SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 19479, 31 March 1922, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY SIR MODRED. Acceptances for the first day of the Southland R.C. meeting are due az 5 o'clock to-night. Acceptances for the first day of the I Riverton R.C. fixture and entries ror the I Trial Stakes close to-night. Great Easter and Great Autumn Handi- I cap acceptances are due in Christcnurcch | thus (Friday i evefting. Final payments and acceptances in connection with the Manawatu R.C. meeting next week are due to-nighc. The Wyndham jockey-trainer, T. O'Connor, paid a visit to Invercargill on Tuesday to school the ’chaser Palladio. Having conducted himself well in his schooling, Cerberus may race well over I hurdles at Amberley to-morrow. The Kentucky Derby this year will carry 50,000 dollars in prize-money, and tne nest three-year-olds in America are expected to compete. The Auckland Trotting Club’s Autumn meeting, which opens to-morrow and concludes on April 5, has attracted very satisfactory acceptances. That good horse Volo has been engaged in the hurdle races at the Manawatu R.C. meeting, at which he heads the handicap list in the principal flat race. The following horses will provide the field for the leading event of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting to-morrow: —Campbell Handicap (harness), £lOOO, class 4.37 (two miles) —William the First and Wild Briar, limit; Prize Pearl 24 yards behind; Comedy Chief and Woodvale, 36 yards; Gold Giri, 48; Nita Bell, 60; Grand Voyage and Moneymaker, 72, Man O’War, 120. According to Smith’s Weekly, a Sydney publication, which always endeavours to gei well below the surface in dealing with racing, a great coup was effected over Rostrum in the Newmarket Handicap, and in furnishing particlars in support of its contention remarked: “The ring was hard hit, the books being relieved of something like £60,000 or £70,000. The owner, Eric Connolly, landed about £26,000 lor himself. The plans for the coup were laid carefully and precautions taken that suspicion should not be aroused. Rostrum tired toward the end, but he had made such demands on the opposition in the early stages that he still had too much in him. for them at the finish.” The four-year-old gelding Balefire, by Gienapp (imp.)—Red Cross, by Son-of-a-Gun—Caritas, by Apremont—Charity is a full brother to the staunch racehorse Fiery Cross, who won the Auckland Cup in the 1917-18 season, to say nothing of a number of other valuable races at various stages of his turf career. The Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn meeting will be continued to-morrow, when the leading attraction will be the Trentham Gold Cup, £lOOO (including a gold cup valued at £100), w.f.a. (two miles), Autumn Handicap, £lOOO (one mile and three furlongs/ and Pacific Handicap, £lOOO, for two-year-olds (6 fur.). Nominations for the Avondale J.C.’s Autumn meeting on April 22 and 24 are due this evening, and it will be interesting to note the entry for the All-Aged Stakes, £lOOO, w.f.a. (6fj, a race for iwo-year-olds and upwards. At the Ohinemuri J.C. meeting last week the totalisator returns for two days amounted to £54,484, as compared with £78,109 10b last year, a decrease of £23,635 10s, or over 30 per cent. Dwellers in the South Island are continually being told that the land on the far side of Cook Strait is more prosperous than the southern portion of Maoriland and more attractive to settlers and the general public, but the totalisator returns of late from various centres do not bear out this line of argument. The machine investments, taken as a reading of the financial barometer, are in favour of the South Island as far as contraction and expansion go—on the average the decrease in returns in the S.I. are very much less than those of the N.I. On her recent running Red Gown (8.1) should be strongly supported for the .Amberley Cup (Um.) to-morrow, but Warlove (8.11) may prove a very dangerous opponent in a field which afford the Mart-ian-Stepdancer mare a comfortable run throughout. Sir George Clifford’s well-known mare, Miss Mimic, has broken down and will be relegated to the stud. The best races won by the daughter of Sanquhor (imp.) and Counterfeit were the Dunedin Champagne Stakes