. Mrs Brook and Mrs Roberts v. Miss Pilcher and Miss Smith. Mrs Cowie and Mrs Cochrane v. Mrs Haggitt and Mrs Cruickshank. Mrs Gilmour and Mrs D. Cuthbertson v. Miss L. Henderson and Mrs Mitchell. Mrs Gabites and Mrs C. Jones v. Mrs Smith and MissH aggitt. Mrs Hall-Jones and Mrs Caws v. Mrs G. Henderson and Miss Broderick. KIRKWOOD IN AMERICA (By Telegraph—Press. Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, March 28. Kirkwood the golfer has arrived at Pinehurst. He commenced practising for the north and south championship. FOOTBALL. S.RT.U. ANNUAL MEETING. MR T. MEREDITH ELECTED PRESIDENT. The annual meeting of delegates to the S.RE.U. was held at Rugby Park last night, when the following clubs were represented:—Bluff, Pirates, Invercargill, Waikiwi, Marist Old Boys, Star, Technical Col lege, Boys’ High School, Winton, Woodlands, Makarewa, and Sub-Union delegates from Western, Central, Northern, Eastern and Wakatipu. Mr A. J. Geddes presided. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman said that he wished to congratulate the delegates upon the splendid results obtained last year, which would not have eventuated without the whole-hearted support of the clubs and the sub-unions. He complimented Star upon their great achievement in winning the Shield twice in the one season, and he was sure that all delegates would do the same. —(Applause.) Junior football had extended to such a large extent that it would have to receive the serious consideration of the incoming committee, but he w’ould like to see the meeting pass a recommendation for the incoming committee on the matter of limiting the junior teams. He congratulated all the winners of the various grades, and particularly the Technical College on its win in the South Island tournament at Dunedin where it defeated all the other colleges. The prospects throughout were bright, all the country unions reporting prospects of good seasons. It w r ould be for the incoming committee to consider the fostering of country football to a larger extent. Before passing from country football ho would like to mention that there was every prospect of a sub-union being formed in the Fortrose district with five clubs affiliated. If that were accomplished they would have linked the whole of the Southland province from Wakatipu to the Bluff under the rugby banner. A large amount of work had been done on Rugby Park since the season closed, and the turf this year was the best in the history of the Union. School football had flourished under the control of the S.S.A., and the standard of play had reached a high level. The coaching scheme had not worked as smoothly as they had anticipated, but it had stimulated the club coaches, and created interest. Recently a meeting of coaches was called and the recommendations from that committee would come before them later. The financial return for' the season was a good one, the best ever experienced by the Union. The representative touring team returned with the best record of any touring team, defeating Canterbury on its own ground for the first time. He congratulated A. White on having secured N.Z. representative honours, and also L. Cockroft for having been chosen to play in the trial ipatch. There was another person, Mr W. J. Stead, who secured honour outside the province,

foi matches against the Springboks. He took this opportunity of thanking the delegates and players for the support they had given him during his term as president, and they hadsbeen always willing to assist him. Mr A. H. Courtis seconded the motion. The Rev. Bro. Anastasius pointed out an error in the report whifch credited Marist with having won the junior school competition, whereas Bluff won that competition. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. A notice of motion, giving the management committee power to elect the selectors, was moved by Mr A. H. Courtis, Bluff, who said that there was a feeling that the alteration would be for the better. There was no personal feeling in the matter the proposal being made for the better con trol of the game. The delegates generally came to the annual meeting with no fixed plan for the election of selectors, and one after another was nominated until they found someone willing to act. There was no reason why the selection of the selectors should not be left to the executive. The delegates elected the executive, surely they must admit that the executive was capable of choosing the selectors. Mr P. Scully (Marist) seconded the motion, saying that his club had instructed him to support it. He had no personal feelings in the matter and the past was dead so far as his club was concerned What his club wanted was more modern methods of selection. His club was of the opinion that the management committee had more time to look round and select likely men for the position of selectors, who would bring new ideas and more up-to-date methods to the selection of the team. Too much credit had been given to individual players and not enough to players who would adapt their game to suit other players. The management committee would go into the matter broadly. No man, no matter what club he represented, when he got on the committee of management would broaden his views and sink his club prejudices. Dr Ritchie Crawford (Star) opposed the change, saying that the Union had the present proposed scheme in operation years ago and the same arguments were then used for the change to election by delegates. He was of the opinion that the selectors should be elected by the club delegates and not left to the committee. In 1920 the work of the selectors was acclaimed as all that was excellent, but last year although the two of the previous selectors were on the committee they were torn to pieces. Mr Scully had remarked that the selectors were behind the time, still Mr Stead was considered good enough/ to, coach the N.Z. team. Last year there was no question that a lot of the criticism was newspaper talk which influenced the public and those interested. Some of that criticism was not altogether fair. The ideal method of selection would be the sole selector as there would be then no compromising where the team was picked as there always was when three members acted. Otago was considering the adoption of electing the selectors by delegate.

