SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 18990, 11 July 1923, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY SIR MODRED.

Wellington Racing Club’s Winter meeting will he continued to-day.

V.R.C.’s Grand National fixture will be tdvanced another stage this afternoon.

South Canterbury Hunt Club meeting handicaps are due to appear in print tomorrow.

The first race at Trentham to-day, Corunna Hurdles, is set down to start at about 11.31 a.m.

Staff Officer will carry strong southern support in Second Hunters’ Steeplechase, £5OO, this afternoon.

A first selection of Saturday, Doleful Ditty (third', will be strongly fancied for his race at Trentham to-day.

Southern followers of the turf will be interested in the meeting of Urgency and Guncase to-day at a difference of 211 b.

One of the most interesting events at Trentham to-day will be the Corunna Hurdle Race, which claims smart novices.

Ancient Gladful has not been unduly handicapped at 9.9 in W.R.C. Highweight Handicap, but Frisco Mail (9.2) may head him.

The useful Rude has developed symptoms of lameness and has been relegated to the paddock for a very necessary spell.

Ranui’s winning march was stopped in Wellington Steeplechase, but he completed lhe course where other well-known horses 'ailed by the way.

Judging from his efforts on the track and in Welcome Cup on Saturday, Auckander Surveyor is now racing at the top of his form in public.

Jockey C. Emerson is reported to have been unwell of late and this fact makes it impossible to overtake McCarten on the list of winning horsemen.

The last race at the Wellington Racing Club’s Winter fixture to-day, Petone Handicap (five furlongs) is scheduled for decision round about 4.11 p.m.

Mountain Signal (Mountain Knight— Signal March) ran well into fourth place in the Trial Plate at Trentham and has 71b off his back in the Maiden Handicap to-day.

It is anticipated that the Waikato steeplechase candidate, Snake (Quin Abbey—Oison) a six-year-old, will gather some of the big money at Trentham or Riccarton prior to his return home.

It is expected that the very successful sire Harold Dillon will be one of the light harness stallions under the care of A. Hendricksen at the latter’s new home at Santa Rosa Farm during the coming season.

In his three latest starts Palencia has met with mishaps, but the Otago Steeplechaser, who is a good jumper at home, cannot make mistakes every time out and when he does get round safely there will be trouble for the opposition.

The Dunedin light harness enthusiast, Mr G. Barton, owner of Adair, has purchased Pearlie Chimes, by Derby Chimes — Pearlie Huon. With the exception of winning two unhoppled races at Auckland last spring, the Australian mare has not acted up to her reputation in Maoriland.

It is reported from Trentham that The Emperor, by Boniform—Vicereine, a three-year-old,' has been disposed of to a Hawke’s Bay purchaser. He won two races and earned some place money as a juvenile last season, but has only a second to his credit for the current turf term.

When Guncase made his debut in open company on the third day of the Dunedin J.C.’s Winter meeting and won the King George Handicap (one mile) under 7.6, he beat Urgency 8.12 by four lengths winning easily. At Trentham to-day the pair are due to meet again, this time over one mile and a quarter, w’hen Urgency carries 10.7 and Guncase, 9.0, a difference of 211 b, as against 201 b at Wingatui. Urgency has been well keyed up for his task and also ran well on Saturday, while Guncase has not been in the hands of the starter since his winning essay at the D.J.C. fixture. Under the circumstances, it will be interesting to note what happens to the pair to-day if both should face the music. Guncase has yet to gallop over ten furlongs in the best company, but he performed at Dunedin as if he would do well when called upon to slay out an extended journey.

Air Balloon, who has been classed at or near the top of the handicap lists for big spring races in Australia, is an Englishbred horse by Steadfast, sire of Musketoon flow racing at Trentham. Air Balloon, who was a winner in England in 1922, was bought as a bargain in England at 450 guineas by Mr J. Brown of N.S.W., who owns one of the most valuable studs in Australia and breeds and races many winners. When purchased by Mr Brown it was generally considered that Air Balloon was not sound for racing. He is, however, doing strong work at Randwick, and should it be possible to get him into the same condition as he was when he won the Alexandra Plate at Ascot in 1922, he will take tome beating in long distance events in the Commonwealth and probably lend interest to the battles for supremacy in the weight-for age races at Randwick and Flemington. He will have every chance when he goes to the stud, as his owner has some high-class English and Australian matrons al his breeding establishment.