and C.J.C. Champagne Stakes, as a two-year-old, and the Great Easter Handicap and Final Handicap at the Canterbury J.C.’s Autumn fixture last year. She was a very speedy mare and should produce something smart in the two-year-old line. Latest advice from the United States is to the effect that a record entry has been received for the Futurity Stakes of 1924, with nominations still to come in. The high water mark of £l4OO, attained last year, has been surpassed, 1417 nominations having been received thus far. The fact that entries for this event are not made until mares are safely with foal gives an excellent idea of the status of the breeding industry. The size of the entry will be satisfactory to followers of the thoroughbred. The number of small breeders represented is greated than ever before. This feature is particularly pleasing. The number of owners of but one or two mares is far in excess of any previous year. The quality of the sires with which the mares named for the Futurity were mated indicates great progress in blood stock improvement in this country. The beat foreign strains are represented, while in the home bred division are many young horses of great racing prowess whose progeny nave yet to show their quality, Man o’ War Purchase, Cudgel and Sir Barton are among these. Lt is well within the bounds of possibility (writes "Archer” in Melbourne Argus), if she races next season, that Mr E. E. D. Clarke's filly, Furious, will amass the greatest stake winning record of any of her sex who have raced in Australia or New Zealand. Pride of place at presenc rests with the New Zealand mare Deecrr Gold, who raced both in the Dominion and the Commonwealth. Furious won £7,943 last season, and £8,212 so far this season. She is fourth on the list, but a win in the A.J.C. St. Leger Stakes will place her second. As the figures stand, Carfita and Wakeful are ahead of her. Wakeful, who has strong claims to J>e considered the greatest mare ever seen on an Australian racecourse, did not make her debut until she was four years old, and missed all of the valuable prizes provided for two and three-year-olds. The list of great stakes winners among the mares is as follows; Desert Gold „ r , £23,133 Carlita - .. .. »-• ~ 17,830 Wakeful „ ~ 16,690 Furious .. 16,155 Gradsome .... .. 10,712 Lady Medallist .. .. .. r , 10,376 Sister Olive .. .. .. .. ~ r . 10,341 W’arstep (N.Z.) .. ~ ~ .. 10,190 La Carabine ~ r-‘ 7,372 Amata • • »» • • 7,323 Lady Wallace .. 7,139 After the Amateur Handicap at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting last week, G. Carling, the nominator of Alpha Wilkes, was fined £5 for breach of the rules. He only held the horse on lease from Mr J. A. Sligo, while the race was for horses owned and trained by amateurs, a leased horse njji with the conditions.

A somewhat grim story comes from the north of England (relates the London Morning Post). It concerns a man who was called to a mortuary in order to see if he could identify the body of a friend whose calling in life had been that of a tipster. The fourth body proved to be the right one. “In death as* in life,” murmured the man called in; “he never was in the first three.” Music Hall, who won the Liverpool Grand National Steplechase last week, is a nine-year-old. He did no racing last winter, but in the previous season he won seven times. Most of his successes, however, were gained over easy country, his most important victory being in the Scottish Grand National Steeplechase. The third horse. Of the other placed horses. Drifter (second) is an eight-year-old, while Taffytus (third) is a nine-year-old. The Wanganui trainer F. Tilley recently informed “Sir Lancelot” (Wellington Post) that he would not have any of his team racing at Trentham. He said he would take Tamatete and Enthusiasm (Panmure —Martia, two-year-old) to Manawatu, and probably some of his charges would be racing at the Auckland Easter meeting. While being schooled at Otaki last week Prominent, by Advance, fell and broke his shoulder with the result that he had to be destroyed. W.H. Bowden, who was riding him, escaped injury. Trainer George Price has been out of the limelight for some time past, but he came back on the second day of the Rangitikei meeting, when his pupil Pam, by