SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 18931, 3 May 1923, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY SIR MODRED The Marlborough Racing Club’s Autumn aieeting opens to-morrow. Entries for the N.Z. Trotting Stakes, 1924. close at 5 o’clock to-morrow evening. Acceptances for the Ashburton County JC. Autumn meeting are due at 5 p.m. tomorrow. Mandrake was second selection when he won the hurdle race at the Amberley meeting on Saturday. Oricot. by Husbandman, trained by F. D. Jones, at Riccarton, is a half-brother to the useful gelding The Reaver. Latest news from Australia is to the effect that The Hawk is working very satisfactorily on the training tracks. Local light harness mentor A. Matheson, left for Dunedin yesterday with Peterville, Lenamhor and other horses. It is reported that Royal Step and Walloon are to be prepared in Christchurch for late autumn and winter racing. Mulwaree, a trotting winner at Auckland, is Australian-bred and is owned by Mr Martin Taylor, well-known in coursing circle.-. In the hurdle race at Riccarton on Saturday Clean Sweep interfered with Here We Are and caused the latter to injure one of his feet. Urgency’s form in winning the Amberley Cup is stated to have caused expert onlookers to mark him down as a good performer in deep going.

Returned visitors from Timaru state that P. T. Hogan has a team of record numbers under his charge at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s headquarters.

Christchurch Press reports that the crack Winton-owned pacer, Logan Chief, has gone into the stable of the ex-Victorian light harness trainer J. J. Kenneriey.

The smart three-year-old. King’s Trumpeter. has started in eighteen races during the present season to win four valuable events and gain substantial place money in others.

Included in the eighteen competitors on .be limit mark in the Domain Handicap, to be decided at Forbury Park on Saturday, is the three-year-old colt Nelson Mac, by Nelson Bingen—Sinoda, owned by the wellknown ex-Southlander A. Pringle.

The Canterbury sportsman, Mr J. H. Prosser, who has visited Southland on many occasions with successful gallopers, breeds all the horses that carry his colours (writes "Argus” in Christchurch Star I. He has four mares in his stud, and he patronised three different sires this season. Signal (dam of Bon Spec), by Banner—Foresight, was mated with Greyspear (imp.), by Spearmint (son of Carbine)—Kitty Grey, byAyrshire—Stethoscope, by Speculum; while Formual (Bonniform—Signal) and Theda (San Francisco—Formual) were served by Solferino; and Bon Sign (Bonifonn—Signali visited Paper Money (imp.), by Greenback (son of St. Frusquin)—Epping Rose (daughter of Eager). If breeding and experience go for anything, Mr Prosser should raise some smart gallopers in the near future.

It transpires that Insurrection went wrong during the currency of the Sydney Cup meeting, while his travelling companion. Trespass, only managed to secure £lOO in stake money on an expensive trip. Mr W. R. Kemball’s horses have returned to Maaterton and will be treated to spells of several months’ duration.

Kilbroney’s smart New Zealand-bred son, Killashandra, has been granted a 14.2 certificate in Sydney and will presently race among the ponies. Many Maorilanders will be inclined to run away with the idea that the North Islander, who is a very fast galloper, will have matters all his own way in lilliputian ranks in New South Wales, but they may be advised to gang warily, as there are some very stout and speedy performers racing on the unregistered tracks in and around Sydney, and they will be found quite capable of holding their own when tie time is ripe for action with the New Zealand gelding.

The Victorian-owned and bred square trotter Dixie Mac, has been accepted for in the St. Clair Handicap (2m.) at Forbury Park T. C. meeting on Saturday and those spectators who have not seen the Australian mare perform will be greatly interested in watching her step out from 204 yards behind the limit mark on 17secs. She is anything but a pretty mover, but she can cover the ground fast and can be classed as a stayer of the first water.

Dainty Step has so far recovered from the mishap she sustained at the Manawatu meeting, that it has been found possible to send her home to her owner. The aged daughter of Lucullus—Adoption, by Elevation—Ascension, by Gipsy GrandRainbow, by Cadogan—lris, by Traducer, may furnish into a valuable matron, as her sire comes from a good female line of producers and Gipsy Grand has been responsible for some successful brood mares in this country.

