Auckland Regatta.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 131, 26 January 1893, Page 9

Auckland Regatta.

A general meeting of the Auckland Regatta Committee was held on Monday, when the report of the sub-committee in regard to the courses of the various races was read. It was resolved that the course for races for largest sized yachts and fishing boats should be from the flagship, round the mark-boat off Orakei Bay, thence to a mark-boat three miles north of Rangitoto Reef, thence round the buoy off Orakei Bay, round the s.s Arawata, 1 finishing on the south side of the flagship, twice round. The course of yachts of 5 tons and under was fixed the same as the previous one, but only once round. The course for yachts 3 tons and under and the smaller fishing boats was fixed to be from the flagship round markboat off Orakei Bay, round the chequered buoy in Rangitoto Channel, round markbuoy off Orakei Bay, thence to the s.s. Arawata, finishing on the south side of the flagship, twice round. For open sailing boats the course is to be from the flagship round the mark-boat off Orakei Bay across to the Sandspit buoy, thence round the s.s. Arawata, finishing on the south side of the flagship; twice round. The committee’s recommendation for the maiden, junior, and senior whaleboat races was that the course should be one mile, one and a-half miles, and two miles, a straight course ; the course to be fixed on the day of the race so as to arrange for smooth yvatef. The course for races for gigs, whalers, etc., is to be from the round the s.s. Arawata, round

H.M.S. Goldfinch, finishing on the south side of the flagship; once round. The rule of the Auckland Yacht Club re the sailing races is to be adhered to, which is to the effect that the competing boats will have to stay round the various markbuoys. Mr Thomas was appointed starter for the rowing races at Pine Island. The following entries have been received for the Auckland Regatta :— Maiden Gig Race (under io stone). —North Shore R.C. (No. i crew), North Shore R.C. (No. 2 crew), Auckland R.C., West End R.C., St. George’s R»C. . Amateur Scullers. —F, Burgess, M. Keefe, E. G. Bailey, A.'Bailey. Junior Gib Race.—St. George’s R.C., Star of Manukau R.C., Waitemata Boating Club. Senior Gig Race (under io stone). — City R.C. (No. i crew), City R.C. (No. 2 crew). Maiden Whaleboat Race. — Waitemata Boating Club, Star of Manukau R.C. Senior Gig Race. —Auckland R.C., St. George’s R.C., City R.C., Waitemata B.C. Sculling Race (for the Marshall Cup and Gold Medals).—H. Cramond, A. Dacre, E. Edwards, H. J. Bailey, W\ Cossar. Maiden Gig Race.—Auckland R.C., Star of Manukau R.C., West End R.C., St. George’s R.C., City R.C., Waitemata B.C. Junior Gig Race.—Auckland R.C., St. George’s R.C., City R.C. Fishing Boats (4 tons and under). —Venice, Rialto, Brothers. Fishing Boats (over 4 tons).—Mabel, Caprera. . . Yachts (7 tons rating and upwards).—Muntai, Awara, Spray, Rona, Maratea. Yachts (5 tons fating and not exceeding 7 tons).—Miharo, Aorere, Rogue. ;’ . Yachts (above 3 tons rating, and not exceeding 5 tons). —Tangaroa, Toroa, Kotiro. Yachts (3 tons rating and under). —Rogue, Corina, Yum Yum. ' Open Sailing Boats (16 feet and up to 20 feet). —Pet, Eileen. Open Sailing Boats (over 13 feet and up to 16 feet).—May, Elfin, Olive, Toy. Open Sailing Boats (13 feet and under). — Una, Mary, Bit-of-Blue. Maiden Whaleboat Race (under io stone). —North Shore R.C., West End R.C.