Panmure (imp), was first to salute the judge. A. Oliver rode the winner. The jockey heading the winning horseman’s list for the current season, Ashley Reed, had an unusual experience at the Rangitikei fixture, as he failed to win a race at the meeting. The following remain in the Taranaki Futurity Stakes (harness), £2OO, for three-year-olds (l|m.) to be run at the Waimate Plains Trotting Club meeting:—lvy Audubon, Rose Bingen, Great Hope, Blair Audubon, Ratana, Macushla, Our Patch, filly by Harold Dillon—Gipsy Moor, filly by Nelson Bingen—Yura Dillon, Ce Advanceur, Gala Pointer. The general entries for the meeting are well over the average, the Waimate Plains Cup (harness), £5OO, class 4.48 (two miles) having attracted to nomination of 37, including the names of some of the best square trotters in the North and South Islands. As a matter of fact, ’t is seldom that so many square-gaited horses are called upon to compete with pacers. ALLEGED FOUL RIDING. THE CASE OF G. YOUNG. (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, March 30. Commenting on the suspension of G. Young by the stewards of the Waimate Racing Club, for interference in the Waimate Cup “Argus,” in to-night’s Star, says :—“ The weakness of the stewards ’ decision lay in their treatment of the Jockey compared with the manner in which they dealt with the owner, having decided that the interference was sufficiently serious to warrant taking away the second money from the owner of Palestrina, while backers incidentally lost their dividend, they let the jockey off far too lightly in suspending him for only a month. That serious interference took place was quite obvious to those who were watching the race at all closely, and under the circumstances G. Young must be considered very fortunate in getting off with so light a penalty. Foul riding is viewed too leniently by many stewards, who do not seem to fully appreciate consequences which may result from an accident.” WELLINGTON RACING CLUB. PRINTEMPS WINS THOMPSON HANDICAP. SOUTHLAND HORSES RUN WELL. (Special to the Times). WELLINGTON, March 30. Perfect weather greeted the opening day’s proceedings of the Wellington R.C. Autumn meeting, but there was a falling off in the attendance and totalisator receipts. After extraordinarily heavy rain the track had dried wonderfully, but it was in springy condition and on the slow side. Thirteen saddled up for the High Weight Handicap. The South Islander, Grim Joke, was favourite. Active (on the rails) with Rimutaka led to the back, where they were joined by Wamba. At the home turn Eerie (Hassau —Mountain Dream), followed by Blue Hall, moved up and in the straight Eerie came away, chased by Blue Hall, the former winning by a length and a half, Grim Joke was fourth, with Maniahera next. Kick Off, Pluto and Cleasanta were the only starters in the St Leger. Pluto w r as made favourite. Cleasanta took up the running and led to the turn into the straight the second time where Kick Off, well-ridden by Bagby, asserted himself, and, going on, won comfortably by three lengths, Pluto just beating Cleasanta. The winner was accorded an ovation and decorated with the St Leger ribbon by Miss Harcourt, daughter of the president. The Plunket Nursery attracted fifteen two-year-olds of fine class. Favouritism was fairly evenly divided between King’s Trumpeter, Gold Light, Uncle Alex, and The Dunce (bracketed) and Moorland, but the winner turned up in Rapine (sister to Penitent) a complete outsider. From a good start nothing appeared to have any advantage until entering the straight when Lucius and Zany showed prominently, with Waetea, Gold Light and Rapine in close attendance. Waetea then took up the running, but Rapine shot through, closely followed by Gold Light and Lucius, the trio passing the post in that order. King’s Trumpeter fourth. Songbird and Sunny Comer were scratched for the Thompson Handicap, leaving a big field ef seventeen. Anomaly was favourite, with Quest, Askari, Insurrection and Silver Peak also well fancied. A great race resulted. Blackmail, Anomaly, Gasbag and Insurrection were well placed, with Askari in the rear. Coming into the straight Anomaly joined Blackmail and Silver Peak moved up, closely followed by Printemps, Gasbag and Marqueteur. Within half a