SPORTING.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 24, 27 August 1920, Page 7

SPORTING.

Northwind was bought for £29 by Silvorspire Boyle after running second to Glenisla in the Birchwood Steeplechase. The amateur horsemen had the puil over professionals at Otautau on Wednesday, for they won all six rac~s. All the Riverton and Winton trainers were in attendance at the Hunt meeting on Wednesday. They were keen critics of | the amateur- trained horses. j Charlie Chur-ch without his red coat, an unpardonable omission at a Hunt Club meeting, acted as olerk of the course on Wednesday. Charlie is farming now. The fields were very poor on Wednesday, three horses being the best except in the Hack Steeple, whn four went to the first fence. The steeplechase fences on Wednesday were a bit on the light side for hunters, and several of the brush fences were easily knocked out. Two four-to-one . f avourites in Ladyi Buller and Dalminie, were downed on Wednesday. Each finished third in a three -horse race. In the language of my friend Bill Stone the field for the next New Zealand Cup with about half a-dozen exceptions is "rough but homely." The hurdle race at Otautau was a fiasco, and on the mile track the three starters were placed at almost even distances i right round the course at the finish. The Winton Jockey Club's ball in mem- 1 ory of fallen members last Friday night j was a huge success, but as I was not amongst the expected guests that evening, I can only speak from hearsay.

The conduct and general management of the Brichwood Hunt Meeting refiected credit upon all concerned. It was clean sport what there was of it, and no sign of any bookmakers present. Captain French was dinkum dead at the Hunt meeting. He stood off too far and . toppled over, breaking his neck, Hard iuck for his owner, who is a good sport, and very fond of a good jumper. Mick Gonley wielded the flag at the Hunt Club gathering in good style. He .got his fields away in even order, and once they arrived at the post he did not delay long. The wealth of the Otautau district was well represented in motor cars at the Strathmore course on Wednesday. There must have been at least eight or ten to every racehorse on the course.

Golden Link, who won both six furlong sprints at the Hunt Meeting hails from Eastern Bush, and was much too good for the opposition. They say he can jump, But was not qualified as a hunter so couldn't start in the steeplechase. Bill Stone has bought Checkmate from Sir George Clifford. In hig place he should be a useful addition to FJeus, Silver Peak, and Co., and the Digger can safely leave it in Alex's hands to place him well. Glenisla gave a great exhibition of jumping in both of his races, and never put a foot wrong during the five circuits of the course he was called on to jcover. His condition was much " superior to that of any of his opponents. The Hunt Meeting was a pleasant iittle picnic affair, not manv people nor many horses, but plentv of jumping and fun. The fixture was well managed and very punctually got off. Secretary Matheson knows his job all right, and can run a meeting with the best of them. Frank Boyle soon quitted Lady Buller after she let him down in the firsb hack race on Wednesday. She ran so badly that he let her go for a tenner after the race. Unless Buller is altogether a freak, the blood should he well worth a ten. pound note. Quite a number of leading sportsmen from the Otautau district' were much more interested in the result of the Otago v. Southiand football match than in the

IA little more publicity regarding the nominations for the Hunt meeting wouid i have probably brougbt better gate returns. The Otautau course has been ploughed up, and the Hunt races were run on a very fair track on the inside of the [ course proper. Birchwood Hunt Meeting on Wednesday. Many of their smiling faces were absent from the Strathmore course, but I wonder had the meeting been a totalisator fixture if they would have bothered the gatemen at a football match? North Wind, ridden by Digger Joe Tayior, put up a good run against Genisla in | the Birchwood Hunt steeplechase, and J with a little more condition might have troubled the pony at the finish. He outjumped Glenisla at every fence, but covered a good deal more ground going to his fences on the bend. The officials at the Hunt meeting were efficient in carrying out their duties, and at the same time found plenty of time to be hospitable to their visitors. I think everyone who • went out to Otautau on Wednesday thoroughly enjoyed. the out- . ing. The weather was perfect. The judicial committee appeared to have some doubt about the genuineness of the run -off of Northwind in the Hurdle Race at the Hunt Meeting, and I don't think their doubts were without good grounds, but in the finish they gave the rider the benefit of the doubt, and told him not .to do it again. It is iittle meetings like the Hunt fixture where one sees clean sport, tha-t bring out the untried hacks about the district. I did not see either a New Zealand Cup nor Grand National winner amongst the lot, but both North Wind and the double winner Golden Link might win again and vvhen conditioned in much better company. Glenisla was the hero of the Birchwood Hunt Meeting on Wednesday, winning three out of six races on the programme. Opinions were very divided about the sportsmanship of her owner starting him the third time, more especially as he had just had a solid run of three miles over country, hence the usual applause given to a good horse when he wins was withhelcl by some of the crowd.

Like sodgers, all hunting men love the -j la-dies, and- there was a very keen go for i the Ladies' Bracelet on Wednesday after- ^ noon. Dalminie was a hot favourite and ^ led from Glenisla for a mile, then Salute $ moved up, and a furlong from the box 4 all three were together, being ridden ^ hard. Dalminie was first to cry enough ^ and Salute looked a winner ten yards from v the judge, but she, too, was very tired, and Glenisla 's condition and courage landed his owner's girl the first prize bracelet by a length, after easily the best race of the day.