SPORTING.

Southland Times, Issue 19506, 4 May 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

NOTES BY SIR MODRED. 'Hie Forbury Park T.C. Winter meeting opens to-day and extends over Saturday. The useful Canterbury horse, Mustard I Pot, is to be spelled for five or six weeks. | The Marlborough R.C.’s Autumn meeting will open to-morrow and extend over Saturday. -* Acceptances for the opening days of the Egmont aryd Ashburton meetings are due on Friday evening. When bargains of the turf are being discussed Sir Solo cannot be left out. As s yearling he ccet his present owner 30 guineas. The crack steeplechaser Coalition is working consistently at Trentham. He has already been schooled over the battens as a preliminary to jumping big country. Gold Spinner, who was racing at the South Canterbury J.C. meeting last week, ranks as half brother to the speedy sprinter Bon Spec. It is anticipated that ho will develop into a valuable galloper. T. O'Connor appeared to get a nasty fail when Juan came down at the first of the stand double at the South Canterbury meeting on Saturday. He was conveyed to the ambulance room on a stretcher but examination showed that he had escaped with nothing more serious than a severe shaking. The Otago light weight jockey, F. Voight, rode very consistently, but with bad luck, at the South Canterbury meeting. On Friday he rode the second horee in the firat four races, while he filled third place in the next flat event on the programme. On Saturday he piloted one winner, besides being in second place on two occasions. Gamecock is the only Riccarton horse nominated for the big jumping events at the Auckland Racing Club’s Winter meeting next month. He is engaged in the Great Northern Steeplechase andGrdat Northern Hurdle Handicap. Writing in the Christchurch Star “Argus” remarks: —"Songbird’s effort in winning the Autumn Handicap, the chief event on the second day of the South Canterbury meeting, emphasised his right to rank with the best three-year-olds of the season. He was always near the front, and he finished up the mile, under a big weight, in. fine gryle. Songbird's performance was full of merit and he is undoubtedly a great colt up to a mile, though his ability as a stayer remains a serious doubt.” Provided she steps consistently in the first Amateur Handicap to-day, Ballet Girl (24yds behind) should give her Southland supporters a good run for their money. Southern backing will be in evidence at Forbury Park to-day for First Glance and Hylas in the Domain Handicap. The Southland-owned Bellfashion will be pacing in high-class company to-day at Forbury Park in the Prince of Wales Handicap and he may put up a good race, but he will find Thixendale, Emperor and Onyx hard to dispose of in favourable going. Wallroon left Invercargill looking particularly well last week and he should pace well in his engagements at Fornury Park. Downcast is being asked to do great work to get into the money at Dunedin iius week, but the Adonis gelding was in very fair condition when McLellan too» him away to race in the North. He was hardly ready when he visited Christchurch at Easter time, but was going great guns on the concluding day when an accident put him out of court. Describing the running of the Flying Handicap (six furlongs) at the Menangle Park meeting in Sydney this month, in which the New Zealand gelding Solfanello started one of the hottest favourites on record, a Sydney writer says: A. Wood was engaged to ride Solfanello, but he failed to arrive on the courae, and M. Hourigan was substituted. From a good start Solfanello was first away, but Sunpore soon ranged alongside him, and led the visitor by a length. The first furlong was run in 13sec., and two in 25sec. Solfanello got the lead entering the straight, but the pair were together all the way to the distance, where Hourigan was riding hard. Sunpore, however, was going comfortably. The cry then went up, “He’s beaten.” Sunpore came on easily, but though Hourigan drew the whip Solfanello could not respond, and was beaten by half a length. Both carried racing plates, and there is now a set against Solfanello for Doncaster. Seen immediately after the race, Hourigan said: “Sunpore had me all the way. My horse kept changing his legs, and would not take hold of the bit. He could make no impression on Sunpore at any part of it." The result of the race caused Solfanello to get right out of favour for the Doncaster Handicap in which he ran unplaced.