Writing in the Dominion “The Watcher” •tales that her owner (Mr G, A. Palmer) has an idea of taking the Wellington-trained mare Astinome to the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Winter meeting in June. The Maniapoto—Hellenois mare is useful when at her best and she might easily pick up a race at Wingatui next month.

Mireusonta was ven- lame when he went out to contest the Hawke's Bay Stakes at Hastings last week, but this did not prevent the son of Absurd—Rosie Desmond winning comfortably by one and a-haif lengths from Highland in the good time of 1 min 22 secs for six and a-half furlongs under 9.7.

In addition to solid track work, Clean Sweep was called upon to compete in two races at Riccarton on Saturday, the events chosen for him being the Open Hurdle Race and Amberley Cup. In the first event he ran off, taking several other starters with him, while in the Cup he finished a long way back. However, J. B. Pearson understands the son of Advance thoroughly and is almost certain to lead him in the winner of a valuable race in the near future, provided the unexpected does not happen in the meantime.

At a meeting of the committee of the Gore Racing Club on Saturday evening (reports “Starter” in the Mataura Ensign) a letter was received from the New Zealand Trotting Association regarding the application for registration from the Wyndham Trotting Club. The Board wished to know the committee’s opinion as to whether the sport of trotting would be benefitted by the registration of the club. It was decided to send a favourable reply.

Jhe Gore Racing Club (reports “Starter’’) has received a lengthy explanation from Mr A. J. Gibbs regarding the handicapping of Armistice, the well-known pacer. It was decided to forward the explanation to the owner.

The Sydney writer “Musket” makes the following reference to the ex-New Zealand stallion, Demosthenes (imp.) :—“Mr Percy Miller’s home, Demosthenes, is, unfortunately, not a sure foal-getter, but if he only produces four each season, and they sell as well as the quartette disposed of this year, Demosthenes will prove a bargain at the 5000 guineas he cost Mr Miller. The four mentioned aggregated an even 4000 guineas, which may be regarded as more than satisfactory. As racehorses, the Demosthenes breed have made a great re-

putatioa m New Zealand and Australia, and those buyers who received the four sold recently are in a fair way of being the owners of high-class horses, for they all certainly looked aristocrats.”

Interviewed on his return to Wellington from a visit to Sydney, Mr I. G. Duncan had something of interest to say to a Post reporter in connection with the form displayed by the best two-year-olds competing at the recent A.J. C. Autumn meeting:—

“David, a genuine stayer, was the hero of the meeting. His effort in winning the Sydney Cup with the welter weight of 9.7 was a very gallant one. The Monk won the rich Sires’ Produce Stakes of seven furlongs at the right end, and on this showing alone has claims to be the winter favourite for the Derbies. King Carnival, however, who hardly looked his best, cut out the first six furlongs with Girton Girl at such a pace that he, not unnaturally, failed to finish. I would be inclined to take this horse and All Sunshine for the Derbies in preference to The Monk. All Sunshine was narrowly beaten in the Mile Nursery by Quintus, a nuggety Valais colt, whose form was consistently good throughout the meeting, but the former looked capable of most improvement. Black Scot on looks has Derby Possibilities; but he showed indifferent form, and did not seem to relish the amount of racing he was getting under the big weights allotted him.”

With regard to Mr Duncan’s remarks in connection with a couple of the two-year-olds, the writer would like to observe that one of them, Black Scot, is a very nice horse and one likely to develop into a useful three-year-old. The son of Kenilworth is a heavy-bodied youngster and the galloping required to get him ready for the Breeders’ Stakes early in the Spring season may have adversely affected him in the meantime. When looking the field for the Breeders’ Stakes over in. the bridcage at Randwick, the writer expressed the opinion that he would probably train off and that it was a pity that he should have been keyed up at such an early age, and so it has proved. King Carnival, on the other hand, presented the conformation of a more lightly-framed juvenile and one quite likely to stand early racing. The Comedy King —Orvieto colt has since demonstrated that this deduction was the correct one, and it now remains to be seen what w’ill happen if the pair should survive to race in the A.J.C. Derby. Both colts are by horses who have sired stayers, but King Carnival comes of the more successful stallion family.