A groan went up in Northern wagering circles when P. T. Hogan’s favourite pupil, Guncase, was scratched for the Welcome Cup on Saturday. The Calibre—Matchbox four-year-old was first in order of selection with the people who “couple them up.”

It is reported from Canterbury that the •ged trotting gelding St. Anthony, by Lord Derby—Gianella, has been purchased by the ex-Southlander, Mr J. L. Jopp, now of Pleasant Point. St. Anthony has won at both the pacing and trotting gaits, but he appears to prefer racing without the restraint of the hopples and he has displayed steady improvement since he joined the trotting brigade. He first raced as a trotter and at three-year-old won the Forbury Park T-C.’a New Zealand Stakes in 1918, for his breeder, Mr H. F. Nicoll.

A mile from home in the Wellington Steeplechase (reports Christchurch Press), Ranui was still in front from Palencia and Young Thurnham, but it was evident that Ranui was doing his best, while Young Thurnham’s extravagant jumping had found him out, and, hitting the brush fence hard, he collapsed, and was soon afterwards pulled up. Palencia appeared to be going best of the bunch still in the race, for Snake, Tigerland, Oakleigh and Dick were all being hunted along. Tigerland fell at the next fence, a sod wall, and Palencia when going up to Ranui at the next obstacle, one of logs, got right into it •nd toppled over. Then Snake and Oakleigh gradually caught Ranui, while Dick was making up his ground fast. Ranui was beaten two fences from home, and Dick and Snake led over the last fence, just a shade in front of Oakleigh, but the topweight was not to be denied and in a bitter struggle he got up to beat Dick, with Snake at Dick’s quarters. Oakleigh pulled up well, and so did Dick, but Snake was very tired, and he walked away from •he weighing paddock as if he had given us back a slight rick or was desperately tired. Red Cent, Ranui and First Line, who were the others to complete the course ware a long way back, while Young Thum-