Commenting on the incident at Avondale last Monday, an Auckland writer says: * —One of the most uncalled for hostile demonstrations ever made on a racecourse Was that made against the judge, Mr R. Wynyard, at the conclusion of the Mount Handicap at Avondale on Monday, when Euphoria was challenged at the distance by Polini. The pair having an exciting battle for supremacy, with Euphoria well on the outside, and it would appear that very few of those taking part in the demonstration could have seen O’Shea bring Marble Slab along on the inside next the rail, with the phenomenal run the son of Marble Arch has to be credited with. It was a great effort, and those on the stewards,’ Press, members and trainers’ stand formed the opinion that Marble Slab had won by *t least threequarters of a length, while it was a pretty close thing as between Polini and Euphoria, so that allowing for the opposite angle to. that formed from the main stand, would made the decision, a Short neck, a correct one. When the demonstration started numbers came running Up to take part in it from neaarly a furlong away, so that an idea of the value of their opinion can easily be gained. It was Borne time before the crowd became quiet, and the subject was the cause of considerable comment even on the journey home. Sitting in the train, and hearing the discussions in various other places, one wonders how people come to the conclusions they |do. Thousands must have been almost In a line with the post, while the characters ©f the gentlemen who acted as stewards are thought so little of that one would get the opinion that every steward of the club must have tad at least fifty on Marine Slab, and must have known that the finish of the race was going to be so close, and therefore arranged with Mr Wynyard to give the decision to Marble Slab. Hearing tuch statements one gets the full value of the opinion of racing crowds generally, and it is to be regretted that officials of clubs are left open to such abuse as that levelled against Mr Wynyard on Monday. A VALUABLE HORSE £lO,OOO REFUSED FOR BEAUFORD. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, May 3. . Killick, trainer of Beauford, has ant Jounced that his owner refused an offer of £lO,OOO from an Indian buyer for the champion.

GOLF. LADIES’ MATCH AT OTATARA The following is the draw for the silver and bronze medals at Otatara to-day:— Mrs Carr plays Mrs Pottinger; Mrs Cowie pl§ys Mrs Hall-Jones; Mrs Brook plays Mrs Haggitt: Mrs T. M. Macdonald plays Miss L. Henderson; Mrs G. Henderson plays Miss Pilcher; Mrs A. E. Smith plays Mrs C. F. A. Jones; Mrs Broad plays Miss Brodrick; Mrs Ferguson plays Miss Lillicrap; Mrs Cruickshank plays Mrs Cochrane; Miss Haggitt, a bye. FOOTBALL. SOUTHLAND RUGBY UNION. The weekly meeting of the Southland Rugby Union management committee was held last night, present:—Messrs T. Meredith (chairman) J. A. Doig, C. H. Courtis, P. Scully, L. Foster, A. J. Geddes, W. Robison, J. Mawson, W. F. Sutton, D. K. Torrance, G. Fortune, Bro. Anastasius and the secretary, Mr W. G. Compton. The Referees’ ’Association wrote drawing attention to the state of some of the grounds. It also advised that Mr W. F. Sutton had been appointed the Association’s delegate to the New Zealand Referees’ Association annual meeting—Received and noted., On behalf of ‘Mr G. Dyer, Mr W. F. Sutton handed the union his medals for school competition, one for the best back and the other for the best forward.—The medals were received, and it was decided to thank the donor. The following transfers were dealt with : R. McEwan, St George to Pirates, held over; A. Mackay, Woodend to St George, granted; Eric Dawson, Woodlands to Invercargill, granted subject to a clearance being forwarded. Deputations representing Makarewa, Winton,,. Ryal Bush and Woodend attended to discuss the junior A grade conditions. The chairman, addressing the delegates, said that the Union had called them together to arrange conditions for the proposed junior A grade competition. It was the desire of the Union that home and home matches be played between the country teams. The, Winton delegate, Mr W. Hamilton, said that the chief difficulty his club was up against was the half holiday v The Woodend, Makarewa and Ryal Bush delegates intimated that their clubs were agreeable to play home and home cratches. Mr R. Dawson, Ryal Bush, said that he had been informed that Woodlands would drop out if the competition were started. H: was of the opinion that country footbsil would be better encouraged by visits from town teams.