In commenting on the recent Amberley meeting at Riccarton “Argus” refers to an Invercargill-owned three-year-old as follows: “Prosperity had every chance in the Welter Handicap, won by Samum, but failed at the business end, while Ardour was another who did not run on.” Sp far this season, Prosperity has not fulfilled his promise of last year, but he will no doubt improve with age, which is quite a common thing with the progeny of Boniform. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING PROGRAMME. MIDDLE PARK PLATE RETAINED. (Special to the Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s programme committee has made the following programme alterations for the Grand National meeting:— First Day: Tally-Ho Steeplechase to be withdrawn for the Cashmere Plate (a new race, to be the third race on the first day) of 300 sovs; second to receive 60 sovs, and the third 30 sovs from the stake, for horses that at the time of nomination have never won a race cf the value of 100 sovs; three-year-olds 9st, four-year-olds and upwards lOst; no allowances (six furlongs); Jumpers’ Flat Handicap, stakes to be increased from 250 sovs to 300 sovs; New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase to be increased from 2150 sovs to 2200 sovs (a cup value of 100 sovs and 2100 sovs in specie).

Third Day: Longbeach Hurdles to be withdrawn and the following new race substituted, Longbeach High-weight Handicap of 200 sovs, second 40 sovs, and third 20 sovs out cf stake, for horses that at the time of nomination have never won a flat race of the value of 150 sovs; minimum weight, lOst 121 b; gentlemen riders only; the rider of the winner to receive a trophy valued at 10 sovs (nine furlcngs on the flat). The increase in stakes will therefore be £250, making a total of £13,000 to be distributed during the meeting. Summer Meeting, 1924, Middle Park Plate.—This race to be retained on the programme of the Summer meeting, and recast on the following lines: of 400 sc vs, second to receive 80 sovs, and third 40 sovs out of the stake; for two-year-olds and upwards ; two-year-clds 7st 41b; three-year-olds B>t 91b; four-year-olds and upwards 9®t; fillies allowed 31b; the winner of any race or races since August 1, 1923, of the collective value of 200 sovs to carry 51b, 300 sovs 71b, 500 sovs 101 b extra (six furlcngs). RACING. MELBOURNE, May 2. The Victoria Racing Club has raised the sweepstake for starters in the Melbourne Cup to £75. GOLF INVERCARGILL LADIES’ CLUB. The following is the draw for the L.G.U. medals:— Miss Cowie and Mrs Pottinger. Mrs Carr and Miss Pilcher. Mrs Handyside and Mrs Masters. Mrs Henderson and Mrs Ferguson. Mrs Jones and Miss Campbell. Miss Oughton and Mrs Cruickshank. Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Haggitt. Miss Lillicrap and Miss J. Haggitt. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, May 1. The ladies’ international golf match has been fixed for May 5. The teams are to be captained by Miss Cecil Leitch and Mrs Williams, the New Zealander. FOOTBALL EASTERN DISTRICT COMPETITION. BIG WINS FOR MATAURA AND ALBION. i (By the Times Correspondent). The football season was opened in the Eastern District on Wednesday when flag ■ matches commenced in all grades. Weather j conditions were perfect and there was a I good attendance cf the public at the Gore ' Showgrounds. Albion defeated last year’s ; champions, Pioneer, by 26 to nil. Pioneer ; played two men short and were on the de- , fensive most of the time. Play was ragged and disappointing throughout and the ; score is not an indication of the merits of ' the two teams. The best feature of the game : was the defensive work of Davidson and Sutton, centre three-quarter and full back i respectively, for Pioneer. Mr A. Stead I made a capable referee. I At Mataura, Edendale was defeated by I Mataura by 26 to 3. Mr W 7 . J. Hayles j refereed. HELPING THE LOWER GRADES WELLINGTON PROPOSALS (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, May 3. ' A move in the direction of furthering the I interests of players in all lower grades from junior to seventh grade, has been made by I the Wellington Rugby Union's management | committee in the appointment of a junior