furlong from the goal the four last-named led, practically in line, and finished with little between them, except that Marqueteur dropped back slightly, The verdict went to Printemps by a neck, Silver Peak a head in front of Gasbag, Marqueteur close up fourth, and Trespass and Blackmail next. Insurrection faded away at the business end. Gloaming had an exercise gallop in the North Island Challenge Stakes, his two opponents, Rational (Absurd —Cowl) and Ares (Martian —Paphia), not extending him, but the latter made a great effort to head Rational, losing second place by a bare margin. Whips and spurs were allowed in the Silveratream Handicap (apprentice riders) owing to some owners not understanding the conditions. Eleven horses faced the starter, including T. Deegan’s Liqueur (Peart). A good start saw Petunia in the lead, followed by Prince Hal, Good Mark, Spook. Petunia (Absurd —Bronze) narrowly defeated Prince Hal, five-eighths (favourite) jrst beating Redlogue for third. Liqueur was never prominent, and finished well back. The Railway Handicap attracted eleven starters, Still Sea being favourite, with Songbird second in demand, and Grotesque next. The field entered the long straight in a cluster, with Still Sea and Mireusonta holding a slight advantage, Bon Spec being next. Mereusonta, with a great run, headed Still Sea, winning narrowly, then came Grotesque and Birkie. The placed horses are all by Absurd. Songbird (J. McChesney) was never dangerous after the straight wa« reached, and finished sixth well back. A big field of eighteen faced the barrier in the Tiaai*>ri Handicap favouriliau; be-

ing conferred on Sir George Clifford’s Red Hind, with Danger Zone second and All Cerise third. From a somewhat straggling start Red Hind and Merry Day showed out, and, continuing on, finished in that order, with little to spare from Danger Zone and Dissertation. A blanket could have covered the quartette. Of the Southland horses Gold Light and Silver Peak raced up to form, arid each was unfortunate to meet something just a shade better on the day. Mr W. Stone was present to see his mare run and was greatly disappointed. A slight accident preventing the appearance of Roseday, who was particularly well. Liqueur was fancied by the stable, but ran disappointingly. He may do better on Saturday as he looks in capital fettle. Mr W. Couser is a visitor, and was disappointed at Songbird’s showing, as was trainer P. T. Hogan. The colt struck himself slightly in training and the going was not hard enough to suit him, hence his scratching from the Thompson Handicap. Songbird, however, is in good heart, and may be there or thereabouts on Saturday. The totalisator investments amounted to £39,110 10/-, as against £56,923 last year, a decrease of £17,812 10/-. Results : FIRST HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP, £350. Second £7O, third £35. Horses and riders to hold jumping race qualifications. One mile and a-quarter. J. Marie’s ch f Erie, by Nassau —Mountain Dream, 3yrs, 9.9 (L. Morris) 1 Blue Hall, 9.0 (T. Young) 2 Active, 9.10 (S. Walls) 3 Also started—Alteration 10.4, Sir Rosebery 10.4, Coalition 10.0, Maniahere 9.12, Wamba 9.7, Grim Joke 9.7, Rebuff 9.5, Rimutaka 9.0, Oak Rose 9.0, Wheel 9.0. Won by a length and a-half, two lengths between second and third. Time, 2min 12gsec. N.Z. ST. LEGER STAKES, £550. Second £75, third £25. For three-year-olds. One mile and three-quarters. J. S. McLeod’s br g Kick Off, by All Black—Fair Rosamond, 3yrs, 8.7 (R. S. Bagby) 1 G. D. Greenwood’s Pluto, 3yrs, 8.7 (A. Oliver) 2 R. A. McKenzie’s Cleasanta, 3yrs, 8.7 (J. Barry) 3 (Winner trained by W. J. Donovan.) The only starters. Won by five lengths. Time, 3min 4sec. PLUNKET NURSERY HANDICAP, £350. Second £7O, third £35. For two-year-olds. Five furlongs. A. B. Williams’ b c Rapine, by Martian —Pineta, 7.4 (R. Reed) 1 W. T. Hazlett’s ch f Gold Light, by Hymettius—Simper, 7.10 (H. Wiggins) 2 E. Davis’s br g Lucilus, by Lucullus— Marsh, 7.7 (C. Emerson) 3 Also ran—Mountain Lion 9.5, Uncle Alex 9.3, The Dunce 7.8, King’s Trumpeter 8.12, The Emperor 8.11, Moorland 7.13, Kilroe 7.6, Zany 7.0, Walter 6.9, Bonnie Nurse 6.7, Menthe 6.7, Vogue 6.7. Won by threequarters of a length, third horse three lengths away. Time, Imin Isec. THOMPSON HANDICAP, £l5OO. Second £3OO, third £l5O. One mile. A. Goodman’s b g Printemps, by Autumnus—Rene, syrs, 7.5 (J. Butler) .. 