The previous resolution with regard to amalgamation was rescinded. A motion was then proposed that a junior A competition be inaugurated with Woodlands, Ryal Bush, Winton, Makarewa and Woodend as the contesting clubs. An amendment that there be only one junior competition embracing all junior clubs as last year, Makarewa and Ryal Bush to be asked to amalgamate, and that the regrading committee watch all games carefully and re-grade players, was proposed. The amendment was carried on the casting vote of the chairman. GROUND CHARGES. The Finance Committee recommended, after careful consideration of the Union’s financial position, and in view of the heavy expenditure to be paid in the near future, that the charges be the same as last year, viz adults 1/-, ladies 6d, stand, men 6d, ladies free. The chairman said that the public was at present getting cheap football. Another member said that the Union was faced with the upkeep of a freehold ground. Northern unions held leasehold ground and spent little money on them. Mr D. Torrance said that their first consideration was the players, and the Union was faced with the erection of hot showers and good dressing sheds. The chairman said that the public was mistaken when it supposed that the Union was a money making concern. It was. true that the past season showed a profit, but if the Union were called upon to liquidate its liabilities it would be in a difficult position. The Union was not the wealthy body that the public believed. A motion was moved that the charges be the same as charged last Saturday, viz men 1/- to ground, ladies 6d; stand, men 6d, ladies 6d. An amendment that the charges be the same as last season was then proposed. The amendment was lost, and a further amendment that the charges be the same as last year plus tax was then proposed. The amendment was carried on the casting vote of the chairman, and, owing to a misunderstanding, the first amendment was again put and carried. The following representative matches were arranged by the delegates:— V. Canterbury—Saturday, August 12. V. Hawke’s Bay—Wednesday, August 16. V. Auckland —Wednesday, August 23. V. Taranaki—Saturday, April 26. V. Otago—Saturday September 2 at In V. Wellington—Wednesday, September 13. V. Otago—Saturday September 16 at Dunedin. The dates are all subject to confirmation from the unions concerned, but it was not anticipated that there would be any alterations. It was decided that the new kicking into touch rule be played on Saturday. The following fixtures were approved for Saturday the junior grade matches be. ng held over until the draw could be revised:— Star v. Invercargill, Rugby Park, 3 p.m., Mr D. K. Torrance. Bluff v. Waikiwi, Bluff, 3 p m., Mr W. Duncan. Pirates v. Manst, Park 1 and 2,2 p.m. Mr J. A. Doig. Provision was made for parking motor cars at all matches, no charge to be made for the priviledge. The Flag Committee recommended that the country teams be played on June 3 as last year: — v Western in the morning; v Eastern v Central in the afternoon; the game against Northern to be played at Lumsdbn or Balfour. EASTERN DISTRICT SUB-UNION YESTERDAY’S RESULTS. The opening of the football season in the Eastern District took place yesterday. Although at the beginning at the season the same form cannot be expected tts is shown later on in the year, the matches were extremely interesting, and some good football was seen. Following are the results:— FIRST GRADE. Mataura defeated Pioneer at Gore by 6 points to 3. Albion, 6, defeated Edendale, nil at Edendale. SECOND GRADE. Edendale were rather easily defeated by Albion at Gore, the score being 27 to nil. Seaward Downs, beat Pioneer by 23 to nil on their own grounds. THIRD GRADE. High School “A”, 11, defeated Albion 6 Pioneer defaulted to Mataura. The game High School “B” v Wyndham resulted in a draw, each team scoring a try. The games were all played in fine though cold weather, and were attended by large numbers of enthusiasts from all parts of the district. SCHOOLS FOOTBALL. FRIDAY, MAY 5. —SECOND GRADE.— St. George v North—Eastern Reserve. Middle I A.) v. Marist (A) —Biggar street, No. 1. I Marist (B) v. South—Biggar street, No. 2. Bluff v. Waihopai (B) Biggar Street No.

Bluff v. Waihopai (B) Bigger Street No. 1 (Saturday 9.30) . Waikiwi v. Waihopai (A) Queen’s Park. SATURDAY, MAY 6. —FIRST GRADE.— South v. Middle. South ground. Technical v. Marist. Eastern Reserve. High unable to enter a team.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10. THIRD GRADE. Waihopai v. Marist (B)—Queen’s Park, South (B) v. St George—Biggar street, No 1. Marist (A) v. North—Eastern Reserve. Middle v. Bluff. South (A) a bye.

TENNIS. THE SYDNEY TOURNAMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, May 3. (Received May 3, 11.5 p.m.) The tournament was continued in muggy weather. Misses Curtis and MacFarlane were in excellent form, both being successful in two contests. Each of the New Zealanders generally had a successful day. In the ladies’ singles championship Miss MacFarlane beat Miss Sinclair 6—4, 6—4. She also beat Miss Bidgood 6—2, 4 —6, 6—3. Miss Curtis beat Mrs Fuller 6—4, 6—4, after a close game. Miss Wellwood had an easy victory over Miss Stubbs 6—l, 6—JO. In the ladies’ doubles championship Misses Curtis and Lascelles beat Mrs Geller and Miss Sinclair 6—2, 6—2. Misses Wellwood and Smith beat Misses Doddmead and Cox in two sets straight though the losers pushed them every inch of the way, B—6,8 —6, B—6. In the men’s special doubles Kirkpatrick and Aitken beat Baker and Lees 6—2, 6—4. In a mixed doubles handicap Green and Miss Green beat Baker and Miss Patterson 6—4, 3—6, 6—4. In the ladies’ doubles Handicap Misses Green and Brewster beat Misses Hunt and Miller 6—l, 6—o. Misses Elliott and Bull beat Misses Hartgell and G. Curtis, 6—l, 6—2.