OUT DOOR SPORTS

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 14, 18 December 1880, Page 128

OUT DOOR SPORTS

Master T. Farquhar is training for the clingy race at the approaching regatta. The yacht "Glitter," which was purchased last week by Mr. Greenwood, is again for sale. A foot-race between J. Tinning and P. Maher has been arranged to take place on Christmas Day. Both men are now in training. The sweepstake sailing race will be sailed over again this (Saturday) afternoon, in conseSuence of the boats having rounded the wrong uoy last Saturday. The first eleven of the Civil Service Cricket Club will play against the Auckland Club this (Saturday) afternoon, while the second eleven will play a Mangare team. The little yacht "Sybil," built by Hewsoir and Melville for Mr. M. Faii-s, has been out several times during the week. She is a fast, boat, and should acquit herself creditably at the Regatta. I hear that Captain Farquhar made an offer to Mr. Bindon to sail the "Mabel" against the "Toy" in a friendly match, the only condition being that the worthy skipper should choose the day. He considers that with plenty of wind, his boat is more than a match for the "Toy." The sailing race between the "Imp" and " Hattie May," for £20 a-side, takes place on. Monday next in the harbour. The "Imp "is the favourite, but should there be a good breeze, and a beat one way, she will have some difficulty in carrying oft" the prize. A running match for £50 a-side has been arranged between R. J. Hutton of Auckland, and C. Halston of Christchurch. It will take place on the Christchurch cricket ground on January 22nd, the distances being 100, 200, and 300 yards. It is now more than probable that a Sydney^ crew will compete in the champion four-oared outrigger race at the approaching Auckland Regatta. Negotiations have been in progress to secure that object for some time past, but nothing has yet been definitely settled. The first lawn tennis match of the season isto be played on Saturday next. It will be between Parnell and Epsom. The Parnellites are to be represented by Messrs. G. A. Macquarie, W. Ridings, Dinnistor, and W. Burton ;. and Epsom by Messrs. A. Heather, A. Aitken, H. Brown, and V. E. Rice. The schooner ' 'Torea, " after being thoroughly overhauled and refitted, left for Lyttelton via Whangarei on Tuesday. She competes in the regatta at the former place, and then returns to Auckland with the object of competing in the champion schooner race. She has been rigged as a topsail schooner, and supplied with new sails, spars, and gear.

The crew formed by Mr. Brigham, to compete in the champion inrigger race at the approaching regatta, is now in daily training on the western side, of the wharf. There is an apparent looseness of style and want of form, but this will be removed by steady practice. It was proposed by some of the Christchurch ■cricketers to offer the English professional ■eleven £200 for a three days' match at Christchurch, but eventually they decided not to guarantee any terms at present, but enquire approximately what sum would be required. The White Brothers, of Mercury Bay, have ; not yet gone into training for the champion ■outrigger race. Their boat is at present in Auckland having some slight alteration or repairs effected. It will be sent down at once, and the crew will then commence training "without further delay. The long-talked of match between the sailing loats, "Imp" and "Hattie May," has at last T)een arranged, after a great deal of by play, in which it was apparent that each party was afraid of his opponent. Should the weather be light, with a calm sea, the " Imp " should have it all her own way, but with a strong breeze and lumpy water, the "Hattie May" will take & deal of beating. It is noAV pretty certain that the Australian cricketers will arrive at the Bluff about the middle of the second week in January. They play matches all the way xip the coast, and are expected to arrive in Auckland during the first week in February, or, perhaps, a few days later. It is very singular that no steps have yet been taken for the selection of a team to represent Auckland. The matter will probably Tae left in abeyance for another month, and then, of course, our men will be beaten. The Auckland Yacht Club, which has commenced the season under very favourable auspices, may be expected to do a great deal towards making yachting a more popular amusement here than it has been hitherto. A Tiumber of members have expressed themselves in favour of holding yacht races every Saturday after our annual regatta, and the President has announced his intention of presenting a cup for •competition amongst yachts under ten tons. The open-sailing boat " Hattie May" gave the ■other competitors in the sweepstakes sailing race last Saturday some idea of her splendid qualities in going to windward. She out-distanced her opponents easily in the short beat down the channel, and the " Hettie" (late " Hattie May)" and "Eunice" also proved very good in sailing •on the wind. The " Patriot" which was second in the race, is a much larger boat than the ■others, being over twenty feet in length and nearly seven feet beam. She sails much better "before the Avind than close hauled. An opinion appears to prevail, that the race first class open sailing boats at the approaching Auckland Regatta will fall through for -want of sufficient entries to make up a race. 'This idea is scarcely warranted by facts. The "Mabel" and "Tom Boy" will be entered by •Captain Farquhar, a boat is being built at Mercury Bay to compete, Mr. Logan is engaged in the construction of another, and I believe that Mr. Bigelow, junior, has just completed the model of an open sailing boat within the prescribed dimensions, which he intends to enter in the race in question. Other entries are almost certain to be received, and instead of falling through, the contest should prove to be one of the best in connection with the regatta. Apropos of the match between Blackman and Laycock, the Referee says: — "When the men were seen stripped Laycock had a decided advantage. He is a man of fine physique, and appeared fit, robust, and hard as iron. Blackman showed none of the filling out which, in natural course, should have been manifest in one so young after a long term of idleness. He looked a lean, lank, weak, wan shadow, and his •extraordinary antics when taking his preliminary in no Avay pleased those who had been led to expect great things of him. Both are tall and, presumably, powerful men but the •disparity was very noticeable. One might, as they sat at their stake-boats, have been portrayed as strength and confidence ; the other, as diffidence and. enervation. It is very probable that a first class team of English professional cricketers will Adsit New Zealand at the beginning of next season. Letters have been received in the colony from Mr. John Comvay, of Sydney, stating that such a team was being formed, and asking, on behalf of Messrs. J. Lillywhite and Shaw, what assistance would be given. The formation of the team depended entirely upon the amount of support they were likely to receive, but should all go Avell the strongest combination of professional cricketers that had ever left England would start for the United States in ■the autumn of 1881, Avhere they Avould play four or five matches. Leaving San Francisco "by the October mail, the team would land at Auckland about Nov. 18th, where they would play their first NeAV Zealand match, thence they would go to Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, perhaps taking Oamaru and Timam en route. Perhaps the following paragraph from the pen of the Leader's English sporting correspondent Avill cast some light on the defeat of Trickett : — "I hear strange rumours from those likely to know concerning your man Trickett. That he is ' all to pieces ' all are agreed, and what is worse, he is suffering from a 'fit of the blues,' whatever description of complaint that may be. His present condition is put down to ' that "beastly climate of ours,' and certainly this Aveek the clerk of the weather appears in a strange mood, his visitations being best described by the statement that they all too quickly alternate from 'grave to gay, from lively to severe.' 1 am informed, too, that his training is too •strong, and that a little less work and a little more 'home-brewed' would prove most beneficial. I have seen racehorses get as stale as •coach horses from overwork ; the same cause, therefore, is likely to make a sculler as * sloav as a man in boots.' "