ham, Seadowui and Zeus were pulled up | when their riders saw it was a hopeless I case. ' Wiring to the Press at the close of Saturday’s racing at Trentham “The Rook” advised:—“The course is fearfully cut up after the day’s racing, and it cannot pos- • sibly be improved to any extent for the , concluding days, so those horses that handled it to-day are likely to show up again later on in the meeting.” i The Invercargill candidate in the Vit- ■ tcria Hurdles on the first day of the Wel- : lington R.C. meeting is thus referred to Iby a writer who knows him well: — | "Frenchman was running a good race alongside First Born (the winner), at the end of a mile, where he hit a fence very hard, and that was the end of him, but his showing w r as a good one for a maiden performer, and his turn will come before long.” Experienced racecourse officials and wellwishers of the turf who have given serious thought to the matter, will be in agreement with the following remarks penned by "Glencoe” of Wellington Dominion:— After the experience of the Rangitikei Hunt Club and a number of other small clubs, it is surprising that the Minister of Internal Affairs is continually asked to grant more permits to small clubs. A little reflection will show that half of the clubs have not the remotest chance of making both ends meet. No one wants to deprive the back-block settlers of their day’s racing, but with the present state of the country it is a matter of impossibility for them to make the meetings pay. Proof of this is to be found in the regular appeals of the small clubs to be allowed to race at the big centres. This is only putting a lever in the hands of those who believe that racing should be centralised. Certainly this phase of the sport has much ■ to recommend it, but on the other hand it will surely mean the crushing out of the small man. The races at the big meetings are always won by the owners who race in a big way. When did what is known as a “battler” ever win, say a Derby? There appears to be a conviction in the minds of some members of the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association that they can dodge the flood ob objection that is growing in volume to the hard and fast rule as to the value of light harness stakes on galloping programmes. In the course of time those interested in trotting away from the four centres, and Christchurch in particular, will rise up in their wrath and demand that the rule be made more elastic. There is a strong suspicion that the matter is a personal one with somebody and the followers of the game in Nelson, Blenheim, West Coast, Southland, Otago and several districts of the North Island resent the interference that has taken place in regard to the stakes to be given by racing clubs, as long as the galloping authorities provide reasonable stakes. The Southland racing clubs lead the way in New Zealand in providing stakes for trotters and yet they were practically dictated to in nearly every instance during the current season. As matters now stand, racing clubs providing trotting events on their programmes display uneasiness in regard to the cast iron rule that compels them to provide prize money in proportion to the stakes for galloping, the purpose for which they really exist. This feeling is growing in Southland, for instance, and it may result in light harness racing being discarded by more than one club. If this should happen it would be a calamity in a province where there are many trotters and only two one-day trotting permits. The rulers of the light harness sport who obstinately refuse to see the point of view of the racing clubs have no mandate from the trotting public to persist in their present course of action and the sooner they realise this fact the better it will be for everybody concerned. If the men referred to wish to centralise the sport in the larger centres to the exclusion of outside districts and the hurt of hundreds of modest owners, then they are going about their work in the right way to do so. Members of the Board of the N.Z. Trotting Association have been warned to this effect time and again, but they prefer to blunder on in support of a narrow-minded and petty policy. TROTTING CONFERENCE. YARDS SYSTEM APPROVED. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, July 10. The annual conference of representatives of the New Zealand Trotting Clubs opened this morning. In the absence of the president (Mr H. F. Nicoll), the vicepresident (Mr John Rowe) presided. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. A number of letters were read from clubs expressing satisfaction w’ith the conduct of the stipendiary stewards. A special report was also read declaring that the present system had undoubtedly been a success. A motion by the New Brighton delegate—“ That no member of the Association shall be eligible to be elected a representative to act at the conference, or to act as a substitute for a representative, deleting in Rule 13 ‘excepting in the case of the president of the Association.’ ” —was lost. An amendment to Rule 95 was moved by the acting-president and adopted—“ That a club, by its committee or (failing action by the committee) by its stewards, shall for each racing year (or at its discretion for each race meeting) appoint a judicial committee.” The conference decided that clubs should, for each meeting appoint a judicial committee. It was reported that the present stipendiary steward system was an undoubted success. A discussion took place on the motion by the Timaru Trotting Club that where a rider or driver is engaged to ride or drive in any race, who is not the trainer of a horse in such a race, he shall not be permitted to start, unless the amount of his minimum fee, as for a losing mount, in the race has been previously deposited with the secretary or clerk of the scales, or other official appointed by the stewards for that purpose. This was carried with the following amendment added, “if he wins the balance of his fee shall be deducted from the stake, otherwise payable to the owner and shall be paid to the rider or driver, and the club shall be responsible to rider or driver, for his minimum fee under the rules.” The motion from the Canterbury Park T.C. that no whip shall be allowed to be used containing any metallic substance and any persons found guilty of using such a whip, shall be fined not less than two sovereigns or be disqualified for any period the stewards or committee may think fit, was lost. The motion from the Wellington T.C. proposed by Mr J. Sharp and seconded by Mr B. S. Irwin, that in all handicap races, the handicap shall be made in the yards system, was carried by 15 to 7, on a show cf hands. It was decided that in small handicaps, handicappers shall frame such handicaps, that 12yds shall equal one second, and six yards shall equal half a second. Other resolutions by the Gore T.C., by the vice-president of the conference, and by the New Zealand Trotting Association, were carried. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr H. F. Nicoll; vice-president, Mr J. Rowe; executive. Messrs H. R. MacKenzie, B. S. Niven, C. M. Olliver. The executive were appointed to act as dates committee. It was decided that the next conference should be held at Wellington at a date to be arranged. TROTTING FIXTURES. WELLINGTON, July 10. At the meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association dates of meetings for the coming season were fixed as follows: Poverty Bay, August 2. New Zealand Metropolitan, August 11, 15 and 17. Auckland, October 20 and 24.