Junior Whaleboat Race. —Star of Manukau, St. George’s R.C , Waitemata B.C. Senior Whaleboat Race. — St. George’s R.C., Waitemata B.C. (No. 1 crew), Waitemata B.C. (No. 2 crew). There were no entries received for the Fiveoared Whaleboat Race, Ship’s Gig Race, and Naval Cutter Race. For the various events of Saturday’s racing’ “ Gloriana ” sends us the following tips:— Maiden Gigs (under 10 stone) — St. George’s Rowing Club, 1 ; North Shore, 2. Amateur Scullers—O’Keefe, 1 ; Bailey, 2. Junior Gigs — Waitemata, 1; St. George’s 2. Senior Gigs — Waitemata, 1 ; St. George’s, 2. Maiden Whaleboats— Star of Manukau, 1 ; Waitemata, 2. Senior Gigs (under 10 stone) —City No. 1 crew, 1 ; City No. 2 crew, 2. Scullers’ Race for the Marshall Cup— H. Bailey, 1 ; Dacre, 2. Maiden Gigs—St. George’s, 1 ; Waitemata, 2. Junior Gigs (under 10 stone) —Auckland, 1 ; St. George’s, 2. For Monday’s events “Gloriana’s” selections are :— Yachts over 7 tons —Arawa, 1 ; Spray, 2 : if a light wind, Rona. Yachts, 5 to 7 tons rating—Aorere, 1 ; Miharo, 2. Yachts, 3 tons rating and under—Yum Yum, 1 ; Rogue or Corina, 2. Fishing Boats, 4 tons and under— Venice. Open Boats, 16 to 20ft.—Eileen, 1; Pet, 2. Open Boats, 13 to 16ft.—May, 1 ; Toy, 2. Boats, 13ft. and under—Una, 1; Mary, 2. Fishing Boats over 4 tons —Caprera, 1 ; Mabel, 2. Maiden Whaleboats—West End, 1; North Shore, 2. Junior Whaleboats —Star of Manukau, 1 ; Waitemata, 2. Senior Whaleboats—Waitemata No. 1.

James Barron, of Sydney, made his debut before an American assemblage in the California Athletic Club on November 25th. His opponet was Robert Dobbs, who had gained considerable reputation in California during the last three months by vanquishing George McKenzie and Johnson. The battle was for the possession of lOOOdols. The San Francisco Chronicle reports of the contest :—“lt proved to be a hurricane affair, lasting just one round and a half. In the middle of the second round Barron swung his right with terrific force. It landed on the point of Dobbs’ chin, and the coloured gladiator went down like a flash. After being down about ssec he made an effort to get up. After several ineffectual attempts he managed to get on his feet, but fell over again, and was counted out.”

As instancing the ignorance displayed by the English and American press on the subject of some of the athletes of the Australasian Colonies, the appended, which recently appeared in the Toronto (Canada) Empire, is too good to lose: — “ Professional oarsmen in this country are accidents, so to speak, but the production and training of scullers is a business in the country of Beach and Searle and Stanbury, and Long John McLean, says an exchange. The great wilds of Australia are scoured for likely material, just as the pine forests of our own country are searched for choice trees for special purposes. When promising material is found it is hewn into shape and quickly cast aside if not satisfactory, Rich backers in Australia have ‘ stables ’ of scullers as they would have of racehorses. Everything is provided for the sculler, who is given all the stake won and the added money, while his ‘ supporter ’ recoups himself by betting. He has only to eat, sleep, and row, and he could not do anything beyond this if he tried. Of such is James Stanbury, the Champion of the World, a hulking giant, who never wore shoes until he was found to be worth taking up. Even now he despises this portion of the ordinary man’s apparel, and late advices from Australia said there was some doubt about his starting in the handicap race on the Parramatta on account of an injury received while playing football in his bare feet.”

Down in Australia they breed men with iron jaws, if Jim Burge is a fair sample (says an American paper). Visitors from the antipodes assert, however, that Burge is an exceptional man in that respect. On November 23rd Billy Mahan, a Californian man, brought his dukes encased in light gloves against Burge’s jaw in lightning succession for over one hour and a half. He rained down all kind of blows, from round arm swings to savage jabs, but that did not disturb the equanimity of the Australian in the slightest degree. Burge smiled, and the harder Mahan hit the broader the grin on the face of the “ Cornstalker.” Mahan kept on battering Burge through twentyfive long rounds, and in the twenty-sixth fell dead to the world from sheer exhaustion, the result of his vain endeavours. Mahan is not the first man who has fallen by the wayside in the attempts to fracture Burge’s jaw. The signatures of Griffo and Marshall have been affixed to articles by which they agree to fight for the featherweight championship of the world. The contest will take place at the Californian Club on February 28, for Both lads are to scale within the featherweight limit, gst, and whichever exceeds that weight will have to forfeit Griffo is full of confidence. He admits that he seriously under-estimated Marshall’s abilities in his first fight, and does not intend to neglect the important work of training. He will, he says, commence exercise shortly, and will not relax his exertions until he has reduced himself to gst, and is as fit as his trainer can make him. He still suffers much pain from his injured ear, but the split has almost healed up, and he does not anticipate any trouble on the night of the fight. Marshall, too, is sanguine of success. He is glad Griffo has come to the scratch, because he wants to gain the belt, not by claiming it, but by beating its present holder. He has every confidence that he can knock the Rocks lad out in about 15 rounds. “I have measured his strength,” says Jerry, “ and I am satisfied he can’t hit hard enough to beat me. I have stood severer punishment than ever Griffo inflicted, and I have given more punishment than Griffo could ever take. I think I’m sure to win. However, I don’t intend to be too sanguine, and I won’t reckon the fight mine until I see Grif. lying on the boards before me- You can tell the Melbourne people that I’m worth backing, for should I not knock the champion out the contest is sure to be a draw—provided, of course,” he adds, with significant emphasis, “ the referee knows what he is doing.” Mr G. Arncliffe, a prominent member of the Ballarat Cricket Club, has received a letter from Alfred Shaw, the well- known cricketer, who visited Australia with Lord Sheffield’s team last year. The letter was written from Assiout, on the Nile. The writer speaks hopefully of the future of cricket both at home and in the colonies, and concludes by saying that should he not change his mind he (Shaw) will probably visit Australia again at the end of this year with another All England Eleven. No less than £1663 3s was taken at the gates during the four days of the

