Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 30 May 1868, page 7


BRISBANE FOOTBALL CLUB.

The annual meeting of the members of the Brisbane Football Club was held on May 22, at the Cafe de Paris. There was not a very large attendance of members. Mr. D. Watter-

ston was in the chair. The hon. Secretary read the following report, which, on the motion of Mr. Wallen, seconded by Mr. Carver, was unanimously adopted. " Second Annual Report of the Committee of the Brisbane Football Club. "Your committee, in presenting their second annual report, though not able, in speaking of the operations of the past season, to refer to them as a perfect success (the term used in the first report), can yet congratulate the members upon the satisfactory manner in which the game was carried on during the greater part of the season. " The club has the advantage of possessing the use of a centrally-situated ground, though it is scarcely of the character required for football playing. "The number of paying members on the list at the beginning of last season was 68, and 15 new members joined the club in 1867. The total number, however, was reduced by 31 who resigned or left the city, and by 7 who were struck off in consequence of their subscriptions being unpaid. The total number of paid members to begin the present season with is 45. " Your committee have still to regret the ab-sence of a rival club. No difficulty was found

last season, however, in getting up interesting matches, as, for instance, those between the Civil Service members and the rest of the Club ; the members of the Volunteer Artillery and the same. Perhaps, considering the number of names on the books last year, the formation of a second club would rather retard than advance the game in Brisbane just now. Your committee believe that a very satisfactory season's play can be brought about during 1868 by a judicious selection of sides among the members. It will be for the incoming committee to consider the advisability of preparing a list of matches, to come off on fixed days during the season. " The balance-sheet of the treasurer shows a balance in hand of £1 6s. 8d. As the club possesses almost enough material to last the season, it may be possible to wind up, as was done in 1866, with some athletic sports, which, besides being desirable in themselves, may help, until they come off, to keep the members together. " T. A. Board, Hon. Secretary." Two new members were proposed, after which the following office- bearers for the ensuing season were elected : —President, the Hon. J. P. Bell; Vice-President, F. H. Hart, Esq.; Hon. Secretary, T. A. Board, Esq.; Hon. Treasurer, J. B. Carver, Esq. ; committee, Messrs. Watterston, J. Bourne, Wallen, J. A. Boyce, B. Davidson, French, Highfield, and Stewart.

