FIXTURES.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 622, 29 November 1890, Page 11

FIXTURES.

iUovember 29th and December 6th. — Senior Cup —United v. Gordon, Auckland v. Parnell, Alpha (13) v. St. Mary's (15). Junior Oup.— Poneonby v. Auckland College and Grammar School, Auckland, v. alpha, Wauderers v. Gord >n. Second Junior Cup.— Queen's College v. Educational Chambers, Belmont v. Star, Victoria v. Mt. Koskill. -November 22— A. A.. A. Club's Spring Carnival. November 29— Intercolonial Eight-oared Kace. Deceinher 6 -Judge's Bay Regatta. December 13, 15-C. A.A.C's. Spring Meeting. .January 29— Auckland Anniversary Kegatta. February 6, 7 — New Zealand Amateur Championship Meeting at Auckland. Match 1891— Peter Kemp v. W. O'Connor. Sculling Championship of World and £500 a side on American waters. .

— Harry Lain? is at present in Sydney. — Ted Simpson, the North Shore man, ■cracked up very badly. — The Matangi and Tawera went to Drunken Bay on Saturday laat. — The Ngaira was out on Saturday and looked well. I wonder if she is a match for the Dream. — Very few people patronised the new pavilion at the sports. The ladies seemed to prefer a stroll. — Slavin has decided to settle in England, and intends taking an hotel in the :Strand, London. — There is some talk of Mr Arthur Clarke riding again next March meeting. Let us hope it is true. — The bookmakers attended the Amateur Sports, but very little betting was transacted, owing to the poor prices offered. —Owing to the Athletic Club's Sports ■being held in the Domain last Saturday, the usual cricket matches had to be postponed. — The hurdle race was full of acciients, and Owen, who was looked upon as a ' dead bird,' failed to justify the confidence placed in him. — It does eeem a disgrace that the name of T. F. Upfill should frighten all other •competitors out of the Long Jump and -similar events. — The Maritana is undoubtedly improved in appearance by the addition of a schooner bow, and should be heard of at the Auckland Eegatta. — Buyers, the North Shore runner, proved himself to be a good man, and he lias every reason to be proud of his performance on Saturday last. — Macfarlane, who was disqualified for breaking in the walk, feels very sore, and is thinking of retiring for a time. He seemed to walk very fair. — The only accidents on Saturday to 'cyclists were, Short in the one mile had a spill, and McCallum, who rode over a flag post, in the Maiden Bike. —Up to the present the following: are likely to represent Auckland at the New Zealand Championship Meeting next year : Laird, Peace, Clarke, Buchanan, Howard, and Hutchison. — Chatfield, who won the 120 yds Handicap and Ladies' Bracelet on Sat urday last, has been running for some time, and now that he got good starts gave a good •account of himself. He was trained by Johnstone. — Short is the winner of the Victor Ludorum Cup for the year, with Hoffman second and Beynolds third, us regards j points scored. The winner is deservedly popular, and has worked himself into the front rank by steady work. — The empty benches in the Domain pavilion last Saturday created no surprise in my mind, as very few people care to sit m the sweltering sun. The pavilion will never be popular until it is covered ' in, and the cost is so trifling that I feel I surprised the work should be left in its present incomplete state. — Last Saturday was a splendid day for yachting, and most of the yachts were out. Of course the Athletic Sports took a number of yachtsmen to the Domain. A lot of boats not wishing to lobo the fair weather left town on Saturday night, but the weather on Sunday was miserable, a stiff breeze blowing all day from the north-east with heavy rain. — ' One of the Nominators ' writes as follows : — At the sports in the Domain last Saturday I noticed in the final heat of the Ladies'. Bracelet that Barlow Madigan hustled ' Buff ' Laird, and so spoilt his chance of winning. I also noticed that Mr Hilly Johnson, the dead bird for the •double, ran last in both his heats. How the mighty have fallen, as he was very confident of winning. — Anyoie who took an interest in those training for the late sports must have been surprised at the absence of accidents. Daring the whole of the time in which men were rnnning, cricket practice waß being carried on all over the ground and may terially interfered with the training. The cricketers might have finished a trifle earlier, especially during the last week.