match between Victoria and New South Wales. It is estimated that 40,000 people witnessed the play during the four days A letter has been received in Chicago by the World’s Fair authorities from the Secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, in conjunction with a letter of endorsement fiom our Premier, Mr Ballance. The letter has been handed by the recipients to the Chicago Athletic Club. The New Zealand Secretary suggests, on behalf of his proposed team, the arrangement of matches with Yale, Harvard, Princeton and others. His letter has been submitted to several prominent Yale players, who are of opinion that the radical difference between the American inter-collegiate game and the English Rugby would render difficult the arrangement of international games. However, rules might be drafted satisfactory to both. The date, January, 1894, mentioned by the New Zealanders, would be eminently unsatisfactory; the World’s Fair would be just over, and January is not a football month. The Auckland Lawn Tennis Club met the Whangarei representatives on Friday. Messrs. Barton and Reyburn, of Whangarei, played Messrs. J. P. Stevenson and W. Bruce, and beat them badly,' the scores being 6—3, 6—3, 6—2. In another match Whangarei was represented by Messrs. Cooke and Carruth, and. they easily beat Messrs. C. R. Chapman and Scherff. On Saturday the Whangarei representatives went out to Devonport (North Shore), and had some good games. Two matches were played. Messrs. Barton and Reyburn, on behalf of Whangarei, first met Messrs. Whittaker and Hill, and won—6 —3. The Devenport men won the second set—6 —3. D evenport also won the next set without their opponents scoring a game. The visitors were much hampered by the wet weather, but nevertheless played up well in the final set, only losing by 5 to 7. The score at the conclusion of play thus l stood in favour of Devenport—3—6, 6—3, 6—o, 7—5. In another match Messrs. Cooke and Carruth, for the visitors, beat Messrs. Mason and T. Macky ; scores—6 —3, 6—4, 6—l. On December 1, Charlie Mitchell surrendered himself at Bow-street for the) purpose of undergoing the sentence of twe months’ hard labour imposed on him for assault on an old man. Mitchell had previously appealed, but decided not to go on with it. Sir John Bridge, who was on the bench, however, held that the sureties were bound to prosecute the appeal. Further, that once notice of appeal was lodged the commitment lost all power. Mitchell then left the Court with his friends. Before going, however, he said to a reporter : —“ Tell them I have surrendered because one of the witnesses in the case does not like to come forward. His position is too good. Another reason is that I want to be out in time to give Hall three weeks’ training for his fight with Fitzsimmons, and to train myself for my fight with Corbett. The money is now up.” On application at Bentonville prison a London Sportsman reporter was informed that Mitchell had attended during the afternoon and surrendered to the Governor. That official, however, declined the responsibility of detaining the boxer, who at the end of about half an hour left the building. A singular fatality (says a Melbourne paper) seems to attend the big matches of the last few seasons, a Victorian and a New South Wales player having been called home last year by sudden deaths in their families, while on Sunday (Jan. 1) the brothers Jarvis, of the South Australian team, received news of the sudden death of their father. On Monday, too, H. Blinman, of the same team, was recalled to Adelaide through receiving news of the dangerous illness of his father, who died on the following day. The Argus, in its report of the cricket match between New South Wales and Victoria, says that the effective repetition by Moses in the second innings of New South Wales of his first innings batting feat emphasised the regret which everyone must feel that so fine a batting career should be closed by a succession of accidents. If this was his last match, he had determined that it should be one worth remembering. Moses evidently suffered severely from the injury he received, for in walking he simply dragged his leg along the gruss. It was a marvel under the circumstances how he got so much power into his hits. Once or twice after missing his stroke he fell quite helplessly. Although his leg seemed to get more painful the longer he batted it had no effect on his hits, and his exhibition was above all else an illustration of pure pluck., uj hi • ■_ x. 1 e U