Grey mouth, October 20 and 22. Oamaru, October 22. New Zealand Metropolitan, November 6, 8 and 9. Otahuhu, November 17 and 21. Forbury Park, November 30 and December 1. Waikato, December 8. New Brighton. December 15 and 17. Ashburton, December 26 and 27. Gore, December 26. West port, December 26 and 27. Auckland, December 27, 29 and 31. Greymouth, December 31. and January 2. Canterbury Park January 1 and 2. Otago Central, January 1. Westland, January 4. Mangahua, January 8. Wellington, January 12. Manawatu, January 16. Forbury Park, January 31 and February Wanganui, February 19 and 22. New Zealand Metropolitan, February 9. Otahuhu, February 16 and 20. Nelson, February 29. Marlborough, March 7. Kaikoura, March 14. Timaru, March 22. New Brighton, March 27 and 29. Auckland, April 5 and 9. Ellesmere, April 10. New Zealand Metropolitan, April 19 and 23. Waimate Plains. April 26. Forbury Park, May 8 and 10. Canterbury Park, May 31 and June 3. South Wairarapa, June 3. Ashburton, June 7. GOLF INVERCARGILL CLUB'S CHAMPIONSHIPS. The second qualifying round for the Invercargill Golf Club’s senior and junior championships was played on Saturday. The ground was hard as the result of a heavy frost in the morning and slopes which the sun did not touch remained white all day. The greens were consequently tricky and ip many cases approaches to the green that appeared to be just what was wanted produced some surprising results. The best round was G. Henderson 81, which was also the best score made in either of the qualifying rounds. Henderson should have got under 80 as he missed two or three short putts. He won the A grade medal played in conjunction with the qualifying round with the card 81—4—77. Those who qualified and their aggregates were: —C. A. Masters 167, G. Henderson 170, R. A. Wilson 172, R. J. Gilmour 173, A. A. Cramond 183, A. J. Hawke 184, J. Mackintosh 191 and C. B. Tapley 204. Following is the draw for the matches, which will begin to-day:—Masters plays Tapley, Wilson plays Hawke, Gilmour plays Cramond and Mackintosh plays Henderson. In the B grade there was a keen struggle for the places, and, as was anticipated, the list as it appeared after the first qualifying round was considerably altered. G. Millar followed up his 95 on the first day with a steady 93, which gave him an easy lead in the aggregates. R. Binney, who had played much below form in the first round, returned a good 94, which enabled him to qualify easily and also won the B grade medal with 94 —20—74. Those who qualified and their aggregates were:— G. Millar 188, I. Carr 197, B. W. Hewat 206, C. F. A. Jones 207, R. R. Binney 209, T. W. Vickery 210, and A. B. Haggitt 215. A. E. Smith and G. Cruickshank tied for eighth place with 216 and have to play off. The matches will begin to-day, the draw being as follows:—Millar plays Smith or Cruickshank, Hewat plays Vickery, Jones plays Binney, Carr plays Haggitt. ■ HOCKEY NEW ZEALAND TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA. (Special to the Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 10. Nominations have closed for the New Zealand hockey team to tour Australia, and while the names are not available for publication, about 20 players have expressed their willingness to go, including nine of last year’s New Zealand team, which defeated Australia by six goals to five. No Canterbury men are available, although all the selected Canterbury team were asked, but they had to decline owing to business and other reasons. CRICKET BULLI SOIL FOR SOUTH AFRICA. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, July 10. As a result of the conference between the South African Cricket Association and the Australian cricketers, during the latter’s visit in 1921, the South Africans have decided to experiment with turf wickets in lieu of matting. A shipment of Bulli soil left Sydney by the Sophocoles on Saturday for the Natal Association. TENNIS DAVIS CUP MATCHES. LONDON, July 9. July 11, 7.40 p.m.) In the Davis Cup matches at Eastbourne, Flaqueur (Spain) beat Van Lennepp (Holland), 5—7, 6—3, B—6, 6—l; Demogar (Spain) beat Van Der Feen (Holland), 6—3. 6—o, 7—5. BOWLING BRISBANE, July 11. (Received July 11, 5.40 p.m.) New Zealand beat Bundaberg by 172 to 159. BRISBANE, July 10. (Received July 10, 10.40 p.m.) New Zealand beat Maryborough 206 to 123. FOOTBALL REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION. WEEKLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Southland Rugby Referees ’Association was held last night. Mr A. H. Stott presided. A letter was received from the secretary of the Central Sub-union, reminding the Association that the final matches for the Hamilton Shield would be played on Saturday, July 7 as follows: Calcium v Wright’s Bush at Wright’s Bush. Otahuti v Heddon Bush at Heddon Bush. They also advised that on July 14 the Central representative team would play a practice match at Drummond and requested that a referee be appointed for this purpose. This was agreed to. A letter was received from the Rugby Union asking for the assistance of members of the Association on the occasion of the Maori match. This was agreed upon. The Rugby Union also advised that the referee’s handbooks asked for by the Association had qot yet come to hand from the New Zealand Rugby Union. The Union also advised that the Association’s request for an additional grant of £5 bad been complied with. THE HALO RULE. FINALITY SOUGHT. REFEREES TAKE ACTION. At last night’s meeting of the Southland Rugby Referees’ Association an important discussion was held on the ten yards rule. Mr D. Torrance produced a cutting from the Dunedin Star containing extracts from a circular on the subject issued by the Wellington Refereof’ Association. The cutting is as • 'W.s: —

