SPORTS, GAMES & PASTIMES.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 9, 30 December 1893, Page 14

SPORTS, GAMES & PASTIMES.

Mr. T. W. Wynyard, who is wellknown in amateur sporting circles, was born at the North Shore, Auckland, in 1865. He is the youngest son of the late Captain Wynyard and was educated in Auckland. He followed an office life after school and went in for athleties of all kinds when he was about 16 years of age, notably, cricket, football, rowing and running. He was a member of the National football team that visited England and Australia in 1883 and" 1889 and was also chosen to represent New Zealand in the last campaign in Australia. As a rower he has done a great deal in New Zealand, winning a number of colonial races, and pulling to victory on several occasions with Sullivan, now champion of England. He came to Wellington about four years ago, but could not find time to row and play cricket at the same time, so kept to cricket and became a member of the Midland Cricket Club. Mr. Wynyard was a member of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club for many years, and won several prizes including the Club’s J-mile championship in 1887 afterwards, in 1890, Mr. Wynyard joined the Poneke Football Club, and has been with them ; from the time of his joining up to the present day; he is now vicecaptain, and one of the most enthusiastic players when the football season comes around. In the match between the Auckland and the Nelson team in 1889 the subject of our sketch succeeded in obtaining two * tries’ and a gaol, a particularly good record for a single player, although, as he says himself, for. awhile he dropped football for cricket; still he must have had a natural adaptation for the former game, for when he first joined

the Ponekes in 1890, he won Hr. Newman’s trophy for the best all round play. Mr. Wynyard is a good specimen of the young New Zealander, and is fortunate enough to possess a sound mind in a sound body. The more young men of his style that we breed in this colony the better it will be for the future of the country. Blackham, one of the Australian cricket team, says that in his opinion the English fast bowlers completely demoralised the Australians, who are too much used to tricky slow bowlers.

One of the incidents of the last Melbourne Cup : When the wife of a wellknown owner of racehorses saw hubby’s animal beaten even for a place, she straightway tied herself up in a hysterical attack and cleared, about J-acre space around her in 10 sec. This is about the only instance on record where it could be safely assumed a race was run absolutely on the square.

At the rifle match between the Pahiatua and Woodville rifle clubs, which was shot at Woodville, the former club won by 24 points.

Up to the time of our going to press the results of the Chess Congress in Dunedin were as follow: —Mellor v Cleland, Mellor resigned; Barton v Mouat, Barton won by default; Brown v Lelievre, the game resulted in a draw; Edwards v Barnes, wen by Edwards; Hookham v Pleasants, Pleasants resigned. Mr. T. W. Leslie, the walker, has left for Dunedin to take part in the annual athletic sports which are to be held there. The sports will extend over three days. The annual meeting of the Feilding Athletic Club was held on Boxing Day. There was only a fair attendance present. Mat Morrissey, Flanagan, and J. H. King, all Australian performers, were present. The two principal events were the Sheffield Handicap (120yds.) and the" One Mile, they were won by Lett and Daly respectively, both from Wanganui. A. W. Watts won the 200 yards Championship rather to the surprise of the knowing ones, as both J. H. King and Rogers ran in the race. Morrissey, the Sydney man, won the Quarter hands down. Watts, in addition to the win mentioned, won both the hurdle races. Bullock, of Wellington, won both amateur races.

The Wellington Caledonian Society held a meeting on Wednesday night, to make arrangements for the sports to be

held on New Year’s Day. The entries for all events are much larger this year than they have been at any previous time, and if the weather is fine a most enjoyable day is anticipated. Mr. S. Nicholls, who has been for some time living in Greytown, has returned to Wellington. He has signified his intention of playing for the Midland Cricket Club during "the remainder of the season. The athletic sports held at Porirua under the auspices of the Porirua Athletic N Club passed off very successfully. The weather was.simply perfect, and there

was a fair attendance, about 600 people being on the ground. The principal event —the Porirua Handicap of four distances—resulted in a tie between D. McGill, the Petone footballer, and Bradford, both men scoring 8 points each. They agreed to divide the prize money. The arrangements in connection with the sports were excellent, and both Mr. A. H. Bennie (the secretary) and Mr. G. H. Watson (superintendent of sports) are entitled to warm praise for the way they carried out their duties.

Arrangements have been completed for a rifle match between the junior teams of the City Rifles and the Greytown Rifle Club to come off on the Papawai range on New Year’s Day. The Wellington team will meet at the Drillshed this (Friday) evening to receive their ammunition and make further arrangements for the match.

At a special meeting of the Canterbury CricKet Association in Christchurch, at which delegates from Otago and Auckland were present, it was resolved, with their entire concurrence, that the Canterbury Association be requested to accept all financial responsibility for, and to undertake the sole control of the approaching "match New Zealand v. New South Wales, at Christchurch ; and that Mr. A. M. Olhvier be asked to select the New Zealand team.