The Rev. C. G. Lane, a well-known English cricketer and oarsman, passed away on the 2nd November. As recently as 1887 Mr Lane figured in a cricket match of importance, playing for the Veterans against the M.C.C. at Loid’son the Occasion of the centenary of that club, but it was as long ago as 1856 that he played for Oxford against Cambridge, appearing again in the team in 1858, 1859, and iB6O. In two of these years Mr Lane also assisted his university in the boat race, rowing No. 3. Mr Lane, who was in his 57th year, was a member of the famous Surrey County Cricket team of the early sixties. As the most capable judges of his time always ranked Mr Lane as one of the best batsmen in Surrey County there can be no doubt that he was a very fine player. As a fieldsman he was also famous, cover point and long leg being his favourite positions. Now that he is dead there are only four survivors left of the old Surrey Eleven that twice defeated the full strength of England. These four are William Caffyn, H. H. Stephenson —for many years past coach at Uppingham school —Mr F. Burbidge, and Mr E. Dowson. The others — Lockyer, Mortlock, Griffith, Sewell, Julius Caesar and F. P. Miller — have all passed away. ’ The gross takings in connection with the two intercolonial cricket matches recently played at Metbourne —Victoria v. New South Wales, and Victoria v. South Australia —amounted to £3301, and the expenses to about £7OO, thus leaving a very handoome balance to the credit of the Association. . Our Wellington correspondent wires that at the Palmerston North Sports on Monday the Putting-the-Weight record, 38ft 9in, established by T. O’Connor, of Auckland, was beaten by 0. McCormack, who covered 39ft 4in.

In referring to the Ten Mile Handicap - for veterans over fifty years of age, promoted by Sir J. D. Astley, and decided at Stamford Bridge Grounds, London, on November 28th, “Magpie” writes as follows in the London Globe :—“lt is not vouchsafed to every man to possess such a cast-iron constitution as that of Sir John Dugdale Astley, whose whole being is permeated with a love of sport that positively amounts to fanaticism. Sir John Astley ran races under the guns of Sebastapol, and laughed at the Russian artillerymen the while he was sprinting home with his brother officers. He is built of the same material as the young Etonian described by poor Whyte Mel- —' vine, who, when the Russians retreated after a sortie from the besieged walls of the Crimean citadel, ran after them and threw stones at them. But Sir John should remember that we cannot be always young, and that there is no sadder spectacle than the sight of senility at- ' tempting to ape youth. No doubt pure goodness of heart, combined with idolatry of sport, inspired Sir John to promote the ten mile race for pedestrians of fifty years of age and over at Stamford Bridge on Monday, but take it all in all it was not a comforting spectacle to gaze upon the majority of the old men, wrecks of their former selves, who took part in the display. There was Bill Lang, upright and resolute, trying to look like the Bill Lang who, years ago, ran a mile down hill in 4min 2sec, and made a dead heat of it in a mile race with Richards in 4min 17|sec, which record, by the way, stood in the book for many years, until W. G. George annihilated it. There was old Jackson, the ‘ American Deer,’ now seventy-one years of age, who used to star on pedestrian tours with ‘ Deerfoot’; Moorehouse, the ‘ Waterloo Pet,' seventy-

three years old ; J. Reynolds, better '"“’"'known as Joe Spencer, seventy-two years of age ; and many other veterans whose ages topped threescore; and although to many of these the old adage of ‘ There’s life in the old dog yet,’ would apply, yet I contend it was a melancholy sight to view these resurrectioned athletes running in a ten mile race. Neither Lang nor Jackson did anything but disport themselves on the track, as each retired early in the race, which was won by the scratch man, Choppy Warburton, fifty years old, in 61min 39 l-sth sec. W. Shipley, fifty years old, the other scratch man, was second, in 67min 34 l-sth sec, and R. Bullivant, fifty-four years old, 200yds start, was third, in 71min 5 4-sth sec.’ After all expenses had been met, there remained £lB2 to be divided amongst the thirty-seven competitors. Warburton received £5O and a gold medal, Shipley £2O and a gold medal, Bullivant £lO and a, gold medal, Jackson (American Deer), originator of the race, £lO, Moorhouse , ' (eldest man in the race) £5, and the remainder sums ranging from £4 to £l.”