The match between Mr. King's g.g. "Why Not, the winner of the Ladies' Purse at the late meeting, and Mr. De Satge's b.g. Sydney, the winner of the Brisbane Cup on the same occasion, came off yesterday afternoon, at the Eagle Farm Race-course. The race was for £100 aside, and the distance was three miles, each horse to carry ten stone. A large number of people who were interested in the race were pre-Bent, and a good deal of betting took place on the result. Both horses found plenty of supporters, and before the start the betting on both was pretty nearly level, although after the first mile had been traversed 3 to 1 against Sydney was offered in several places. Shortly after 3 o'clock the pair were despatched from the post by Mr. Duncan. Both jumped off at the same moment, and for a few strides raced neck-andoeck, but before long Sydney got a little ahead of the grey horse, who, however, kept close upon his qua ter all round the back of the course. The pace was very slow for the first mile, but near the half-mile post from home, Why Not put on a spurt, as if to test the speed of the bay, and, passing him, led by about half a length. At the distance the grey forged still further ahead, and led past the stand for the first time by about three lengths. The pace now began to improve a little, and at the bridge Sydney again drew close up to the leading horse, and the pair raced together for the next half mile, when the bay began to show signs of distress. At the half mile post from home the race was virtually decided, for Why Not easily increased bis lead and won as he liked, by about thirty lengths. Sydney appeared to be thoroughly beaten on entering the straight, and his rider, seeing he had no chance of winning, wisely refrained from using either whip or spur, or he might perhaps have lessened the distance between him and the leading horse. The race was run in about six minutes and ten seconds. Mr. Hopkins, who rode the winning hone in the Hurdle Race, was up on Sydney ; and Ross, who rode Why Not in the Ladies' Purse, steered him again yesterday. The Northern men, some of whom had heavily backed Sydney for this race, appeared to be much mortified at his easy defeat, while the friends of Why Not were proportionately rejoicing at his having beaten the " Peak Downs mule," as they facetiously termed the bay horse. Sydney was only shod the previous day, and as he had never run in shoes before, some were of opinion that his owner had acted unwisely in allowing him to do bo for the first time, when such a heavy stake depended upon him. However, it seemed to be the general opinion that he won the Brisbane Cup by a " fluke," and that had Premier and Centipede been better ridden that he would have had to content himself with the third instead of the first place. It was quite evident that the additional weight he carried yesterday was too much for the horse, although . he ran gamely enough. A Hurry Skurry for 10s. each, with something added, was then got up. Only two horses—Mr. M'Lennan's Ragged Boy, and Mr. Flannery's Columbus—were entered. The latter led from the start until within half-a-mile from home, when Ragged Boy went to the front, and won easily by about thirty yards. A match between Mr. De Satgc's Boanoake, who ran second in the Prince of Wales' Stakes, and Mr. M'Lennan's Surplice, for a mile and a half, at catch weights, for £5 a-side, concluded the afternoon's sport. A capital start was effected, but, at the bridge, Surplice took the lead, which he maintained for the first mile. At the back of the course, Roanoke began to go up, and before the distance post was reached, had collared the black horse, and, passing him, won easily by a length and a half. The private match arranged to come off on the afternoon of May 27, at Eagle Farm, between Mr. Thomas King's g.g. Why Not, the winner of the Ladies' Purse, on Tuesday last, and Mr. L. Flannery's g.g. Forester, attracted a large number of people to the course. The distance was two miles, and each horse had to carry 9st. lllbs. Why Not was a decided favorite, and 2 to 1 was freely offered against Forester before the race began, and after the first quarter of a mile had been traversed, 3 to 1 and 4 to 1 were offered against him, but only taken in one or two places. Ross, the jockey /who rode the winning horse in the Ladies' Purse race, was up on Why Not, and Forester was steered by his owner. A Bplendid start was effected, both horses jumping off together immediately the signal was given. For the first quarter of a mile, the two horses raced neck-and-neck, but coming up the straight for the first time the favorite obtained a slight lead, of which he was soon deprived by the old horse, who led past the stand by about half a length. - After a few strides another change was made, and Why Not went to the front, closely attended by Forester. Without any material alteration these positions were maintained all round the coarse up to the half-mile post from home, where Flannery made a vigorous effort to secure the lead, but although he did not spare the whalebone, and although the old horse responded to the call, he could not head the favorite, who led all the way up the straight, and won easily by a length and a half, without being touched by the whip. The race was run from post to post in exactly four minutes. A Hurry Skurry of 10s each with something added, once round the course, the second horse to receive 10s. from the prize, was afterwards got up. Four Ihorses were entered—viz., Mr. j Easdon's Wonderful, Mr. Cockerell's Kafir, Mr. M'Lennan's Ragged Boy, and Mr. Atkins Columbus. A splendid race ensued from the distance post, each of the horseß making strenuous efforts to get to the front, but coming up the straight Columbus gained a slight advantage and passed the Stand a winner by two lengths, Ragged Boy second, and Kafir third. This race was much better contested than any at the late meeting, and the distance was done in very good time. A match is arranged to come off at Ipswich, on the Monday after the annual races there, between Mr. Flannery's blk.g. Centipede Ond Mr. De Satge's b.g. SyHney, for £50 aside, either party to have the option of increasing the stakes to £100 aside. The distance is a mile and a half, and each horse will carry his weight for age. A large number of persons assembled on May 26, at Tattersall's Subscription Rooms, Metropolitan Hotel, and a considerable amount of business was done in the forthcoming Ipswich meeting. Nimrod was most fancied for the Hurdle Race, Premier and Tiffler for the Ladies' Purse, and Barebones for the Welter ' Race. Sydney was backed to win the Queens- '■ land Handicap. A match was arranged to come : off on the Eagb Farm Race Course, at 3 o'clock, on Friday afternoon, between Mr. T. King's g.g. Why Not and Mr. De Satge's b.g. Sydney, for £100 aside ; the distance to be three miles, and each horse to carry lOst. The cricket match which should have been played last Saturday between the hands in the Guardian and those in the Government Printing Office has been arranged to come off today (Saturday), at the Green Hills, at 2 o'clock.