Out Door Sports

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1163, 13 April 1901, Page 11

Out Door Sports

By ' Haheier.'

Canterbury start their Cup matches on April 20th Most of the clubs will start practice next Saturday. Parnell F.C. hold their annual meeting to-night (Thursday). D. Hay talks of giving the game beet this year, and C. H»y will also be an absentee In the matter of finance the Newton F.C come out very well, having a balance of £30 ' Scobie ' McKenzie was elected to the Grafton F.O management committee for the coming season. Unless Parnell F.C. make big efforts to work their senior team np, tbeir position won't be much improvement on last year's The Ponsonby F.C. management committee contains a lot of new blood this year, and they all should prove worthy of the position The annual meeting of the Auck land Rugby Union takes place on Friday night, and Mr G. Dizon has journeyed from Wellington to be present. Grafton at present have only a fair forward team, R McGregor and E Wooller being absentees this year, while B. Sterling talks of giving the game beßt. Ponsonby F.C. should have their shed to train in abont three weeks hence. Mr S. Hanna has worked like a Troj&n io bringing abont the erection of this building. 'Sid' Somerfield was re elected honorary secretary and treasurer to the Suburbs F G. for the ensuing season, and the management could not be in better hands.

It took a lot of persuasion to get ' Alble ' Brannd to take any office for ihe Ponsonby F.G.. bat he accepted the captaincy. It is very donbtfal whether he will play this season. 1 Mick ' McOhiinness was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for the way in which he looked after the Grafton senior team last year The popular trainer is anxious to get things going again. 1 Dan ' Clayton was elected a life member of the Grafton F G , and he ranks as the first member of the Clab to gain that distinction. He does not intend to ' take any active position in football circles this year. Mr G. H. Dixon was proposed for a seat on the Management Committee of the Wellington Rngby Union, bat declined nomination. Mr Dixon will not take any cffice yet awhile in connection with football in Wellington, business reasons being tbe main cause. The annual meeting of tbe Suburbs F.G. was a particularly enthusiastic one, and it looks a.% if the ' outside ' district will make things hum this season. There ie some splendid material to draw on, and it is to be hoped their teams will be able to get together to practice.

The twenty - fifth International Match, En eland v. Ireland, was played at Dablin on Feb. 9. Play was very fast, the game varying rapidly. When the first epell ended, the English team was leading by a try (3 points) to nil. In the Becond half, Ireland played np remarkably, and won by two goals (10 points) to a penalty goal and a try (6 points).

E. Cacksey was an unsuccessful competitor at the Pioneer Amateur Glob's sports.

The Radge- Whit worth Cap goes to Ghrietcharch this year, having been won by E. Hammond, of Ghrlstoharch.

Con nell, who won the last N.Z. Wheel Race, rode in great form at the above meeting. HU win over Sutherland in the Half-mile Championship came m a bit of a surprise. Oonnell intends to journey over to the other Bide.

I'noksey found the class a bit too good for him at the League's Championship meeting. W. Tierney has not done much riding since he returned to the Thames, and his form wa« very puzzling «t the Foresters' sports on Monday.

The New Zealand League's Cycling Championships were fairly well distributed this year, and the raoing all round seems to have been of a high order.

Sutherland scooped the most of the championships, but yet the fields he defeated were somewhat below those which competed at former meetings.

S. Pentecost ran the half-mile at the recant Pioneer Amateur Club's sports at Obristchuroh in 2mi a 1 4-&seo, thus beating the standard by l-53ec.

McLachlan and Pero Natana had the sprint events all their own way ai the Thames on Monday Natana won the 100 and 200 yards of the Easter Handicap, and McLachlan won the 300 yards. The Maori is a very powerful runner, and got well off the mark each time

The saooesses of W. Reynolds in the New Zealand Cycling Leagues Championship were received with great delight in Auckland. He has evidently improved greatly since he left Auokland, and his sprintiDg was very noticeable Reynolds and Amos tie for the Alliance Cop.

The cash cyoling races at the Thames Forester's sports on Easter Monday were very peculiar. There were only about six competitors in each event, and some of them were shy of coming to the front. In the Mile for local men Irwin beat Tierney, 8. Draffin and W. Draffin, bat in the other events the former ooald not ' foot it ' with these riders.

N. Bradley ran a great raoe in the Half-mile Flat at the Thames on Monday. He started off the 40 yards mark, and making the pane a oraoker, oat the distance oat in lmin 47seo. He also started in the Mile, bat his previous effort had taken too much oat of him, and he gave up 300 yards from home. Newby ran a great raoe in this Mile. He made things very warm in the laßt 440 yarda, and won all oat by about 15 yards from Hockstep.

> From the last Free Lance to hand, I clip (he following chatty letter from Mr R. Smith, secretary of the "N.Z. Aaao ciation of Caledonian Societies re McLaohlan'a recent performance in the 100 Yards:— 'l will frankly admit that lam dubious of anything that breaks lOaeca. I have seen all the great rnnnera of the Old Conn try in my time —regular professionals —who did nothing elae in the summer bat ran at the great gatherings of England, Ireland, and Scotland, bat Mr J. H. Hempton was the first man I ever aaw breast the tape in leas time than lOsecs. Hatchens (when in Australia), Samuels, Malone, Watson, and several others have records of a good bit nnder 16bbob for 150 yds. Expert timing men are hard to find, and to be a professional at the game a lifelong apprenticeship is required, bat in many cases in the colonies the gentlemen who take the time in important raoea only do so once in a year.'

Ranjitsinhji in the eight seasons over which his orioket oareer haa so far extended (seven in EDgland and one in Australia) haa pat up the following marvellous record in eleven a-side matabes : 297 innings, 37 times not oat, 14,702 rana, highest aoore 275 (madelait aeason against Lieceater shire), average 56.54 runs per inninga. He has played 41 innings of three figares eaoh, including 202, 215, 220, 222, 260, and 275, and it may be interesting to add that against Australian bowling (in England and Australia, and inolnded in the record above referred to) his figares are :— 54 innings, 7 times not oat, 2300 runs, highest soore 189 average 48.93. In 1893 he only totalled 439 runs and 387 in 1894, bat his remarkable aggregates have since been 1775 in 1895, 2780 |in 1896, 1940 in in 1897, 1157 in 1897 98 in Australia, 3159 in 1899, and 3065 in 1900. He did not play in England in 1898. being in India.

Messrs Tutt and Jaggs, mercer 8, hatters and tailors, have opened on the oornerof the Strand Arcade, where this enterprising firm will carry on their business on up to-date lines. The stock is necessarily new and ohoice, while the workmanship in the tailoring department is to be in the hands of experts. The shop has a very attraotive exterior and its Bplendid position should earn for it the patronage enterprise deserves.

A Viotoria-sfcreet tragedy, which throws Draper Hannan into hyaterioa and ends in a oharge of attempted murder.

SPBciAL Commissioner Holmes : Now then, gentlemen, I'm paid to provide the music. I want yon to dance to niy tunes. Don't let us have any discord when the Duke and DucbeßS come. Let it all be perfect harmony.