Our Sports Summary

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 15, 10 April 1924, Page 35

Our Sports Summary

There are many scratchings for the big events at Easter in Riccarton. Notable in the Easter is the defection of Parody which may ;be heard of in Auckland in the near future. In the longer race, one misses Baldowa ' whose connections were sanguine until recently.; ‘

/ Among those left in the short event, Razzle Dazzle, Listening Post, and Santonio have great credentials to run a fast seven furlongs. In the Great Autumn one is arrested - by the chances of Pilliewinkie, Limelight, Gold Light, and Silver Peak.

; Santonio has won an open six in Wellington on two occasions, so that there is no doubt about his pace. Remembering -how they backed him for the Winter Cup, there ought to be no reason to think he will not be going as strong as Johnny Walker at the end of the straight. A good ftiilcr and a good beginner is what one looks for.

Pilliewinkie is a kind of “wait and see” horse. They say he is no good in soft going. But he is some horse when he can hear his feet rattle. Gold Light ran a dead heat in tiro Oaks with Enthusiasm, and won several good races later on. Limelight is little and good. Observers think she is not striding out as freely as she might if at her best. Silver Peak was a great mare. The question is whether, she is now or not. . ~ , y T,

As might be expected Loughrea said “No thanks” when the Riccarton weights appeared. He is in the Invercargill Cup. So is Baldowa.

Among the entries for the steeples at the sothern meeting I note the name of Pamplona. He is good when wound up. Noble has run very consistently during the past season and may do even better this year.

Many of the horses engaged in Christchurch are entered elsewhere, and- one had better wait and see what the owners intentions are. Murihaupo and Ballymena look like a. pair that are worth keeping an eye on in their Auckland engagements. The former is a good miler, and the latter has now proved that he is a representative of good class oven among the weight-for-age candidates.

Manawatu meeting was a great success.' More power to them all up there! ' It is said that several wool-merchants heaved a sigh of relief when Ballymena won the Gold Cup. He is a good one.

. Valdamo came to life at Otautau and returned a dividend that might be described as “flawhooluch.” One of the friends of the corpse was noticed in town on the day of the recovery. Wasn’t it . unfortunate that urgent business kept him away from the scene of action! -

Many punters could not see Motley beaten. Others, with .long memories, were mindful of past performances of Tamatete who is second only to Gloaming over six furlongs. It was a close thing but Tilly’s duly landed. Maurice McCarten had a good meeting.

A Waterford exchange announces the death of another of the Widger brothers. This time the summons has come to Dick, who figured principally in the business transactions of the famous firm of horse dealers. Johnnie, Mick, and Joe, who are also now dead, were all good horsemen between the flags. , Tom, who survives, was a fine cross country rider in his younger days. Their nephews, the Morgans, inherited the family talent and daring, Dick, Willie, Frank, and Isaac being all crack-jockeys. Johnnie Widger’s three sons, T. J., Jack, and Mick, could all ride, well and the second named has a long string of victories to his credit both in Ireland and England. Of the dozen or more good men of the two generations Joe Widger and Dick Morgan were both often .mentioned as the best steeplechase riders in Ireland. Smaller in numbers but -not less in quality, the Beasley family gave great horsemen, to ; the Irish and English' turf. ;/Tommy, perhaps the best of them,- is dead some years; Wijlie ; was killed in Trambre; Harry, now a veteran, is occasionally-seen; “up” at Punchestown.

ST. PATRICK’ HARRIERS, DUNEDIN?

■ Mr. G. E. Pollock presided at the fifth 1 annual meeting, held/ last week, ;of the; St. Patrick’s ; Harrier and A.A. Club.

The annual report stated; that the club held fourteen runs and seven races, the attendances being . very satisfactory. Attendance badges were keenly - competed for, and were obtained by the following;—Messrs Bradley, Clutterbuck, Allen, Davies,-Meehan, M’ljroy,M’Allen, Hi M’Don--11 ell, and J. T. M’Donnell. A club team competed in , the Edmond Cup, but although unsuccessful as a team, individually good performances were registered. The club n as also represented in the five mile championship and the Dunedin-Port Chalmers'robd race. ' '/■■■;;./x/'r,;

' - TAILTEANN GAMES. Regarding the Tailteann Games, concerning which little enthusiasm is displayed among the Irish here, we have' received from the Secretary the following letter: ' ; A Char " > ' The Tailteann Games which will be held in Dublin from the Ist to the 18th of August next, will be one of the biggest events- in Europe this year. The programme is widely diversified and includes athletics, cycling, hurling football, jumping, weight-throwing, decathlon, swimming! rounders, camoguidheacht, handball, boxing, rowing, yachting, golf, tennis, motor-cycling, gymnastics, billiards, as welt as literary, art, step dancing, and musical competitions, The great Dublin Horse Show, the finest of its kind in the world, will be held concurrently with the Games, so that every possible kind of taste will be catered for, and the visitor to Dublin will have such a feast of variety as few countries can offer. " / ■; Organisation is already far advanced in the United States , and Canada. The States, in particular, hope toplace some of their finest athletes, both men and women, inthe field, and for this purpose are raising a sum of 100,000 dollars to send them to Ireland. In England, Wales, and Scotland in addition to the home country influential committees are at work and good results are assured. TileAccommodation Committee of the Games in Dublin arepreparations for the housing and entertainment of 100,000 visitors, and the Decoration Committee are raising; a sum of £IO,OOO for the purpose of decorating the city during the period of the Games. Amid all this activity there is apparently a strange apathy amongst the Irish in New Zealand. Up to the time of writing no word has reached the Head Office of any prospect of a team from your part of the world. lit is possible, of course, that there may teams or individuals who intend to compete; if so, the General Council of Aonach Tailteann would be very glad to hear from them, in order to make all necessary arrangements. If nothing has yet been done I would now ask all Irishmen) in New Zealand who desire the promotion of their country’s interests, whether athletic or otherwise, to 1 get together and organise for the Games, so that they may not be without representation when the festival opens. ~ Requests for information should be addressed to the Secretary, Aonach Tailteann, College Street, Dublin. ' "

Mise le meas mor, , . C. Gifford Wilson, Ruriaire,