Advisory Board. The functions of the Board will be in supervising the lower grade football and making suggestions as to improvements which might be effected. LEAGUE PLAYER’S DISQUALIFICATION (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, May 2. The New South Wales Rugby League endorsed the New Zealand League’s life disqualification imposed on Tancred, who is desirous of playing for Balmain. The League endorsement is a purely formal action in accordance with an agreement between the New South Waxes and New Zealand bodies. Tancred was informed that he should approach the New Zealand League for removal of the ban before seeking to play in Australia. BOXING SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Southland Boxing Association was held on Tuesday evening, Mr D. Stalker presiding over a fair attendance. The annual report was as follows: “In all seven tournaments were held during the season which is a record in the history of the Association. Your committee decided to give a benefit entertainment in aid of the child of the late popular boxer V. L. Butler, better known to boxing enthusiasts as “Vic. Cox,” who unfortunately met his death as the result of an accident. The entertainment took place in the Municipal Theatre on May 18, 1922, and consisted of a combined boxing and concert programme. The net proceeds, including a donation of £9 3s 4d from Association funds, amounted to £BO 5s lOd. This was allocated as follows: —£27 12s in payment of medical and funeral expenses and the, balance of £52 13s lOd to a trust account in the Invercargill Savings Bank to be paid out to the guardian of the deceased’s child at (he rate of £1 per month. This account is still in credit to the extent of £4B 7s 7d. Your committee extend their sincere sympathy to the deceased’s relatives in their sad bereavement and deplore the less to boxing occasioned by the untimely death of such a sterling performer and gentleman. Your committee also beg to thank the boxers and musical performers who so kindly donated their services free to this laudable object. With the object of encouraging boxing in country districts your committee, at the request of several Gore supporters, conducted a novice tournament in the Theatre Royal, Gore, on May 25, 1922. Although financially not a success some very good form was shown by the Gore novices, pupils of “Digger” F. Brown, and an enjoyable night’s entertainment was provided. In addition “Digger” F. Brown boxed an exhibition 6 rounds bout with W. J. Sycamore, which delighted the audience and in which Sycamore fully extended his heavier opponent. A gold medal, donated by a Gore enthusiast for the most scientific Gore novice boxer, was awarded to R. G. Shave, who showed splendid form. “The annual Southland championship tournament, was held in the Municipal Theatre on 6th and 7th June, 1922. This tournament also resulted in a loss financially, principally through the heavy expense incurred in bringing a team of eight boxers and a manager from Dunedin, this course being rendered necessary by the paucity of local entries. However, the class of boxing shown was exceptionally good and was very much appreciated by your committee and the spectators. Following on the novice tournament at Gore a deputation of enthusiasts from Gore waited on your committee and requested that “Digger” Frank Brown be matched with M. T. Neylon for a fifteen rounds bout for a purse of net proceeds of house under deduction of £2O to Association and a side wager of £25 cash. Your committee acceded to their request and articles were signed by Brown

