METHVEN RACES AND SPORTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1039, 2 January 1884, Page 2

METHVEN RACES AND SPORTS.

' President, J. C. Wason, Esq.; Vice-Presidenb I Julian Jackson, Esq.; Judge, J. Jackson, Esq.; 'treasurer, C. A. C. Hardy, Esq.; Starter, J. Devery, Esq.; Clerk of the Course, G. Coward, Esq.; Clerk of the ’ Scales, W. Morgan, Esq. The annual shorts on New Year’s Day * are always looked forward to with interest by the people in up country districts like i Methven, not only forthe amusement they give, but because an occasion like this ■ affords settlers an opportunity of seeing old friends and exchanging greetings with i people they will perhaps not meet again for another twelve months. The Methven ;• settlers are noted for their enterprise, and i this year they determined that their sports i should be more ambitious than last year, and the stakes awarded in the various races were increased so that outside horses would compete So far as entries were concerned the Committee have reason to • congratulate themselves, every event attracting a good number, and that the ' handicappers had done their work well i was shown by the number of acceptances. Indeed, tho only absent horses were those i who had either met with some acc dent, or who for some unavoidable cause could not reach tho course in time, tho weights : allotted having given satisfaction. Alj the officers did their work well, and although some delay occurred in starting the races, this is earily pardoned, and no doubt the few defects in the arrange- ■ ments will be removed next year. The weather in the early morning promised a fine day, and Consequently a large number of people came into the township, and at half-past ten the ground looked very gay. The sports took place in a paddock belonging to Mr John Holmes, M. H. R., which answered the purpose admirably. The course appeared, to bo well laid out, and if Mr G. Coward, clerk of the course, had some difficulty at times in keeping the track clear for the horses he showed himself quite equal to the duties of his office. Not a single accident occurred during the day, nor did we notice any rowdyism, everybody taking everything in good humor. There could not have been less than one thousand on the ground, the ladies especially mustering in good force and apparently taking great interest in the events. The publican’s booth was under the control of Mr R. Patton, and he drove a good trade,

and Messrs Farr and Pratt provided luncheons which we can give personal testimony were excellent. Messrs Mason and Roberts, of Oatnarn, had a totalisator on the ground, but the speculative spirit is evidently not very strong in Methven in regard to horse racing, and the machine was not extensively patronised. .• The Excelsior Band, from Ashburton, was on the ground, and their playing was so much appreciated that the Methven people complained of their not getting more of the music, a complaint which was not altogether unjustified. Two rifle saloons were on the ground, and a good many people tried their skill in shooting, and an Aunt Sally had her nose displaced several times by the unerring aim of country marksmen. The proceedings commenced with tilting at the ring, for which some sixteen or seventeen competed, J. McFarlane and T, Alexander ultimately consenting to divide the first and second prizes. The following are the results of the horse racing : Hurdle Race (a handicap), of 22£ sovs ; 2 miles, over eight flights of hurdles, about 3ft Gin high ; nomination, 1 sov ; acceptance, 1 sov. Mr R. Hicks’s ch g Why Not, aged, 12st 61b ... ... ... (Muir) 1 Mr W. Wright’s b g Unfortunate (late) Glencoe), lOst (Walls) 2 Mr W. Hobson’s b g Tommy, aged, 10tt (Worner) 3 Andy was scratched. The field was got away to a fairly good start, Unfortunate going to the front and taking the first hurdle ,‘abont a length from Why Not, a similar distance separating the latter from Tommy. - At the second obstacle, however, Tommy baulked, and was put out of the race. The remaining two raced together, safely negotiating the fences, but on reaching the atVaight, Why Not drew away and won easily by about three lengths.