1 W. Stone’s b m Silver Peak, by Adjudge —Oblong, 6yrs, 8.3 (F. E. Jones) 2 A. B. Williams’ br c Gasbag, 4yrs, 8.9 (R. Reed) 3 (Winner trained by Owner.) Also ran —Marqueteur 8.10, Anomaly 8.7, Insurrection 8.7, Radiant Light 8.7, Trespass 8.7, Mustard Pot 8.1, Sycorax 8.0, Aureate 7.8, Blackmail 7.0, Quest 7.6, Martial Dawn 7.3, Princess Pat 6.11, Askari 6.9, Cold Steel 6.7. Won by a neck, a head between second and third. Time, Imin 41sec. NORTH ISLAND CHALLENGE STAKES, £lOOO. Second £2OO, third £lOO, breeder of winner £lOO. All ages. Weight-for-age. Seven furlongs. G. D. Greenwood’s b g Gloaming, by The Welkin—Light, 6yrs (R. Hatch) 1 H. B. Gibson’s b g Rational, 3yrs (J. O’Shea) 2 K. D. Duncan’s b g Ares, 2yrs (A. Reed) 3 Won by a length, half a length between second and third. Time, Imin 28§sec. SILVERSTREAM HANDICAP (hacks), £350. Second £7O, third £35. One mile. F. R. Pierce’s b g Petunia, by Absurd— Bronze, 4yrs, 7.7 (H. Garden) .. 1 Prince Hal, 8.9 (H. Stuart) 2 Fiver Eighths, 7.4 (R. S. Bagby) .... 3 Also ran—Spook 92, Island 8.3, Lord Desmond 7.10, Patuki 7.7, Liqueur 7.5, Lord Usk 6.13, Good Mark 6.7. Won by three lengths, half a length between second and third. Time, Imin 43gsec. RAILWAY HANDICAP, £5OO. Second £lOO, third £5O. Six furlongs. R. A. McKenzie’s ch g Mireusonta, by Absurd—Rosie Desmond, 3yrs, 6.9 (D. Gunn) 1 B. L. Joll’s ch c Still Sea, by Absurd— Sea Spray, 3yrs (A. Reed) .. .. 2 A. B. Williams’ ch g Grolesque, by Absurd—Bronze, 3yre, 7.9 (R. Reed) 3 Also ran —Surveyor 8.13, Songbird 8.11, Bon Spec 8.1, Sunny Corner 7.8, Triboulet 6.9, Backsheesh 7.3, Birkie 7.2, Capping Day 6.7. W r on by three-quarters of a length. Time, Imin 13sec. TINAKORI HANDICAP (hacks), £350. Second £7O, third £35. Six furlongs. Sir George Clifford’s b f Red Hind, by Autumnus—Kirriemuir, 3yrs, 7.13 (H. Young) 1 Merry’ Day, 7.5 (S. Garratt) 2 Danger Zone, 9.4 (A. Reed) 3 Also ran—Dissertation 8.7, Landbird 8.7, Warpath 8.3, Jackaroo 8.0, Lady Nassau 7.13, All Cerise 7.12, Roset 7.4, Moonstruck 6.13, Yellow Hammer 6.10, Basso 6.7, In the Pink 6.7, Solace 6.7, Sagacity 6.7, Black Arrow 6.7. Won by half a length. Time, Imin 14Jsec. HANDICAPS FOR SATURDAY HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP (on® mile and a-half) —Battle Song 10.13, Rayol Gift 10.11, Eerie 10.8, Alteration and Sir Rosebery 19.2, Coalition 9.12, Active 9.11, Maniahera 9.9, Grim Joke 9.8, Blue Hall 9.7, Halcyon 9.5, Wamba and Pitch Dark 9.3, Admiral Talbot 9.2, Baimsdale, Rimutaka, Oak Rose, Belrock, War Loan and March On 9.0. HUTT HANDICAP (one mile)—Silver Peak 9.10, Songbird 9.8, Printemps and Sunny Loch 9.5, Mustard Pot 9.2, Grotesque 8.13, Truthful and Miss Mimic 8.11, Sunny Corner 8.7, Income, Strategy and Cleasanta 8.5, Black Mail 8.2, Roseday and Callaghan 8.1, Princess Pat 7.13, Bonny Heather, Fulsome, Probate and Bagdad 7.12, Whipping Boy and Halifax 7.10, Vasilkov 7.9, Matatua and Gold Steel 7.8, Capping Day, Prince Martian, Martian Miss, Prince Hal, Bodyguard, Scion and Mockery 7.7, MURITAI HANDICAP (one mile) Danger Zone and Prince Hal 9.2, Spook 8.13, Explorer 8.8, Angelo 8.7, Petunia 8.6, Dissertation 8.5, Landbird 8.4, Island 7.12, Lady Nassau 7.11, Redlogue 7.10, All Cerise 7-9, Lord Desmond and Five Eighths 7.8, Yankee Dan 7.5, Patuki 7.4, Pitch Dark 7.3, liqueur and Pink Rose 7.2, Tekura 7.0, Lord Usk, March On, Pahaka, Basso and Wheel 6.7. AUTUMN HANDICAP (one mile and three furlongs)—Winning Hit 9.0, Marqueteur 8.13, Gasbag, Insurrection and Kick Off 8.9, Molyneaux 8.8, Trespass 8.4, Vagabond and Foo Chow 8.3, Radiant Light and Anomaly 8.2, Sycorax 8.0, Sunny Loch 7.12, Truthful 7.10, Aureate 7.8, Kilgour 7.7, Bitters 7.4, Paoanui 7.3, Martial Dawn and Quest 7.2, Strategy 7.1, Askari 6.12, Princess Pat and Income 6.12, Esperance 6.11, Bagdad 6.9, Matatua, Prince Martian, Cold Steel, Halifax, Patuki and Active 6.7. PACIFIC HANDICAP (6 furlongs)—Valerie and Mountain Lion 9.2, Uncle Alex 9.0, King's Trumpeter, Rapine and Are** 8.9, Killaahandra 8.7, The Emperor 8.5, Viyellp. and Gold Light 8.1, Moorland 7.11, Lucius and Finelle 7.7, The Dunce 7.2, Zany, Waetea, Vogue, Dtroulde, Kilroe The J4iwst 6.7.