— Eeynolds, a new man this season, with Buchanan and Short, were the best trained men for the bike races. — McCallum's l dead bird ' in the Maiden Bicycle was out rather ahort by his undignified descent. — Dick Jeffreys wa3 greatly missed in the Mile by the ladies, as nobody fainted I and they had to hold over their sighs. — Selby was admired for his plucky running in the bicycle races. Ifc is about time the handicappers gave this man a show. — Hutchinson's run in the quarter was the pluckiest run of the day. He had to concede rather much in such a short race. —A committee ought now to be elected by the A.A.C. to enquire into the claims of minor professionals with a view to their reinstatement as amateurs. — Patsy Lynch surprised a good many by his running last Saturday. With a little judgment he might have won the Steeplechase. He was trained by Sammy Goodman. — A match for ,£lO a-side, arising out of the Demonstration Sports, is likely to take place between Wilson, of Kingsland, and the winner of one ot the principal races, on Saturday next; in the Domain. — The Arawa is being rapidly got ready for the fray. 1 hear Mr Blomfield is iiol going to cut down the spars or sails of his boat after all. If so, the boat that will show her the way home would be worth owning. — Now the excitement of the A.mateur Sports is over, the weekly run of 'cyclists will be resumed on Saturday afternoons. Next Saturday afternoon will be to Lake Takapuna, leaving town by the 3 o'cloc c ferry-boat. All 'cyclists are aßked to roll up. — Howard was in bad con dition on Saturday, and he was riding a heavy machine, and Hoffmann had a cold which affected him very much. Buchanan, Reynolds, and Short were in the pink of condition, and all three rode a determined, plucky race, but Buchanan was too heavily handicapped. — The Auckland Amateur Athletic Club evidently possess a Mascotte, for increased success seems to attend each meeting , and Saturday last was no exception to the rule, as a larger amount of money wa3 taken at the gates than at any similar meeting. On the present occasion the club took the very tidy sum of .£194, which for an afternoon meeting is particularly good. The meeting itself was a pronounced success, and the arrangements muht complete ; but it is worthy ot mention that the favouriteb were all dowi.ou, and the unexpected came off. My ' lips ' were fairly successful, and I pride my^eif on pickingthe winners of tho 150 yds Maiden, One Mile Bike, Long Jump, Bracelet and Mile Walk, besides placmg some of my seconds and thirds. — A correspondent writes — ' No one has been so kind to boating men as iVir J. Reid of Motutapu. He has given leave to anyone to land and shoot rabbits, and on many occasions has helped crews with provisions when they have been detained by stress of weather or run short too soon. Yet some (I know they are few in number) are so ungrateful as to break the few mild rules or restrictions. Mr Keid wants to keep the hares and deer for his own friends, and these are constantly boing poached. Last week someone set fire to two fin* pohutukawas in Drunken Bay, and destroyed them, out of sheer mischief. These trees do not attain maturity Tor a number of years and are much valued by Mr Reid.' — I have received the following letter in connection with the late sports: — To the Editor ; Sir,— being a spectator at the Amateur Athletic Sports, and knowing a little about the runners, I must heartily congratulate the club on the great success of the gathering and at the same time point outi which to my mind was a most glaring pieca of dishonest rnnning. In the majority of the races the contestants were well watched and anyone that appeared not to be doing his beat was immediately cautioned ; but in the Quarter Mile Hurdle the runner of whom I speak was competing, caught most of his men without any effort and then when almost winning, fell, although the slightest effort on his part would have won him the race, and not got his name bandied about as a dishonest runner. Having watched the training track before the meeting, I have seen the said runner approached by bookmakers, and I suppose he knows himself how his book stands. Tf the club intends to try and retain its good name as to its fairness and no favouritism, an explanation should be demanded from the runner, who, if I remember right, gave a lot of dissatisfaction by 4 his crooked running a short time back. Again congratulating the club on their success and notably the starter for his impartiality and hoping for the insertion of the above. lam,youra,&a M ' Disqualify Slinters.' Those who should be wall posted up in this matter assure me the runner in question was not trained, and was theretore unable to outstrip trained men.— Milo.

— The Rita is once more out under Mr T. Henderson. She is a veritable G. 0.8. —The Judge's Bay Regatta eventuates on December 6th and aquatic people are preparing. —Hazard, a young- rider, shaped well in the Maiden and will with practice make a good man. —'Pie' Wynyard has returned from Wellington, and was at the Amateur Sports in the Domain on Saturday. —Fred Edwards gave the utmost satisfaction as starter on Saturday last. He is to be commended for the 6rm stand he took in adhering to the time table. A lesson was wanted. — T. McKay, the Wellington oarsman, has decided upon becoming a professional sonller, and is now on his way to Sydney. He was entertained at a smoke concert before leaving. —Arthur Buchanan, the 'cyclist, was waited upon by Mr F. JLawry, and asked to take the chair at his political meeting. The great 'B. declined the proffered honour. — A somewhat remarkable cricket match was played at Morton, Derbyshire, in September. The game was between the Heanor Town and Morton Clubs, and curiously enough, each side was dismissed )or the small total of 12. Wright for Heanor, captured six wickets for 1 run, and Booth oid the 'hat trick' for the same side. — The date for holding the Judge's Bay Regatta is creeping very near, and the intending crews are getting themselves very fit. lam pleased to say the Union Steamship Coy. have generously placed the Ara,wata at the Committee's disposal as flag ship. This should be the means of attracting an immense number of spectators, and particularly now that such an interesting programme has been prepared. — One noticeable feature about last Saturday's sports was the large number of people congregated on the racing track. Amongst t:ie number were several trainers and mniKTR engaged in other events. These only obstructed the view of ihe general public, and had no earthly business where they were. Hitherto, the club has been very particular in only permitting' those who have a right to be ia the enclosures.