Sports Games & Pastimes

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 1, 4 November 1893, Page 22

Sports Games & Pastimes

Mr. Thomas Ellison.

In choosing from the athletic world an initial illustration for our athletic column, we could hardly have pitched upon a better subject than Mr. Thomas Ellison. As a bicyclist, oarsman, cricketer, and, more than all, captain of the football team whose victories in New South Wales and Queensland placed our footballers in the premier position in Australasia, he is well and favourably known throughout New Zealand. Mr. Ellison is evidently a firm believer in the adage Mens Sana in corpore Sano ; and although he works his brain steadily in the pursuit of his profession as a lawyer, the major portion of his leisure is devoted to physical exercise, so that he is almost always in a con-, dition that in sporting parlance would be termed “fit.” Strong mtiscles, a healthy appetite, and a clear head are marvellous aids to physical and mental happiness, and the subject of our illustration'. should certainly enjoy his fair share, if it is to be experienced in New Zealand.

• • • In rowing matters, the members of the Star Rowing Club are, perhaps, more enthusiastic than usual. This is probably due to the ventilating of grievances at the last annual meeting. Having cleared the ah’ and put the two “ sides” of the Club on a good footing again, it would be as well to remind th„ few remaining grumblers that now they have got new blood on the Committee, it would be as well to let matters rest for awhile and encourage the new officers to carry out their duties in a way calculated to bring the Club to the front in whatever it undertakes.

It is announced that the same senior crew that represented the Star Rowing Club last year will do so this year. It is to be hoped that this is not the case, as it

means leaving better men on the skids. Such men as M'Lean, Strange, Pownall, and O’Morrah must not be lost sight of. The first and last named are rowing well, and Strange, who has done good work for one of the Southern Clubs, is certainly shaping well here.

In future issues our readers will find these columns containing straight opinions of the rowing men of the City of Welling-

ton, so that they had better “ sit up” when they see a critical-looking oarsman pattering about the harbour in a little cedar dingy. It is our intention to pick out the duffers and stir up the “ coaches” a bit. We may overlook some points, but we will see enough to expose some of the weak spots in the passing crews. It [is to be'hoped that our criticisms will

be taken in good part, as our only desire is to help all to attain the legitimate goal of becoming competent scientific oarsmen.

The New Zealand Cup will be run next Tuesday, and the field will probably number about 17 starters. Response is carrying a lot of stable money, and Mr. O’Brien (the owner) has any amount of faith in the mare. Boulanger has a strong following, and is being heavily backed. Notwithstanding the present attitude of the betting market, and the various commissions about, our avourite is Prime Warden, and, barring accidents, the “ Cup’ should result as follows : Prime Warden 1 Response ... ... ... 2 Boulanger 3 Amongst the dark horses who may prove troublesome are Pegasus and Hippomenes, and the former will be well up in the van at the finish

A rumour has reached Wellington from Christchurch that Clan Ronald will not go to the starting post. Whether this be true or not, the future will show, but we do not think even if he starts he has a very rosy chance.

The Melbourne Cup, which is run on the same day as the New Zealand Cup is not exciting as much interest in New Zealand this year as it has done in former tunes

There is every evidence however of a big field starting in the great Fleming-event in Melbourne, and judging from the news received here the race should result as follows: —

Loyalty 1 Portsea 2 The Admiral 8 Sainfoin, The Jeweller, and Malvolio are liable to be troublesome though, and may upset the'pot.

One of the most important events that have taken place in Wellington athletics lately, has been the formation of the local

Harriers Club for the promotion of long distance and cross-country running. For this Club—which, it will be admitted, is much needed if we are to have good distance men to represent us against the rest of the Colony—we have to thank Messrs. Morpeth, Nicholls, and Oswin. All the preliminary work has been done, and the Club is nowin full working order carrying out its fixtures. These fixtures consist of runs of various kinds every Tuesday night, an occasional handicap and some paper-chases on Saturday afternoons. They are drawn up and printed on cards, one of which is sent to every member. The membership of the new Club is rapidly increasing, and there are ahnost seventy on the books already. Amongst these are to be found a goodly number of the old Beagle Club. Some of our readers will probably remember that Club. It was started by a young Englishman named Liddle, who came here some years ago, but it was never properly constituted-, and when Liddle and others, who were enthusiasts, left the place, the club broke up.

A Harrier Club has been recently formed in Nelson by Mr. Levien, formerly of the Randwick Harriers, Sydney. It is to be hoped that now the example set by the capital City has been followed all the distance runners in the other towns will bestir themselves and form Harrier Clubs so that we may have some good competitions, for competition is the soul of running.

Ihe Amateur Club lias got its programme out for the December meeting. It is time the boys were getting into form for it; it is to be hoped the Club will have better .luck with this meeting than they had with the last. Jupiter Pluvins was i ery rough on ’em on that occasion.

V e may expect the team to represent .w Zealand at the Australasian Championship Meeting, in Melbourne, to leave very shortly now. The meeting takes place on the Prince of Wales Birthday and the Saturday following. Unfortunately the New Zealand team will not be a very strong one as several of those chosen are not able to go. Gore cannot get away, neither can Beere, and now comes the news that Gurr has injured himself training and will be unable to run, so altogether our show does not seem a rosy one, especially when we consider that both Victoria and New South Wales have very good teams. It is worthy of note, however, that though they have such good

men as Dalrymple, Macpherson, Blake, MeCrae, and others in the running line on the “ other side ” —men who hold records of 9‘4-sth secs, for the 100yds., 21'2-sth secs, for the 220yds., lmin. £>9secs. for the half-mile, 4min. 25secs. for the mile, and 63min. for 10 miles cross-country —yet they have no good jumpers, vaulters, or hurdlers, so that if we can send a tip-top lot in this class to Melbourne, New Zealand might yet take the Inter-colohial banner.

The disqualification Tim Swiveller, for the Caulfield Cup, turned the jubilate of the average Melbourne bookmaker .into a heartfelt miserere. It is undoubtedly annoying after you have, in fancy, “ skinned the lamb ” and actually made arrangements to dispose of the various portions of his anatomy to find that, through some unforeseen accident the

animaljhfts skipped away' from your control with no chance of recapture.

Stephniak, despite the rumours with reference to his having gone oft, still holds his own in the forefront of tho betting.

It is just possible that The Workman may make a strong showing in tlto Now Zealand Cup; at any rate he is boing consistently backed.

As an instance ofjthe interest taken in rowing matters at present, there are 88 clubs belonging to the New Zealand Amateur Bowing Association, and it is confidently expected that there will be a larger representation at the coming cham* pionship races than has ever, been seen before ' ,r' .. , j-',’.