SUBURBAN HANDICAP (six furlongs) —Silver Link 9.6, Rational 9.0, Anomaly and Surveyor 8.13, Silver Peak 8.11, Songbird 8.9, Absurdum 8.8, Printemps 8.4, Mustard Pot and Radiant Light 8.2, Bon S t ec 7.13, Grotesque 7.11, Still Sea 7.9, Mireusonta 7.7, Sunny Corner 7.6, Black mail 7.4, Birkie, Backsheesh and Fulsome 7.1, Roseday and Tigrinia 7.0, Passionless 6.13, Danger Zone 6.11, Astinome and Whipping Boy 6.9, Triboulet, Capping Day, Canyon, Martian Miss, Mockery, Royal Blood and St. Waipa 6.7. BELMONT HANDICAP (six furlongs) Mireusonta 10.0, Danger Zone 9.5, Red Hind 8.11, Rose of Athens 8.7, Petunia and Landbird 8.6, Island 8.4, War Path 8.1, All British and Wrangle 7.13, Merry Day 7.12, Jackaroo 7.11, Lady Nassau 7.11, All Cerise 7.10, JBlack Head and Yankee Dan 7.9, Moutoa’s Gift 7.4, En Route 7.3, Roset and Pink Rose 7.2, Moonstruck and Megan 6.11, St. Waipa and Conflict 6.9, Zero Hour, Basso, Solace, Yellow Hammer, Manchester, Black Arrow, Sagacity, In the Pink, Lady Waimangai, Peep o’ Day and Maropa 6.7. TRENTHAM GOLD CUP (two miles)— Gloaming, Eoo Chow, Trespass, Vagabond and Amythas 9.4, Insurrection 9.0, Kick Off, Pluto and Winning Hit 8.0, Aureate and Palestrina 7.12. AN APPEAL DISMISSED. WELLINGTON, March 30. In the matter of an appeal by E. Stephens, jockey, against the decision of the Wanganui District Committee, in deciding that he was guilty of a breach of the Rules of Racing, in increasing the penalty of three months’ suspension imposed upon Stephens by the Marton Jockey Club to suspension for six months. The judges, Sir George Clifford and Messrs Kerries and P. Miller, said they did not feel justified in over-ruling the decision of the Wanganui District Committee in view of its unanimous finding, and the Judicial Committee of the Marton Club, 'who had every opportunity of coming to a correct conclusion on the facts, which occurred under their personal observation. The judges, therefore, dismissed the appeal. ATHLETICS. MATAURA SPORTS CLOSING DATES FOR ENTRIES Entries for the Sheffield Handicap at the Mataura Athletic Society’s annual sports on Easter Saturday close with the secretary (Mr John Buchanan, Mataura) this (Friday) evening. The race is worth £l6. Entries for minor running events close a week later. INVERCARGILL A.A.C. ANNUAL SPORTS TO-MORROW. The annual sports of the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club will be held to-mor-row at Rugby Park. Owing to the poor response in entries for championship events, these have been cancelled. The following handicaps have been declared by-the handicapper (Mr J. Page) : 100 YARDS HANDICAP—J. O’Callaghan scr, A. G. Harrington scr, A. N. McDonald scr, E. P. Dawson scr, E. H. Diack scr, P. Collins 3yds, A. E. Lockett 3yds, J. McMullan syds, J. E. Fleming syds, G. Maltby syds, O. Fogarty syds, F. Downey 6yds, J. Pointon 6yds, E. J. McLauchlan Byds, T. Henley Byds, L. Hay Byds, W. Wills 9yds. 220 YARDS HANDICAP—J. O’Callaghan scr, A. N. McDonald scr, A. G. Harrington scr, E. H. Diack scr, H. B. Laytham 12yds, P. Collins 12yds, J. E. Fleming 14yds, O. Fogarty 16yds, G. Maltby 16yds, J. Pointon 16yds, J. McMullan 18yds, T. Henley 20yds, E. J. McLauchlan 20yds. 440 YARDS HANDICAP—A. Harrington, A. N. McDonald and J. O’Callaghan scr, H. B. Laytham, C. C. Hermann and L. Murfitt 25yds, M. Harrington 40yds. 880 YARDS HANDICAP—W. L. Bews scr, C. C. Hormann, E. Hobbs and G. Forbes 20yds, H. B. Laytham and E. J. McLauchlan 40yds. ONE MILE HANDICAP—W. L. Bews scr, G. Forbes 35yds, C. C. Hormann 40yds, E. Hobbs 45yds, E. J. McLauchlan 50yds, M. Harrington 80yds. LONG JUMP HANDICAP—A. N. McDonald scr, E. H. Diack 16 inches, A. Harrington 24 inches, H. B. Laytham 24 inches, T. Henley 24 inches, J. Pointon 24 inches. PUTTING SHOT HANDICAP—M. Kean and G. P. Enright scr, M. Scully 12 inches, P. Gilfedder 3ft, E. Finch 4ft, E. J. McLauchian Bft. ONE MILE WALK HANDICAP—J. Hamilton, jun., P. Gilfedder and P. Kania—all scratch. 