English Sporting News.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2068, 20 August 1875, Page 3

English Sporting News.

One of the most remarkable bowling feats ever heard of in the way of cricket has been performed in London. Last June,- in a match M.C.C. v. County of Notts, Alfred Shaw, bowling for the County, actually bowled 41 overs and 2 balls, 36 maidens, for 7 runs, and took 7 wickets, clean bowling Lord Harris, A. W. Ridley, C. Buller, Clayton and Mr W. G. Grace. This is one of the most wonderful performances in the history of cricket, and we much doubt if it will ever be surpassed. A man named Challen once got rid of a side for 0, but the players were of a very inferior class. Alfred Shaw is a medium-pace bowler, with considerable spin, and so straight that he seldom bowls a ball off the wicket except for a catch, and dispenses with the services of a long stop. Southerton has also performed well with the ball, being no doubt largely assisted by the deadness of the grounds, which would favor his peculiar delivery, and Las won' the match for his county (Surrey) against Gloucester and the Graces, getting 13 wickets for 98 runs. The three year olds of this year seem to be but a very moderate lot, perhaps excepting the Derby performance of Galopin, and none of them could get within 000-ee of Mr Merry's Doncaster, who won the fourth. Ascot Cup for his owner without being extended. Mr Merry sold him after the race to his trainer, E. Peek, for £10,000, not a bad spec for either owner or trainer, as £10,000 hard down has it charms, and Peck after being offered an additional £2000 for this bargain sold Doncaster to the Duke of Westminster for £14,000, so that the Derby winner and rival of Marie Stuart will probably take up his quarters at the Duke's new breeding establishment at Eaton Hall when his racing labours are, ended, but as he is still only a five year old it is probable that he will run a bit yet. When tb,e stud of the late Mr Blenkiron was broken up and his immense breeding establishment scattered _ amongst all breeders of horses, Continental as well «,a English, the then newly formed Stud Company bought for over £12,000 Blair Athol, and it was thought that the blazed faced chestnut stallion, fashionable as he no doubt was, would never be a pecuniary success, though all were glad to see the Germans outbid in their attempts to secure the Derby winner of 1864 for their own government. It seems, however, that the Stud Company knew what they were about, and Blair Athol must loDg pre this have more than repaid his buyers and left them a good profit besides. Witness this year's sale of the Stud Company's yearlings, when 38 youngsters, many 'of them Blair Athol's own oflsprings, fetched 14,885 guineas or close on 392 guineas each. : The Middle Park yearling?, once the famed abode of Blair Athol, Gladiateur, Dundee,

Seclusion, and other celebrated steeds has not been so fortunate with its yearlings; 50 realising but 11,505 guineas, or an average of only 230 guineas each. Maccaroni, the Derby winner of 1862, has been sold for some £7000, notwithstanding it is 15 years since he defeated Lord Clifdcn for the blue riband of the turf; so, good thoroughbreds seem in no danger of being neglected on account of insufficient prices being given for them. Walter Slade of the L.A.C. has certainly, as far as time is a criterion, proved himself the fastest amateur runner yet known at a mile by running that distance in 4mins. 24|secs., being four seconds faster than W. C. Gibbs of Jesus College, Cambridge, ran the inter-uni-versity mile in." 1868, which, up to the time of Slade's performance, was the fastest amateur time known. This last feat of Slade's certainly eclipses anything hitherto clone by W. Chinnery, good man though he undoubtedly was, and we much question if, with the exception of J. 8. Eidley, of Gateshead, there is anyone now running, gentleman or professional, who could beat him at a mile on a good running path. Tent pegging— i.e. extracting a tent peg firmly fixed in the ground with the point of a lance while going at full speed on horseback —has made its appearance at Hurlingham, imported, we hear, by the sth Lancers from the east, and we have no doubt but the Marquis of Queensberry, the two Muriettas, and others of the Polo Club, will try their hands at it.