Our Sports Summary

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 38, 27 September 1923, Page 33

Our Sports Summary

The hunting season has closed for this year and its devotees will miss the sport it afforded. Without foxes it is not the real thing, but all the same one can have a good run after even a drag across country that offers variety and uncertainty.

Most English hunting countries have the foxes but not the uncertainty which is the spice of Irish hunting. Over average level English fields the ideal .hunter is a fast galloper, able to clear obstacles like a good hurdler. But in Ireland such a horse would probably get left very .early in the game. In most Irish counties there is not much wire, but there is almost every other conceivable kind of obstacle. One may find oneself in marshes where main drains yawn open like rivers, and where fences are broad banks with drains on each side of them; or on mountainous country with stone walls'of such different dimensions that only a clever horse can escape trouble among them; or on pasture land where the majority of the jumps will be over stiff hedges; or on agricultural acres, with single and double banks that come after one another with baffling rapidity. A single bank five feet high presents no difficulty to an Irish hunter, but it is often a death-trap for a visitor's thoroughbred flyer that has not learned how to take it. The big boundary fences between farms are often six feet high or more, stone-faced, broad on top, and perhaps blind through being covered with gorse. To the stranger in the land it is a revelation to see the farmers ride at such mountainous jumps on young horses that face them without flinching and get over safely after a quick and puzzling change of feet on top. It looks difficult, but when you are riding a horse that stands out well when taking-off and jumps off boldly after changing, there is nothing in it. Hut if you have any doubts in your mind when riding up to such a bank, you are sure to get left, as a horse invariably finds out what the rider is thinking of.

Hie average Irish hunter is a cross between an Irish mare and a racehorse of fashionable blood. We all know what the racehorse is, but what do we mean by an Irish mare? Irishmen recognise the breed at once. They are hardy, sturdy, clean-limbed animals that can be turned to almost any kind of work. Under a lead their courage and endurance will enable them to beat the heavy Clydesdales. They are usually broken to the plough when three or four years old. .They make good hacks. They will take three or four persons in a gig twenty Irish miles and home again the same day, and be fresh for work in the morning. They are mostly good-tempered and clever in any difficulty. And they take to jumping naturally. Thus, they have intelligence, endurance, and strength, and a cross of thoroughbred blood gives their offspring the pace and the length of stride needed in a good hunter. There is a special stud-book for the Irish breed, and its purity is preserved jealously, as befits what is a great national asset. It is said that the Irish breed goes back to the days when Spanish horses were imported freely, especially in the West. Through the Spanish blood comes the Arab blood which gives the good looks and clean limbs so often noted in the horses ridden by farmers’ sons at a hunt meeting to-dav.

English owners of late years have often removed their stud-farms to Ireland, believing there is something in the soil that tends to the production of better thoroughbreds. Irish experts grant that the limestone soil may have a certain amount of influence on the growing youngsters, hut they say there are other factors not less important. First, the Irish breeder is not wedded to theory as English owners often are. Not on figures but on concrete facts do they rely for the mating of their mares. And they have obtained astonishing results in this way from what would not be regarded by bookish breeders as fashionable blood. Some of the greatest racehorses known have been bred thus, by following common sense as against theory. Secondly, the Irish expert will tell you that the natural manner of rearing the foals and yearlings has much to do with their success. Owing to their not being treated as hot-house

plants, Irish horses, in the opinion of a famous French

buyer, may be looked on to make great improvement after the age of three, when horses reared more artificially would either deteriorate or stand still.

CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB. TIMARU. The Celtic Football Club held its annual dance in St. Patrick’s Hall on Thursday, the 20th hist, (writes our own correspondent). The hall was tastefully decorated with greenery and the club’s colors—red and green. Miss Morgan’s band supplied excellent music, and the supper arrangements were in the hands of a band of willing ladies who are to be congratulated on their efficiency in this direction. Over 100 couples were present, the floor was in splendid condition, and the arrangements reflected great credit on the work of the committee in general. Special mention must be made of the secretary (Mr. G. Flett), who spared no effort in making the Celtic dance such a distinct success. ''

ST. PATRICK’S HA Bill EPS, DUNEDIN

Ihe St. Patrick Harriers held the last series of their sports meeting at Forbury Park on Saturday. The events contested were 220 yards and -140 yards, hop, step, and jump, and putting the shot, and in all these the starter (Mr. Hyall) got his men off their marks with the least possible delay. Allen (9 yards), who won the 100 yards on the previous week, again showed his superiority by winning the 220 yards in fine style. E. Culling,, who came second in the 220 yards and won the half-mile, is a promising \ oung runner. Davies outclassed the opposition in both the hop, step, and jump and putting the shot events; Mr. Marlow acted as judge; Dir. Myall was the starter and Dir. McEvoy the timekeeper. The following were the results:—22o yards.— (9yds), 1; E. Culling (18yds). 2; Lacey (6yds), 3. Half-mile.—E. Culling (80yds), 1'; McAllen (26yds), 2; Davies (10yds), 3. Hop. step, and jump.— Davies (Sin). 1; Allen (Ift Gin), 2; .Meehan (3ft), 3. Putting the shot.—Davies (Sin), I; Lacey (scratch), 2: Menhinick (3ft), 3. Final results. —Sprint . events— (8 points), I; Lacey (6 points), 2; E. Culling (5 points), 3. Field events—Davies (6 points), 1; Menhinick (4 points), 2; Lacey (3 points), 3. The aggregate prize fur the year was awarded to M . Allen, 8 points.

WORLD’S BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP

Having in the second round knocked out Firpo, the Argentinian, in the recent bout for the world’s heavyweight championship,J. Dempsey retains the title.

Previous Champions.

J he following is a list of the champions since 1897: Year. inner Runner-up. Hounds. 1897—R. Fitzsimmons J. J. Corbett 14 1899 Jeffries R. Fitzsimmons 11 1899—J. Jeffries T. Sharkey 25 • 1902 J. Jeffries ,R. Fitzsimmons 8 1903 Jeffries J. J. Corbett 10 1904 J. Jeffries . J. Munro 2 1905 Jeffries retired. M. Hart beat J. Root in 12 rounds . 1906 T. Burns M. Hart 20 1907 T. Burns J. O’Brien 20 1907 I . Burns W. Squires 1 1907 T. Burns “Gunner” Moir 10 1908— Burns J. Palmer 4 1908—T. Burns J. Roche 1 1908 -4 . Burns W. Squires 8 1908— Burns W. Lang 6 1908 T. Burns W. Squires 13 1908 J. Johnson T. Burns 14 1909 J. Johnson S. Ketchell 12 1910— J. Johnson . J. Jeffries 15 1012— Johnson J. Flynn 9 1914 J. Johnson F. Moran 20 1910 J. Willard J. Johnson 26 1919 J. Dempsey ' J. Willard 4 ' 1920 J r Dempsey W. Miske , 10 1920 J. Dempsey W. Brennan ■ 12 : 1021 Dempsey // G. Carpentier 4 1923—J. Dempsey T. Gibbons 15 k