and Neylon. Neylon however failed .to I lodge his wager and deposit as requested I by the articles, and the match was offered to C. A. McQuarrie, who accepted and duly . completed his contract. The contest took place in the Theatre Royal, Gore, on Ist j August, and after a very close and interi esting contest McQuarrie secured the deI cision on points at the end of the scheduled fifteen rounds. The attendance was below 1 expectations and did not return the principals an adequate purse. A programme of specially selected 6 rounds bouts was staged in the Drill Hall, Bluff, on October 7, 1922, at the request of Bluff supporters.This tournament, although not so successful financially as anticipated, provided the finest boxing seen during the season’s operations. The novice tournament, held in the Municipal Theatre on October 17 and 18, 1922, was instrumental in introducing a larger number of promising novice boxers, principally from Mr Fritz Holland country classes. Splendid entries in ah classes were received and remarkably good form shown by the competitors. “New Year Tournament.—A special holiday tournament, restricted to feather, light and heavy classes, with one six rounds bout, held in the Municipal Theatre on January 2, 1923, concluded the Association’s operations for the year and attracted fair support from the public, and provided very inj t cresting and closely contested competitions I in all classes. i “The South Island championships were held in Timaru. The province was represented in the feather weight class by W. J. ' Sycamore. Although not successful, Syca- ' more acquitted himself with credit to him- ' self and the province. Mr T. A. Henry ■ ably represented the Association at the conference of delegates and acted as manager for the competitor. I “Your Association and the sport generI ally are very unfortunate in losing the services bv removal from the district of a very energetic worker in the person of Mr E. Barrett, while for business reasons Mr J. J. Ward has retired from active participation in the affairs of the Association. The thanks of all boxers are due to these gentlemen for their efforts in the interests of the sport. Thanks are due to all willing helpers at the tournaments, the Bluff and Gore subcommittees, especially their respective secretaries, Messrs R. A. Stuckey and J. j Silvester; to the police for facilities in conj ducting tournaments; to our honorary medical officers, Drs J. G. Crawford, F. 0.. Mac Gibbon, and S. V. Brown; to the municipal staff for theatre arrangements; to the press for their splendid reports of tournaments and meetings; to our local instructors, especially Mr Fritz Holland and latterly Mr F. Padget for assistance in procuring entries, also to all our office-bearers for their valuable assistance in the conduct of the affairs of the Association. The active membership now stands at 24, with one to be removed on account of removal from the district, leaving two vacancies. The honorary members total 92, after striking off all members over one year in arrear. The new system of having tickets countersigned by the secretary on payment of subscription, and same not being available for use until signed provide much assistance in collecting subscriptions. However, there is still outstanding the sum of £l9 12s, and early attention by defaulters to payment of their own would greatly assist the Association. “The statement of receipts and expenditure and balance sheet shows a loss of £35 12/1 on the year’s working. The Association commenced the year with a credit of assets over liabilities of £227 10s and closed with a balance of £l9l 17s lid. The loss is principally occasioned by the fall in the attendance at our tournaments, increased values of prizes and heavy competitors’ expenses at our earlier tournaments, and I the incoming committee will require to care- | fully estimate and keep down expenses until better attendances at competitions can be attained. Mr Stalker congratulated the Association on the year’s working. But, he said, although they had done more for boxing than in any other province during the | past year, he thought the time had arrived

when they mUeUseriotisly consider curtail* ing the number of tournaments. There had unfortunately been apathy on the pari Jx the public, but they could put their loss financially to the credit side of the boxers. Instead of the six or seven tournaments they held last season, he was in favour of two novice and one championship tournaments. The time had also arrived when they should press strongly for the next South Island championships to be held at Invercargill. On the motion of the president, the report and balance sheet were adopted. The election of office-bearers resulted:— President, Mr A. H. Courtis; vice-presi-dents, Messrs C. Davis, T. A. Henry, M. T. Ward, D. Stalker, S. Lindsay, and Dr MacGibbon; trustees, Messrs J. A. Doig and E. •V. T. Howarth; committee, Messrs G. S. Jishop, C. Dixon, A. E. Huffadine, C. G. IcCauley, G. A. McChesney, F. Mussen, J. Sycamore, J. O’Brien, A. D. Burn; uditor, Mr R. Taylor; secretary and treaurer, Mr J. H. Gilbertson. For the championship tournament on lune 4 and 5, it was decided to arrange :even classes (fly, bantam, feather, light, welter, middle and heavy). It was also deeded to have notices printed to the effect that competitors not ready for their bouts should be disqualified. It was decided that entries should close at 5 p.m. on May 29. The following officials for the tournament were appointed:—Judges, Messrs Henry and Lindsay; official seconds, Messrs Huffadine and Sycamore; ringmaster, Mr M. Ward; call stewards, Messrs McCauley, McChesney and Springford; timekeepers, Messrs A. E. Arthur and Burn; weigher-in, Mr B. Bain; medical practitioners, Drs Mac Gibbon, Brown and Garfield Crawford; judges’ steward, Mr J. Connolly; announcer, Mr J. A. Doig. A motion of sympathy with Geoff Blanks, who sustained a broken leg, was passed. CRICKET MELBOURNE, May 2. The profits from matches played by MacLaren’s team in Melbourne amounted to £251, of which Victoria’s share was £BB. WATERED WICKET INQUIRY. (Per United Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. The inquiry into the allegation of watered wickets at Lancaster Park will be commenced on Tuesday next. Tlje inquiry has been undertaken by the management committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council, at the request of the Wellington Cricket Association. Messrs D. C. Collins and J. S. Hiddleston, of Wellington, will arrive in Christchurch on Tuesday to give evidence.