CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S SPORTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1414, 26 December 1884, Page 2

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S SPORTS.

“ O Caledonia ! stern and wild,

Meet nurse for a poetic child ! Laud of brown heath and shaggy wood. Land of the mountain and the flood, Land of my sires ! what mortal hand

Can e’er untie the filial band

That knits me to thy rugged strand.” Scott's “ Lay of the Last Minstrel ,” c. 6, s. ii.

No writer has ever worked into verse so beautifully, nor so briefly, a better description of Scotland and the love her sons bear to her than has been worked

into the “ Lay of the Last Minstrel” in the above lines by Sir Walter Scott—one of the greatest novelists the world has ever seen, and a poet whose rause was tuned to a noble lay indeed. How it

cornea that the natives of Scotland carry in their bos >ms so deep-seated a love for the land that gave them birth we care not now to discuss, but the fact is well known that go where you will—to the wild, to the desert, to the forest, to the city, no matter in what part of the world, on land or on sea—wherever you find Scottish men gathered together there also will you find the habits and customs of their country preserved and its traditions cherished. Few, if any, of her Majesty’s colonies exist, without having—and always good colonists too—a fair proportion of Scottish families among the settlers, and it is a well known fact that wherever a sufficient number of them reside in a colonial community or even in a foreign country, there also will be found a Caledonian Society. Ashburton enjoys the benefit of a strong Scottish element in her population, and the district owes much to the canny, thrifty, persevering men she has recruited from under Scotia’s “ Auld grey plaid.’’ With such a strength of Scotch people in the country, and the happy knack they have of making many friends among those in whose midst they reside, it would be strange indeed if a Caledonian Society did not exist—stranger still, if it did not prosper. _ The Ashburton Caledonian Society has existed in Ashburton for six years, and in the matter of annual sports meetings at least it has done good work. Few places of the “ inches ” of Ashburton can boast of so firmly established an athletic sports meeting as can we in our Caledonian Society’s gathering. Hitherto the meetings have been highly successful, and to-day’s was no exception to tne rule. Of course to Scotch people the great attraction of the meeting is the bagpipe music, the Highland dancing,'and the Highland costumes. When it is mentioned that Mr David Campbell, the Society’s piper was present, and with him Mr Aleck Mackay, the Lagmhor piper, Mr Maben, of Ashburton, and one *r two others who tendered an occasional “ lift,” it will at once be seen that there was plenty of good pipe music Dancers were plentiful, too, and in good form, and perhaps there were more men in tartan on the ground than we have seen at any previous gathering. The officers of the Society worked indefatigably to make the affair a success, and we must not forget to mention the courtesy awarded to everyone by the hardworking Secretary, Mr 0. Reid. The Ashburton Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr Hosken, and a number of Highland pipers marched to the grounds, and when there played a number of excellent selections of music during the intervals between the various events. The attehdance was fully up to that of the previous year, there being fully 900 people present. Mrs Woodley presided at a publican’s booth, and appeared to be doing a very fair business. Messrs W. T. Davison and A. W. Randall had confectioners’, fruit and refreshment stalls, at all of which a brisk trade was done. Peace and order were represented by Constable Smart, a d we need not add that his outing was almost a holiday. Punctually at 11 30 the first event was run off. The following are the results of the various items on the programme deposed of up to the hour of, our going to press : Open Handicap Hurdle Race, six hurdles; 440yds ; first prize, L2 ; second, LI. James Johns, 15yds ... 1 A J. Kenny, scratch ... ... ... 2 F. Betts, 7yds ... ... 3 Out of seven entries four faced the starter. Kenny was the favorite, but unfortunately made a blunder at the first hurdle, letting Johns take the lead with Groves well up. The latter improved his position until reaching the last hurdle, where he fell. Johns then spurted and came in an easy winner. 100 Yards Open Flat Race; first prize, L2; second, LI, Hulston 1 Kenny " 2 W. Fosse and J. Pauling also ran. There was a cood start, and a capital race ensued, Hulston winning by about two yards. Time, lOjiec. Running High Jump ; first prize, LI ; second, 10s, P. Coffey, sft ?in ... ... ... 1 W. Dalton ... 2 T, H. Dalton also competed, but retired at 4ft 9;n. Running High Jump, boys ; first prize, 10a; second, ss. .7as Jameson, 4ft 9in ... ... ... 1 H Lucas 2 Johns also competed, but retired at 4ft Gin. Lucas and Jameson jumped very well, and the latter’s victory was loudly applauded. Scotch Reel, in Highland Costume ; first prize, L2 ; second, LI.

Banks ... ... ... ... ... 1 McKay ... 2 Messrs McGregor and Campbell kindly entered to make up the reel, and some very good dancing was given. Pipe Music, Pibrochs and Marches ; first pr'zs, 1,2 ; second, LI.

Campbell McKay Quoits ; first prize, L2 ; so:ond, LI, Bradshaw McLeod ...

This event brought seven competitors and caused no little excitement, owing to

the close finish between Bradshaw and Hepburn, and Bradshaw and McLeod, the former eventually winning by ten points. Grand Handicap Flat Race, run in heats of 100, 220, and 440yda ; first prize, L 5; second, L2 10s ; third, LI. 100yds race. O, Hulston, scratch ... ... ... 1 A. J. Kenny, 3yds ... ' ... ... 2 F. Betts, syds ... ... ... ... 3 There were pine entnes for this evpnt, end five faced the starter, Fox and G. Parkin making up the number. