SPORTING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 38, 8 September 1887, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING, CRICKET, AND FOOTBALL.

Al the racing leawn i« now rapidly approaching there is a little more talk about town of sport and sporting inatterS. The two local clubs have held their meetings, and it is satisfactory to see that the interest in them is well maintained by the Members. The Poverty Bay Jockey Club have, I see, wisely decided not duh with the Napier people, as a good many of onr local sports generally like to have a chip in at the fun on ♦he Hastings course. The programme for the 19th of next month is very liberal one, and I trust some of the Hawkes Bay owners may think it worth their while to come up. The Waerenga-a-hika Club made a few changes in their officers this year, but none of any importance. There was a little animated discussion about the appointment of a handicapper, but 1 am glad to see that wise counsel prevailed, and that Mr C. D. Bennett was reappointed. One gentleman suggested that Mr Evitt be appointed, but besides their having to dub up 20 guineas for that gentleman’s services, 1 question whether Mr Evitt Would do so well as Mr Bennett, as he eannot know much of the local horses. Some of the committee favored Mr? Green, a good old sport in his day, but Mr Bennett is by fir the better man, being well posted up in »U the recent racing, and taking great pains to do his work well. Of course he is not infallible, but there were Some verv pretty finishes last season. Whilst’ on the subject of local racing I cannot help referring to that strong feeling which exists amongst a lafgl section of the sporting men here, that a course nearer town should be obtained. Of course there are difficulties in the way, but with a little enterprise they might be surmounted. The clubs will never make good gate money these hard times

unless they get a course easy of access. To the average citizen who wishes to take his wife and friends, the expenses of getting out to Waerenga-a-hika are almost prohibitive. As time goes on it will become more difficult to get a piece of ground nearer town, and unless it is done soon, a day out at the races will remain the pleasure of the privileged few, and not of the ma ihe Auckland Racing Club have wisely changed their tactics with regard to their handicapper, Mr Evett. To have the committee supervising and altering the weights is what no handicapper would stand, and when we remember that a large proportion of the Auekliawl committee are interested in the N.> Stud Company, it is not astonishing to see that Southern owners protested strongly against the change. Happily, however, the Club has given way, and Mr Evett is handicapper on the same terms as before. The Napier Town aud Suburban Racing Club have received large entries for their Spring Hack Meeting, wiiich is announced for Wednesday, October 5. For the Handicap Hurdles of 30 sovs, 7 have been entered; for the Handicap Pony Race of 10 sovs, 18 5 for the Taradale Handicap of 40 sovs, 17 i for the Ladies’ Purse of 25 sovs, 9; and for the Flying Handlcap of 25 sovs, 22. I clip the following yarn from the Sydney Referee Two well-known horse owners—one who has had the luek to win a Melbourne Cup, and the other who would give £lO,OOO to have the pleasure of doing so—met. The former is a well-known New South Welshman, while the latter hails from New Zealand. Neither had seen the other before, but one morning the rep. of NS.W. was coming along when he was pointed out by a friend of the New Zealander, Approaching the rep, of the moa said, 1 Good morning, Mr G—My name is E—, They tell me you are a terrible sharper.’ The N.S.W. man had an idea of his friend, and learn-

ing his name, replied, ' Yes, that's my name, and they tell me you are a liar.' This is a fact, and when they meet no secrets are exchanged.” There was a good deal of loose comment in the Southern papers last week about the 24 hours walking match between Joe Scott and Captain Cotton. The Otago football team seem to have enjoyed their late trip immenely. They quite admit that their win at Napier was a “chuck in” for Warbrick was away and Taiaroa would not play against his old club. Mr Drabble, one of the team, in the course of a letter to the Secretary of the Otago Rugby Union gives the following account of their Gisborne experiences:— We arrived at Gisborne on Friday, and I must say Otago owes a debt of gratitude for the way we were treated. When the launch reached the wharf we were met by Bees and a lot of others, marched up to the hotel, given refreshments, then driven in a drag to the ground, where we had 40 minutes play— a lot of the local men joining in to give us a game—then driven back, and after that treated to a dinner at the hotel, and then driven down to the launch. They gave us three hearty cheers, and we returned the compliment with musical honours. They had telegraphed to Auckland to arrange a match with us, which we had declined. It appears Canterbury played them two 20 minutes spells, and that is what they wanted to give us—just a practice game. From their communications we were under the impression they meant a regular match and so. we declined. The whole team feel deeply their great kindness. I hope that the next cricket season in Gisborne will not be so flat and lifeless as was the last. Rowing is a strong competitor but the worst opponent to good cricket here is the horrible ground. If Gisborne cricket is to be any good, something must be done to the ground. It should have been done during the winter, but it is not yet too late. When is the local club going to hold its preliminary meeting ? I trust it may be early, and that a little more enthusiasm far the good old game may be evinced. In a town of this size we ought to have a couple of g >od junior clubs to bring out the youig uns, and to provide a greater var ety for the matcher. Fetlock.