Sporting Sprints.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 29, 22 September 1911, Page 15

Sporting Sprints.

In the* recent match Middlesex v. Yorkshire, the ex-Victorian, F. H. Tarrant, knocked up 207 not out. His splendid form this season will rank him among the best all-round English oricketers. * * Los Angeles has accepted top weight for the Now Zealand Cup, but it can still be said to be doubtftri whether he will go to the post. It is anticipated that he may remain in Australia to run m the Flemington events. * * * English newspapers, commenting upon the English cricket combination, state that "it is a strong batting side." The captaincy has btjen offered to Warner. Enquiries have been, made in England from N.Z. relative to a visit to the Dominion of the team, but it ha 3 been definitely decided not to include N.Z. in the tour. * * * Tommy Burns will shortly be in Australia. Ho has intimated that about the- first week in December will see him back again in. Australia. He is at present showing in Canada the John-son-Burns training pictures. In a letter to the "Referee" he states that his leg is bothering him a lot, and "is out of the game for good." * * # Considerable comment has been expressed, both in the English and Australian press, regarding the proposed inclusion of the Victorian cricketer Frank Tarrant, in the English cricket team. In some quarters his eligibility is at stake, and to play in the test matches against Australia seems quite out of the question with Australians, One can, at this juncture, surmise the position of J. N. Crawford ■■ playing against England. **■ . # The premier motor event of France (the Grand Prix) was decided over Le Man's Circuit on July 23. The event was won by the well-known driver Hemery, who drove a Fiat and covered the 402 miles in 71ir. 6min. 30secs., an average speed of 56g miles an hour. Fourteen cars started, and Hemerj 7 was the only competitor who had finished 'when the race was called off. The race was nothing like the old-time big French contest, and was uninteresting. Unfortunately, the event resulted in the death of Maurice Fournier and his mechanician through the breaking of the front axle of his car, which overturned into a ditch. The race was held in terrific heat —102deg. in the shade. The revival of this event will be regretted by the French trade, for the Grand Prix has again gone into Italian hands, the principal reason why this event was abandoned a few years back.

Jockeys A\ Oliver >and T. Pritchard intend going north for the Avendale meeting, run on September 20 and 23* T. Recce, the English champion. cue* ist, will be touring Australia .and N-Z»; mext season. He has signed articles with Messrs. Alcock and Co. 10 commence in Australia next June, and will spend five weeks in N-ew Zealand.: *# itMessrs. Ross and Bridge have been appointed a sub-committee by the N.Z.A.A.A. to draw up the programme of extra events other than champio3> eveints, for the Australasion charopioiiship meeting in Wellington on December 26 and 27. *** ' . Rugby enthusiasts will find some interesting reading in the book just published from the pen of D. McKenzie, of the history of the Rugby game in Wellington and the Wairarapa, 1868----1911. The publication contains many interesting reminiscences and gives a complete record of games and team 3, 1 also the history of the senior clubs in Wellington.. I * * w D. C. Collins has scored 516 runs, averaging 34.40, for Cambridge University, being second only to M. Falcon, with 589 runs at 36.81. The New Zeakmder secured nine wickets at 13.66 runs apiece with Oxford. F. R. Lβ Couteur scored 121 runs at 13.44 and secured 37 wickets at 17.75. H. J. Evans has ia better a_ll-round record than the Victorian with 241 runs at 20.08 and 32 wickets at 13.81 runs apiece.. * * ■ « Warner, who captains the team, has already been in Australia twice as skippeir of an English eleven. In 1902 he was captain of Lord Hawke's "picnic" team, which toured Maoriland and played a few matches in Australia. The following year he brought out a. team good enough to bag the ashes. Of that combination only Rhodes and Strudwick are again included. Hobbs, of Surrey, is the only other member that has visited Australia. This is tli© English team which leaves for Australia on Septembro 29: P. F. Warner, F. R. Foster,, J. B. Hobbs, H. Strudwick, Dotiglas (Essex), S. P. Kinaieir, E. J. Smith, J. W. Hcarne, J. Iremonger, G. Guam, W. R. Rhodes, F. E .Woolley, C. P. Mead, J. Vine, and S. F. Barnes. Of this lot Mead tops the batting averages with 51.38; Kimieir follows (49.08) ; and then comes Foster with 43.63. Foster's bowling average (19.67) is the second best in England to-day, and Wilfrid PJiodcs (23.43) follows'him.