The remains of William O’Connor, the celebrated oarsman, were interred in St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Toronto, on Nov. 26. The pall-bearers were Edward Hanlan, William Kennedy, Fred Mossop and Joseph Rogers. Speaking of the dead oarsman an English paper says:— ‘ O’Connor became a rower by a sort of accident. He held a post in the Toronto office of the Grand Trunk Railway, but his health breaking down he was ordered by his doctor to go in for plenty of outdoor exercise. Thereupon he joined a boating club, and it soon became apparent that he was much above the ordinary run of scullers. He was only 29 years of age at the time of his death. He was a genial gentlemanly young fellow, and his sorrow for the death of his antagonist friend, Searle, was real and touching.’

Alluding to the movement for shifting the headquarters of the Swimming Association from Auckland to Christchurch the Canterbury Times says : —‘lt appears as though the removal is not to be accomplished without some decided opposition from Auckland. Naturally Auckland feels the motion for the removal very keenly as the Asssociation was started there, but Northern swimmers must admit that Canterbury is far ahead of Auckland both as regards clubs and membership. As to the charge that the movement is prompted by provincial j ealousy and personal feeling there is not the slightest foundation for it. The Canterbury Clubs feel that in view of the large and increasing number of clubs and the greater interest taken in swimming matters here, added to the fact that there are more clubs in Canterbury than in the whole of the North Island the change of headquarters is highly necessary. Professional rowers (writes “ Trident” in the Sydney Mail} seem to be having a very quiet time indeed, and no matches are spoken of. Stanbury has gone inland erecting telegraph poles or fences. Dutch is at his trade with the anvil and sledge. Neilsen is enjoying a rest and looking after his boathouse at Mortlake. Lambert, I think, is farming, and Kemp is at his home on the Hawkesbury. Sullivan is on one of the northern rivers, and will row at Coraki at the end of the month.

With a view of selecting a team of athletes to compete at the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association’s annual championship meeting to be held at Wellington, the committee of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club have decided to hold a trial meeting to-day (January 26). The events set down for decision are as follows :—looyds Flat, 400yds Flat, 880yds Flat, One-mile Flat, 120yds Hurdles, 440yds Hurdles, One-mile Walk, High Jump, and Throwing 161 b Hammer. All events are handicaps.

Ball is training hard for the forthcoming Test Races, under the mentorship of Taylor. Farquhar is being carefully looked after by McDermott. Johnson is doing steady work at the Shore. Beale will not be among the starters in the Test Races. Martin and Hackett are still doing good work under the capable supervision of S. Goodman. Roberts is suffering from a bad leg and will probably be among the non-starters. Creamer is practising steadily on the off-chance of Burton not being a competitor.

The New Zealand Cup winner British Lion has come down in the racing scale indeed. He ran at the Kumara (Westland) meeting on the 4th inst. and finished last of four starters in the Kumara Handicap, one mile and a half, won by J. E. Pilbrow’s Flywheel, well known in the Nelson and Marlborough districts. Harkaway was second and Miss Ann third. Harkaway carried 9.11, British Lion 9,6, Flywheel 7.10, and Miss Ann 7.3. Harkaway got home by a head only. British Lion’s only other appearance at the meeting was in the Consolation, when carrying 7.2 he failed to give Tyrant gib.

After a lengthy retirement, Cruchfield’s younger brother Lord Aston made his re-appearance under silk in the Bangor Plate Handicap, one mile, run at Hororata (Canterbury) Meeting on the 13th inst. He put up 7.8, and was just beaten a head by Au Revoir, 6.7, the property of “ Patsy” Butler, who has been out of luck so far this season. Au Revoir, who is by St. George—Farewell, and is therefore full brother to Marlborough, paid the nice dividend of /"io Bs. On the strength of his victory, his stable companion Crown Jewel, 8.5, was made favourite for the Hororata Cup Handicap of 55SOVS, one mile and a-half, in which she was opposed by a quartette, but she was beaten half-a-mile from home, and Cajolery, 8.12, won by a length from Inez, 8.2, with Warrington, 7.13, third. A.U Revoir, with 7.0, could not improve on the position of third to Maria Martin, 6.7, and Warrington, 8,9, in the New Year’s Gift, six furlongs, and Crown Jewel, 8.1 1, was beaten half-a-length by her only opponent Rosehill, 8.0, in the Consolation Handicap, one mile. I had almost forgotten to mention that the big dividend of Z 67 ss. was paid over the victory of a piebald pony called Muses in the Trot.