Mr J. Butler (Marist) supported the motion, saying that if the delegates elected the selectors were the selectors under the management committee, which was elected by the delegates to control the game, were the selectors or the management committee to have control?

The chairman said that the great difficulty was in getting suitable men for the position. In 1920 two of the final selectors were chosen by the management committee after resignations had been received. Mr W. Robison (Invercargill) said that his club was of the opinion that the present method of election should be retained as it believed that any trouble got right back to the players themselves. Mr D. K. Torrance (Pirates) said that his club would support the motion.

The motion was carried, only Star and Invercargill voting against it. An application from the Kennington Club for affiliation was referred to the incoming committee for consideration. Mr R. Walker, Woodlands, speaking against the affiliation, as it would injure his club. The following office-bearers were elected: —President, Mr T. Meredith; vice-presi-dents, Messrs A. H. Courtis and A. J. Geddes; management committee, Messrs J. A. Doig, D. K. Torrance, D. Stalker, L. Foster, P. Scully, J. Mawson, W. Robison and G. Fortune; auditors, Messrs H. W. Royds and L. E. Bell.

The Rev. Bro. Anastasius was elected schools representative on the executive. With reference to country fixtures Mr A. W. Cassels eaid that the country unions would be grateful if the Union notified the country fixtures early. Last year the Eastern District had considerable difficulty fitting in the matches to suit their club fixtures.

A recommendation that any player who was found guilty of any serious offence be disqualified from representative honours wjs carried without any dissentient.

Another recommendation to the referees that any player found hitting another player be ordered off immediately. This, said the mover, Mr J. Mawson, would strengthen the referees and assist to keep the game clean. Mr D. Stalker, on behalf of the referees, supported the recommendation which was carried.

Mr J. Spiers, Star, then moved a recommendation to the incoming committee that no more clubs be allowed into the competitions, saying that the fewer the teams the better w’ould be the standard of play. The Union admitted many town junior teams the players of which would have strengthened some of the senior clubs.

Dr Ritchie Crawford said the recommendation raised a question of vital importance. In Otago years ago several good junior teams had to be disbanded, as several senior teams had become weak. The result was a strengthening up of the senior clubs. He was of the opinion that the recommendation should only refer to town teams as country teams were on a different footing. There was also the travelling question which would have to be considered.

The chairman said that the matter would receive the immediate consideration of the new committee.

A vote of thanks to retiring office-bearers was proposed by Dr Crawford, those retiring being Messrs A. Derbie, I. Jenkins, J. Butler and M. Hyndman. Referring to Mr Jenkins’s record the mover said that it would be a fitting testimonial to his splendid career of work for football in Southland if they could elect him a life-member of the Union. As a player, representative, S.I. rep., selector,, coach and referee, Mr Jenkins had done great work for the game. It was many years since he had seen Mr Jenkins first, and he was a worthy representative of the province. He was a good, clean sport on and off the field, and he had many friends and no enemies.

The chairman said that the rules did not permit of the election of fife members. A special minute was carried recording the work performed by those retiring members for their work for the Union. The chairman making special mention of the work done by Mr A. Derbie. The following recommendations adopted at a meeting of coaches were passed on to the new committee for consideration:—

The following recommendations were unanimously carried : ‘That it be a recommendation from this meeting to the incoming Committee of the Southland Rugby Football Union that steps be taken to appoint a permanent coach. “ That the system of coaching senior clubs remain as at present with the proviso that if any club desire the services of the permanent coach they be allowed to have him, provided this work does not interfere with his school duties. “ That the Coaching Committee be comprised of a Selector, two senior Club Coaches, the permanent Coach and two members of the Southland Rugby Football Union Executive, if found workable by the executive. “That two areas be lighted at the Park for the use of the Clubs for night training.” In response to an inquiry, the chairman said that inquiries were being made to enable the erection of hot water showers for the players, but the question of stand accommodation was at present held up on account of finance.