Methven (Jrr (a handicap),. of 3!J ..sovs-.pj! distance, l£ miles; acceptance, 1 sov. ; Mi H. Brimble’a b m Polly, 6yrs,9at4lb (Smith) I Mr P Journeaux’s b avldalia, 4yrs, Bst ; , (Boare) ■ 45 Mr T. Qcill’s b m Lady Florence, aged 9at Blb ... ... . (Klliott) 3 Wild Rose (Bst 811), Twilight (8s:) r and Lauriaton (Tst lllbi also ran. Koseneath was scratched. Mr Devery despatched the horses to a good start, Polly of it, and Twilight came next, the others in a cluster, and Lady Florence bringing up the rear.'” At theback of thecctnrse' Wild Rose had shot her bolt, and the rest of the field began to spread out. Polly, however, still kept the lead, and rounding the turn Idalia and Lady Florence came out of the ruck, but though the former ran the leader hard and compelled Smith to apply the whip, Mr Brimble’s mare came in about two lengths ahead, Lady Florence a bad third, and the rest nowhere. Tkottin’g Race (a distance handicap), of 10 sovs ; 3 miles ; nomination, 10j ; acceptance, 10s. Mr D. Gilmour’s b m Tata, aged (250yds) .. ... 1 Mr J. McKenzie’s bra Bess,, aged 280yds) ... ... ' ' ... 2 Mr J. Craig’s b g Firefly, aged (160yds) 3 Titokowaru (scratch), I nkerman (80yds), Nelly (200yds), Ginger -(2ooyds), and Maggie (300yds) also ran. Idle Boy was scratched. As the horses were all' well hndwn in the district a good deal of excitement prevailed over this race. Both Tata and Bess soon passed Maggie, but the other horses could not over ake. fbeih ..a-M a , close race for first and second' places en- 1 sued, Tata winning at the finish by about half a length, Firefly a good third. Messrs Hardy and Co.’s Cup, value 12 guineas; for district horses ; 1J miles. , . weight, list; 2nd, suit of clothes. Messrs Alexander Bros’ b g Forest King 1 Mr B. W. Osborne’s b h Marmion ... 2 Mr J. F. Tickelis b g Smuggler ... 3 Stella, Flirt, Dutch Oven, Red Rose and Unfortunate also ran. Flora, Lauriston and Hiroki were scratched. Forest King led from the start, and kept that position until three-quarters of a mile was run, when he was displaced Joy Marnuou.r,The latter, however, was liot alfowed to keep his place long, as-, on rounding the turn Forest King came again, and leading into the straight,' won the race with something to' -spare? Smuggler responded gamely to the call made an him by his rider, and, nearly robbed Marmion of second honors.’' The race was watched with great interest, and the winner on being weighed in was loudly cheered. District Hack Race, of 10 sovs; l£ miles ; my weight .under lost. ; ’l .o .be ridden by owners ; entrance, 1 sov. Deavoll- Bros’ hlk m Dutch Oven, aged ‘ i..’ 1 ' 0 1 Mr ET. Hands’ ch g Tommy, age 1 ... 2 Stella (4yrs) and Jimmy: (ayrs):'also ran. This was a very hollow affair. Jimmy assumed the lead, but after going a short distance he bolted off the course, leaving Dutch Oven to romp home as she liked, which she did about'thirty lengths iu front af Tommy. Stella was not persevered with. ... ~ ’ Consolation Handicap, of 10 sovs ; distance, 1 mile ; for horses that have been beaten during the meeting j hoifiination, 10s, to be made immediately after the District Hack Race; acceptance, 10s within 10 minutes after the weights are declared. Mr T. Quill’s b m Lady Flounce, aged, 9st ... ... _ .... .... 1 Mr (*. Journeaux’s b tn Idalia, aged, 9st 2 Mr E W. Osborne’s b h Marmion, aged, 7st 91b ... ... ... ... 3 Twilight (Sat 9ib) and Wild Hose (7st 111 b) also ran. Twilight-got slightly the best of a fair start but was soon displaced, and it was seen that ithe issue lay. between Idalia and Lady Florence. Both mares were ridden hard, .do urn thq straight, but, Lady Florence won by’ aboht a couple of lengths, twice that distance separating second and third. 1 ' . iti; - : . Iwi. This concluded the horse racing, and :as it was half-past four, when it waa 'finished our reporter had to leave before ■the athletic sports were decided. The results of the latter will therefore be given to-morrow. . _