The annual angling competition in connection with the Canterbury Angler’s Society was held at the Selwyn on the 18th instant. There were two competitons, the contestants fishing first with minnows and then with flies. In the former, Mr. G. B. Ritchie was first with ten fish weighing 501 b. lljoz. In the second, Mr. H. McCrostie was first with a total weight of 231 b. lloz. During the holidays the Messrs. Jessup, of Wellington, made a long bicycle journey. They left Palmerston at 1'45 p.m. on Saturday, and arrived at Norsewood at |9‘25 p.m. The trip was resumed at 8.15 next morning, and their destination, Waipawa, was reached about noon. They left on the return journey at 4TO the same day, taking the train as far as Woodville, and reached Wellington at 9TO on Tuesday night. Mr. Herbert rode from Wellington to Waipawa and back via, the Wairarapa. The bowling greens in Wellington were well patronised on Boxing Day. Both the Thorndon and Wellington Bowling Club members turned out in full force, and several interesting games were played, The Interprovincial Tennis Tournament in Auckland is attracting the attention of all lovers of the game throughout the colony. The latest news which is received just as we go to press, is that Mr. S. M. Marshall, of Christchurch, and Miss Spiers, of Auckland, have been successful in defeating Miss Cottrell and Mr. J. Harrold in the Combined Double Handicap. Miss Speirs played particularly well. The open sailing boats, lone and Irex,

are to be taken across to the Picton Regatta on Monday. Mr. A. S. Paterson has been elected Director of Sports for the Caledonian Society’s Meeting in the absence of Lieu-tenant-Colonel Hume. It will be recollected that the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association recently refused permission to the Wairarapa Athletic Club to assist the kindred organisation in Wellington in sending a* team to the championship meeting in Dunedin next year. It is now stated that the men who have been selected by the Wairarapa Club will become members of the Wellington Club and compete in the latter body’s colours.

It has been decided to open a bowling green in the grounds adjoining Parliament House. The site chosen is an excellent one, and the idea worthy of commendation. A little cut-of-door exercise and a little less devotion to Bellamy’s will be of undoubted benefit to many of our worthy legislators. The cricket team selected to meet Auckland seems to have met with the approval of the critics, the only one to whom exception has been taken being Ashbolt. Undoubtedly there are several players whose performance during the season have entitled them to priority of selection. On a hard true wicket, such as in all probability we shall have, Ashbolt, as a bowler, will be useless ; and then regrets will be expressed that a hard hitting bat such as Williams or Wynward was not included, Lash, also, certainly should not have been relegated to inactivity. However, it is impossible to satisfy everyone, and a Selection Committee that can so arrange matters that adverse criticism is confined to but one of the team is worthy of congratulation.

The games on Saturday were of the order known as “scratch.” Wellington fortified by Harris of the Phoenix, and Lusk of Hawke’s Bay, meeting the Midland; and the Rivals essaying the duty of inflicting further ignominy upon the unfortunate Phoenix. The Midland made a splendid stand, the veteran Salmon leading the van with a score of 74. Lusk played artistically for 14, but the remainder lacked vigour. Fitzsimmons developed unexpected talent; perhaps the responsibility of going in first had something to do with it. The experiment of changing the order is to be commended ; many a batsman who is perpetually compelled to “ initiate the tail” becomes disheartened and careless. The same applies to bowling, a few seem to monopolise it all and then one wonders at the paucity of good bowlers. Jones (60) and O’Sullivan (56) were the mainstays of the Rivals; the latter promises to be a crack of the first water.

The Pressmen had a very enjoyable match on Christmas Day, the “ Great Liberal Party ” asserting a three wickets superiority.

Ih'the. Wellington Rowing Club Senior Fours Heise (bow), H. Gamble (2), Pall (3), C. Hooke (stroke), J defeated G. S.

Hill (bow), W. Waters (2), J. Patterson (3), W. Simm (stroxe), by about two lengths after a good race. Mr. F. M. Marks acted as starter, and Mr. J. E. Gamble as judge. Entries are now being received for the Club Fours in which race the winning crews will receive a special prize of gold medals.

We are glad to hear that Waters is likely to be sufficiently well to stroke the Wellington Club’s Senior Four, in which case the crew will probably consist of Waters, Graham, Young; and Simm. In the Star Boating Club’s Junior Pairs C. B. Trimmell, A. H. Barnett, and Widdop (cox), easily defeated P. Blundell, S. Allen, and Brown (cox) by some 15 lengths. , The following entries have been received for the Star Boating Club’s Senior Sculls, the first heats of which will be rowed after the New Year holidays, viz., G: C. Fache, F.' Pownall, K. D. Duncan, W. H. Morrah, C. W. Palmer, E. L. Burnes, C. Pearce, R. W. Wallace, A. G. Hume, A. W. Newton, H. Palmer, and E. W. G. Strange. Newton will probably prove the winner.

We hear the Star Club Match Committee have selected the following crews for the forthcoming regattas, although the same have not yet been officially made public, viz., Senior Fours: R. W. Wallace (stroke), E. W. G. Strange (8), G. F. Johnston (2), W. N. Morrah (bow); Senior Pairs; A. W. Newton (stroke), W. H. Morrah (bow); Senior Double Sculls: A. W. Newton (stroke), A. G. Hume (bow) Junior Fours: C. E. Matthews (stroke), H. J. McLean (3), H. Palmer (2), C. Pearce (bow); Maiden Four: A. Duncan (stroke), G. C. Fache (3), R. Pownall (2), K. D. Duncan (bow). If such is the case I cannot compliment the Committee on their selection, and think the following would prove far better selections, viz., Senior Fours: R. W. Wallace (stroke), E. W. G. Strange (3), G. F.’ Johnston (2), H. Palmer (bow); Senior Pairs: A. W. Newton (stroke), W. H. Morrah (bow); Senior Double Sculls: A. G. Hume (stroke), E. L. Burnes (bow); Junior Fours: C. E. Matthews (stroke), D. Burnes (8), C. Pearce (2), J. E. Smith (bow); Maiden Fours: A. Duncan (stroke), G. C. Fache (3), H- Shearman (2), R. Pownall (bow). With such a long list to choose from the Committee should not send any member for more than one race, as when men are training with a four they cannot devote sufficient time to the pair-oared or doublesculling event.