Much misconception exists as to just when a player is off side, even among men who have played the game for years. But. at least one body is doing its best to clear up the position (says the Wellington Tunes). The following circular was issued by the executive of the Wellington Rugby Referees’ Association: — A player is off-side when he is in front of the player on his own side who last played the ball. He is not necessarily off-side because he is in front of the ball, except when the ball is in the scrummage. A player is not penalised for being offside unless he does certain things. They are:— (a) Wilfully remaining or approaching within 10 yards of an opponent waiting to receive the ball. (b) Playing the ball. (c) Entering the scrummage from his opponents’ side. (d) Remaining in front of the ball while it is in the scrum. A player cannot be ruled off-side in his own in-goal, but he can be ruled off-side in his opponents’ in-goal. The penalty in the latter case is a drop-out. Off-side players are put on side in the following ways: — By their opponents. (a) By an opponent running 5 yards with the ball in any direction. (b) By the ball touching an opponent, providing the off-side player is not waiting within 10 yards of the opponent. By their own side. (c) By the player who has last played the ball or who is in possession of the ball running in front of him. Note.—Only the player who last played the ball can put them on-side. Mr D. Torrance said this was of interest as it conflicted directly with the ruling of the Southland Association which said that a player in the ten yards limit could not be put on side by any act of a member of his own side. This might result in confusion when visiting teams came to Invercargill from districts where a different ruling was in vogue. He thought it would be advisable to write to the governing body, the New Zealand Referees’ Association, and ask for a definite ruling. Mr Stott said that Mr Lilburn had answered certain queries regarding this rule in the columns of the Southland News. He had sent clippings to Mr D. McKenzie, president of the New Zealand Referees’ Association. Mr McKenzie had written back complimenting Mr Lilburne on his replies and upholding their ruling. The letter had ben published in the News. Mr Torrance said it was a remarkable fact that Mr McKenzie ruled one way while the Referees’ Association in his own district ruled a different way. He moved that the New Zealand Referees’ Association be communicated with and asked for a decision. Mr Davis seconded the motion. Other members expressed the opinion that it was time this was done as the Association had already wasted much time in discussions on the matter. Mr Strang said that a ruling from the Referees’ Association would not be final. It would be as well to write to the New Zealand Rugby Union at the same time. The motion and the amendment were carried unanimously. FOOTBALL. FIXTURES FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 11. FIRST GRADE. Star v Winton, Winton 2.45 p.m. Referee T/ A. Henry. Marist v Invercargill, Park No. 2, 2.30 p.m. Referee, A. H. Stott. JUNIOR. Marist v Invercargill, Biggar street, 2.15 p.m. Referee, J. O’Donnell. Waikiwi v Southern, Southern Reserve, 2.30 p.m. Referee, W. J. Duncan. Winton A. v Winton 8., Winton 2.15 p.m. Referee, S. Webb. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY, JULY 14. FIRST GRADE. Pirates v Star, Park No. 1, 2.15 p.m. Referee, R. Wesney. Waikiwi v Invercargill, Park No. 2, 2.30 p.m. Referee, L. Foster. Bluff, a bye. SECOND GRADE. Pirates, a bye. Woodend v Makarewa, Biggar street, No. 1, 2.45 p.m. Referee, J. Durham. Bluff v Southern, Bluff 2.45 p.m. Referee, W. G. Russell. Marist v High School, High School, No. 2, 2.10 p.m. Referee, D. Brown. THIRD GRADE. Pirates v High School, Biggar Street, No. 2, 1.30 p.m. Referee, W. Sutton. Waikiwi v Invercargill, Eastern, 2.15 p.m. Referee, T. McCarroll. Southern v Technical, Southern Reserve, 1.30 p.m. Referee, P. Garrett. FOURTH GRADE. Marist v Makarewa, Makarewa, 2.30 p.m. Referee, W. Baird. Technical v Waikiwi, Waikiwi, 2.15 p.m. Referee, C. A. Davis. High School v Star, High School, No. 2, 2.10 p.m. Referee, D. C. Brown. Invercargill v Bluff, Biggar street, No. 2, 2.45 p.m. Referee, F. Daubney. N..SW. TEAM. RHODES SCHOLAR NOT COMING. SYDNEY, July 10. (Received July 11, 12.30 p.m.) Doctor Raymond, the Rhodes Scholar, will be unavailable for the New Zealand tour by the New South Wales Rugby Union team, as he is shortly sailing for England. SOCCER. OFFER TO NEW ZEALANDER. SYDNEY, July 10. It is reported that Kissick, the centre half of the New Zealand Association team, is unlikely to return to New Zealand, as he has accepted a lucrative position' at Cessnock with a view to playing for the local club| ' KOX'NG ALTERATIONS IN SOUTHLAND TEAM. Southland will now be represented by the following team at the Championship Tourney at Ashburton, which will begin on July 25 and 26: L. Spencer—flyweight. G. Reed —featherweight. C. Taylor and R. Mclvor were not available for selection. E. Livingstone—lightweight. W. J. Sycamore and L. Adams were not available. A. Williamson—welter. J. G. Leckie —heavy. The team, with the exception of Leckie, is at present training under Mr F. Padget at the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium. It will leave here on the 24th instant, Mr T. A. Henry accompanying it as manager, Mr Sycamore as trainer and Mr Padget as corner man. CYCLING OLYMPIC TRACK UNSAFE. LONDON, July 9. Competitors and the public were present at Olympia for the opening cycle race, but the judges decided that the track was not safe, it having been constructed in sections which did not fit. BASKET BALL’ The following are the results of matches played on July 6: — SENIOR. Waihopai (22) v. Waikiwi (6). These two teams met in their return match. Since the commencement of the season the Waihopai team has improved considerably, and several of the girls played splendidly. Though the score was unequal, the game was fairly even, the small Wai-

kiwi girls putting in some good work against the taller girls. The chief fault in both teams was a tendency on the part of the side players to encroach on the centre players. JUNIOR. Waihopai (10) v. Waikiwi (5). Waikiwi met Waihopai on the Waikiwi grounds. The game was fairly even, but neither team is very strong.