120 YARDS HURDLES HANDICAP— E.H. Diack 7yds behind, A. Harrington 6yds behind, E. R. Dawson 4yds behind, J. Hamilton, jun., scratch. HIGH JUMP HANDICAP—J. Hamilton, jun., scr, H. B. Laytham 5 inches, J. Pointon, E. Hobbs and E. P. Dawson 5 inches, C. C. Hormann 6 inches, H. S. Young 7 inches. GOLF. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, March 29. (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) At golf Cambridge beat Oxford by three foursomes and five singles to two foursomes and five singles. Tolley was brilliant, partnering Wimble he defeated Longbourne and Goad by twelve and eleven, and he beat Prowse, Cambridge’s captain in the singles thee and two afted a keen struggle. All were thirty-six hole matches. CRICKET LOCAL SCHOOLS’ MATCHES FIXTURES AND RESULTS The following schools’ cricket matches will be played to-morrow:— Seniors:—Marist v South, Biggar street; Bluff v Technical at Bluff; St. George v North, Doon street; High v Middle, High grounds; Wairopai a bye. (Junior competition: First round completed). Results of last Saturday’s matches are ; as follows: Senior:—Technical (35) defeated Marist (33) by- 2 runs on first innings. In the second innings Technical made 48 and Marist 47 for 5 wickets; the latter forcing the pace compiled their score in 20 minutes. Waihopai (87) defeated Bluff (20) by 67 runs. On a recent Saturday, North defeated Middle by 40 runs. Junior:—Waikiwi (44 and 19) defeated Middle by 11 runs; Marist (95 and 64) defeated South by 59 runs; Tisbury defeated Waihopai by 6 wickets. FRENCH RUGBY TEAM MODIFIED TOUR PROPOSED FRENCH UNION COMMUNICATED WITH (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 29. Owing to public disappointment at the French Rugby Union’s decision to cancel the projected New Zealand tour, the New Zealand Rugby Union is anxicus to secure a reconsideration by the French Union and has already discussed and agreed to a modified programme that would enable the Frenchmen to return home in time for their own championships. The curtailed programme would include fourteen matches, of which three would be tests. The management committee cabled the

French Union stating the grave disappointment that prevails here at its decision and as'king if the Union will reconsider a modification of the tour enabling the team to return in time for the championships. An urgent reply is requested so that favourable arrangements can proceed. TENNIS DAVIS CUP PROPOSALS OTTAWA, March 29. (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) The Canadian Davis Cup team received a cable from the French suggesting that the first round be played at Paris on June 17. Canada suggested to the United States that France and Denmark should play the first round and then the winner should come to America. SWIMMING RECORD MISS HOEFT AT GISBORNE GISBORNE, March 30. At the swimming carnival to-night, Miss Pauline Hoeft, participating in the 150 yards scratch race against local champions, won by half a yard in Imin. 52 l-10sec. It is announced as beating the previous world’s record for the distance for ladies by one and a-half seconds.