SPORTS, GAMES AND PASTIMES.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 20, 17 March 1894, Page 18

SPORTS, GAMES AND PASTIMES.

CRICKET. On Saturday the Phoenix quietly succumbed without even an expiring kick. The Midland playing up well, and assisted by somewhat mediocre bowling, have bettered their condition; their tail, however, is not expected to be dangerous, so that the Eivals will probably only have to repeat their first innings performance to secure a win. Benbow again secured a good bowling average, and ought at last to be coming within the ken of the selectors. At a dinner the other night, held in connection with the Hutt Club, the übiquitous skipper of the Wellington Cricket Club was set down to propose the toast of “ the ladies.” In warming to Ins subject he expatiated on their many virtues, and dwelt on the resemblance that now exists between the sexes. The same bifurcated garments, a la a recent wedding of dress reformers in Christchurch, the same occupations, &c., &c., and finally wound up with “ in fact there’s very little difference between them.” “Well, then,” fervently ejaculated a good old sport of the old school, “ Three cheers for the ‘ little difference.’ ” After an exciting tussle the Stars defeated Kilbirnie. The former Club confcemphates considering the desirability of entering next season into the senior competition. For their own sakes we would counsel them to defer the promotion. They are far from being at present capable of sustaining that position. We would infinitely prefer to see several of them playing senior cricket as members of the existing entrants, and are satisfied they would’ be acquisitions; but irrespective of tho disturbing tendency of an odd team, which would entail the drawing of a bye, we cannot see any advantage in the transference of the whole team to senior cricket. If the Juniors generally do not appreciate the grounds they are compelled to play on they have a very simple remedy. Let' them buy shares extensively in the Athletic Sports Company, and then perhaps they will have the Basin all to l to themsolves. There could not be stronger advocates for due recognition of junior cricketers than ourselves, but too often is it the case that sudden transition means demolition. With the nucleus of three or four steady veterans the Stare would bo justified in seeking higher honours. In their best interests we advise them to wait. When Bob Blacklock was run out on Saturday, he appealed for an alleged case of obstruction. Haldane, it appears, in. backing up had got in Bob’s track, the result was a partial collision. Had the obstruction been wilful, of course the batsman would not have been given out. Previously in the game Cross and.

Blacklock had came into violent contact during the progress of a run, the latter being winded and having to betake himself pavilionwards. Already attempted practices and rumours of football fixtures proclaim the impending decease of the season. The final heats of the Junior Competitions will be the only remaining sports of vitality unless a special Saturday be set apart for a continuation of the RivalMidland match. The probability of this special Saturday being granted is agitating the supporters of the latter Club, who in the narrowness of their vision and pettiness of purpose, consider the game should be finished on week nights. Experience has shown that when matches arc played during the week a commencement is never made until about half-past five, the stumps, on account of the light, have to bo drawn at 6, consequently for a paltry half hour’s play each night the whole team, probably at a great inconvenience, has to put in an appearance. It is reducing matters to an absurdity, a whimsical Gilbertian burlesque. AQTJATIC. In the Oriental Boaring Club’s Junior Pairs C. J. Erceth, stroke, and W. Nidd, bow, and E. J. Read, cox, defeated C. Bridge, stroke, M. McGillioray, bow, and O. Jones, cox, after a splendidly contested race by a length and a half. W. Townsend, bow, A. E. Boyes, stroke, and E. J. Read, cox, defeated N. Bridge, bow, D. Driscoll, stroke, and 0. Jones, cox, somewhat easily by two lengths. In the Oriental Boating Club’s Senior Sculls J. G. Stevens defeated A. Hill by three lengths. This was a great surprise as the event was looked upon as a moral for Hill.

The Star Boating Club's Fitzgerald Fours were held last Saturday afternoon along the Kaiwarra shore. In the first heat Matthews defeated Johnston by a length, who was half a length in front of Fache. J. Duncan defeated Burnes by a quarter of a length, who was several lengths in front of McLean. Wallace defeated K. Duncan by a length and a half, who in turn was a half length in front of J. Smith. F. Pownall defeated C. Pearce by a length with Palmer three lengths away. Matthews defeated J. Duncan after a splendid race by a few feet. Wallace defeated F. Pownall after a good race by half a length. Matthews defeated Wallace by a length and won the final. The winning crew consisted of C. E. Matthews, stroke, T. R. Herd, 8, A. H. Barnett, 2, C. Archibald, bow. Mr. W. H. Field, Captain, and M. A. S. Biss,. Deputy Captain, acted as judge and starter respectively. MoGrath won the handicap sculling

race at the Otago Regatta last week from scratch, and is reported to be in splendid condition, and will take a lot of beating for the championship sculls. Hume and Young are also training well for this event, so the sculling race will be well worth seeing, with these thiee and Keefe of Auciriand amongst the competitors.

We shall next week give our anticipations for the various events at the Championship Regatta to be held at Picton on Easter Monday. The following crews have been drawn for the Junior Double Sculls, Wellington Bowing Club : —M. G. Grcnside bow and J. E. Gamble stroke, A. Purdie bow, and A. W. Smith, stroke, S. G. Ross, bow, W. Ross, stroke, B. J. Finucane bow, and J. R. Crawford stroke, W. H. Jackson bow, and H. Bulford stroke, R. F. Smith bow, and J. S. Swan stroke, W. Strange-Muir bow, ar.d E. Niehol&on stroke.

This should bo won by Nicholson and Strange-Muir. The Union Rowing Club, of Christchurch, will be represented on March 26th, at Picton, in New Zealand Championship races by the following crews:— Chamaion Four Oar—G. Berry bow, G. H. Hobbs, 2 ; W. F. Samuels, 3; R. F. Crosbie, stroke. Champion Pair Oar— W. F. Samuels, bow; R. F. Crosbie, stroke. Champion Double Sculls—W. G, Samuels, bow f R. F. Crosbie, stroke. The average weight is 12st lib. The crew are training on the Avon, showing good form, and by the time of the regatta they will be worthy representatives of the province. After the crew have taken part at the Picton regatta they will, on their return to Wellington, compete in the Wellington regatta on March 28, in the three senior events. The new four oar recently purchased from G. Norton, boatbuilder, Wellington, will be used, and in double sculls and pair oar the boat imported last year from J. H. Clasper, London. Samuels ond Crosbie will take a lot of beating in the double sculls. The following crew has been selected to represent the Napier Rowing Club in its matches with the Napier Union, Gisborne and Poverty Bay Clubs this month: —F. A. Styche stroke, J. Wilson, G. L. King, and W. H. Rose bow. The annual swimming sports in connection with the Wellington Rowing Club take place on Saturday afternoon, and included in a long programme of events is a race for the Amateur Swimming Championship of Wellington, over a distance of 200yds. Several entries have already been received for this event, and a great race is expected. Visitors to the boathouse will be entertained at afternoon tea. CYCLING. - At the Drapers’ sports on the 7th inst., Muir scored another very easy win, although Herbertrmade a plucky attempt

at the finish. The scratch man, Brand, was unable to get on terms with his men, although the race was run in slow time. His style, if not productive of great speed, was rather grotesque and added to the general amusement. Chegwidden, the limit man, ran into third place, much to his own surprise, beating Hunt, whose pedal came loose during the last lap, thus pulting him out of the race. The following points may be studied by riders desirous to cultivate a good style in racing:—Take care to pedal evenly, don’t favour one leg more than the other; pedal straight, and don’t throw your knees out; pay careful attention to amplo action as a great amount of speed is to be obtained from it.

“ There is nothing so bad for riding as too much champagne, and nothing so good for too much champagne as riding,” says an authority. Louis XVI. was much interested in velocipedes, and, being a practical locksmith, would probably have invented some improvements, had he not fallen a victim to the executioners axe.

Jamieson's belongings were all burnt in the fire, which took place at his brother-in-law’s grocery establishment, with the exception of his racing safety, which he was luckily able to rescue from the flames.

James Bissell, the fastest cyclist in Napier, will be a competitor at the Druid’s meeting. He, as well as Lucey and Jamieson, bestrides a new B and A racer.

The lighest roadster bicycleß in the world are now being turned out by the Eagle Bicycle Co.. New York. They are fitted with aluminium rims and swaged tubing, and scale but 221 b. Although so light, they are guaranteed to stand a reasonable amount of rough work. Cyclists requiring an expert repairer cannot do better than interview Hopwell, of Willis street, a most capable workman and a believer in reasonable charges. He has now in stock a few machines by the leading English makers, amongst them being a fine rear-driving safety by Humber and Co., a couple of front-driving light roadsters, manufactured by the New Buckingham and Adams Cycle Co., and fitted with the Eadie gear, and a gem of a rear driver, by the same firm. Italy—the land of ice creams and barrel organs—holds the honour of being the first country to adopt electric tricycles for public use. The machines are built slightly larger and stouter than usual, and each one is fitted with a battery of 10 cells, supplying motive power for from three to five hours. They will fly for five, exactly the same as our local Jarveys, The front driving type of safety should prove a favourite mount in Wellington, as it is admitted by experienced cyclists to be the machine for rough roads. NcQuistan rode this type when he won

the recent 50 mile Championship, and his time, 3 hourß 80 minutes, under most unfavourable conditions of road and weather speaks volumes for the speed and easy running of the machine. Competitors for the forthcoming sports are now in strict training, and ore practising both on the roads and on the reserves. Herbert, Lucoy, Brand and others were out on Sunday for long Bpins in the Wairarapa direction. McQuistan has purchased a Humbor Star racing safety, and intends having a big say in the sports on Easter Monday. He is an old Tiraaru racing man and with a speedy mount ohould do well. A six days race was held in Now York lately, the winner covering sixteen hundred miles. One rider fell asleep, from exhaustion and rode over the five foot banking, falling heavily. Another had to bo carried off, crying like a child, and all the competitors had more the aspect of skeletons than men, at the close of the race. There can be but little sport in this kind of struggle, which is merely testing a man’s breaking strain.

A challenge was lately given by Mr. Whittaker,, aged 81, abstainer for 69 years, to the effect that he would run a race with anyone who had frequented public-houses for 69 years. In answer to this, Mr. Robert Musgrave, proprietor of the Royal Hotel, Workington, writes that his father, Mr. John Musgrave, aged 93, who has drunk whiskey not only 69 years, but for 70 years, and is drinking it still, will run Mr. Whittaker 60 yards, not weight for age but yards for years—i.e., one yard start for each year of ago over Mr. Whittaker. This challenge (says the Sporting Chronicle) iB open during the holidays, the gate money to he given to either the Licensed Victuallers’ Association or the United Kingdom Alliance, ae the winner may decide.