OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 5, 16 October 1880, Page 35

OUT DOOR SPORTS

The Port Phillip Regatta has been definitely fixed for January 15th. The Auckland Cricket Club played in thirteen matches last year. Seven were won, three lost, and three drawn. Fuller of Melbourne is building a four-oared gig and a couple of sculling boats for the "Wellington Rowing Club. Tiddy won the mile walk, match at the Sydney Amateur Athletic Associations Sports in 7 minutes 59 5-10 th sees. Mr. W. W. Robinson Avas the highest average batsman and Mr. Beale the best average bowler of the Auckland Cricket Club during last season. The committee of the North Shore Rowing Club have been authorised to procure a new strong test gig from either Sydney or Melbourne. The sculling race at Sydney between W. G. Brett and Nicholas Lockyer for the possession of the Fowler Cup was won easily by the former. At the recent sports of the Sydney Amateur Athletic Club, the mile bicycle race was won by Crave in 4mins. 20secs. The Sydney Mail says that "the Rocky Mountain Eegatta will be a meeting of the full strength of all that is left of the Sydney Professionals against local talent headed by the oft-defeated Michael Rush." The proposal to place the flagship at the North Head on the occasion of the next Auckland Eegatta has created such a howl of public indignation that it is almost certain to be abandoned. Trickett is increasing in popularity amongst the English bookmakers. His sculling match with Hanlan for the championship of the world takes place on November 15th. Both men are in training. The open sailing boat Mabel was out for the first time this season last Saturday afternoon. The Ponsonby, Missing Link, Hattie May, and a number of others were also out for a spin round the harbour. The Lytteltsn Regatta has been definitely fixed for January Ist. This will give competitoi's in the champion schooner race time to come on to Auckland to enter for the race here. The Auckland Regatta has very wisely made a distinction between pleasure and fishing yachts under five tons in the new programme, and separate races have been ann.ounced for each class. The principal event at the forthcoming Tauranga Athletic Sports will be the County 'cup (handicap) of 100, 200, and 300 yards. The first prize is a silver cup valued at seven guineas. A movement is on foot to establish a Civil Service Cricket Club in Auckland. Preliminary meetings have already been held, and the officials in the Postal, Telegraph, and Customs Departments have agreed to join. The yacht Thetis which was recently purchased from Bailey by several Wellington gentlemen, took her departure for her new sphere of operations last Sunday morning. She sailed down under command of Captain Muichain. Our fleet of yachts will shortly be increased by a ten-ton boat which Logan, of the North Shore, has commenced to biuld for Holland. She will be employed as a fishing boat, but will be built on the clipper model with a view to competing at the next Auckland Eegatta. Tauranga athletes must be of a rather lively disposition. The Amateur Athletic Chib has been compelled to pass a resolution to disqualify any competitor using foul, blackguardly, or insulting language at their forthcoming sports. E. W. Burgess has been elected to the position of Captain of the North Shore Bowing Clud. I trust that during the present season the oarsmen of the marine suburb will not be couteut to be reckoned as only third-rate, but will go into hard training in order to make up for last season. During the period 1867-77 the late James Southerton bowled for Surrey 8982.3 overs or 11,977 balls, of which 4103 were maidens for 11,977 runs, two no balls, and 876 wickets (318 clean bowled). Independent of the above, and during the same period in first class-matches, the number of overs he bowled was 14,579.3, or 58,319 balls, 6055 inaidons, for 20,812 runs and 1484 wickets. The remarkable success which attended the bowling !of Mr. Smith (the professional) in Saturday's Match, that of getting Lynch, Arneil, and Mackay out for nil, is explained by the fact that during the week he had been for several hours bowling at our premier batsman, Mr. Harry Whitaker, and having discovered where the local "W.G." could be got the wickets of these less experienced players were a " moral " to him. It. is very probable that the proposal to hold the next Ponsonby Eegatta earlier in the season than in previous years will be carried into effect. Easter Monday is too late in the year, as by that time, numbers of people hauled their boats up for the winter. A meeting has been convened for this, Saturday evening, in order that the matter may be discussed by subscribers, and some decision come to regarding the desirability or otherwise of the proposed change. The averages of the Australian team up to and inclusive of the Leicester match, compiled by Messrs. Boyle and Scott, have now been published. Murdock has now. the best batting average with 23, Bonner with 20, and McDonnell third with 19. Sleight has 16, and A. Bannerman, Blackam and Alexander 15 each. Spofforth has now the best bowling average, but both Pahner and Boyle are close vp # , and before the end of the tour the figures may again be altered. The bowling averages are : Spofforth, 5-128 ; Palmer, 5-94 ; Boyle, 5-105 ; Alexandra, 5-6 ; Bannerman, 6-3. The late Mr. G. F. Grace, the well-known cricketer came of a cricketing family, and the fame of the Graces is a household word far and wide wherever cricket is played. Mr. G. F. Grace was a fine all-round player — a capital bat, a useful change bowler, and an excellent field. He has played in many matches against the Australians, both at Home and in the Colonies, and as lately as the beginning of last month he formed one of the eleven against the Australians in the famous match on Kennmgton Oval, so that his decease must have been quite unexpected. The Auckland Regatta Committee has adopted the following definition of an amateur : "An amateur oarsman is one who does not enter into open competition for either a stake, public, or admission money or entrance fee, with or against a professional, or whose trade or calling does not require the use of great muscular exertion, or has not been employed in or about boats, or in manual labour on the water. This rule not to debar amateurs who have entered as representing a recognised Bowing Club, and who are bona fide members there." The change in the rule should give general satisfaction, the old definition of an amateur being very unpopular with local oarsmen. The Annual General Meeting of the Auckland Cricket Club, was held at the Thames Hotel on the sth inst., Mr. McMurdo in the chair. Prom the Secretary's report it appeared that during the past season the club played 13 matches, winning 7, losing 3, and three drawn. Sir George Grey was re-elected Patron of the' Club; His Worship the Mayor, President; Messrs E. K. Tyler and C. E. Harris, Vice Presidents. The following gentlemen were appointed officers for the ensuing season: Committee — Messrs McMurdo, Beale Coates, Eobinson, Irvine, and Earl. Sec. and Treasurer Mr. W. H. Veriker Bindon. 13 New Members were elected, namely : — Messrs Coates, Eoach, Beale (2) Luke', Dalgleish, O'Brien, Eeid, Williams, Graham, Farnall, Connell, and Verity. The opening match, first eleven' and next fifteen will be played on Saturday, 16th October,on the Domain Cricket Ground.