RACING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 440, 17 February 1912, Page 7

RACING.

Sportsmen from one end of New Zealand to the other will read with regret of the death, reported by cable from Sydney, of Mr William Lyons. He was for many vears a bookmaker of the straight-going sort, but it was as an owner, bowler, and cuist that he wa3 betterknown. In his time he owned many good horses, notably Petroleum (half-brother to Hotchkiss), Catesby (own brother in blood to Trenton), the great Australian 'chaser Lone Hand, and Too Soon, a big winner, who broke down on the eve of the Newmarket when backed for a fortune, and dropped dead some time afterwards Then there were the champion ponies Mayflower, Secret and Cambric, and many others. Mr Lyons was never afraid to support his fancy, and, had Carbine not met wtih a sensational defeat in the V.R.C. Derby, he would have netted £sooo—coupled the Musket horse with Mentor. He had a big win when the Aucklander Apologue, won the Melbourne Cup. Perhaps the hap piest days of " Father Bill's" life were spent on the bowling green, a game for which he showed great enthusiasm. He was a member of the City Club in Sydney and the Auckland Club, and many a team from the latter did he s'kip to victory, notably one at the Rotorua tournament in 1904. Billiards was another hobby, the deceased sportsman being one of the finest amateur players in the colonies. He won the Sydney Tattersall's Club tournament in 1903, from 75 points behind scratch, was runner-up in 1901 for the amateur championship of New South Wales, and at the last tournament was handicapped at 150 ehind. On one occasion he made a break of 325. Mr Lyons was also a very fine shot and a good all-round sportsman, being exceedingly popular wherever he went. It was his custom for many years past to come over from Sydney toAucKland for every summer, but, on ieaving the northern city last year, some prophetic instinct must have warned him of his approaching end, for the veteran fairly broke down as he said to the writer, "I shall never see New Zealand again." Some months ago that insidious enemy, cancer, laid him low, and he was taken to the Lewisham Hospital, where he made a plucky fight against the inevitable. An arm was taken off in the hope of saving his life, but it was not to be, and he has now anwsered "Adsum" at the last great roll call. With very many others the writer deplores the loss of a straight-going and enthusiastic sportsman and a staunch friend.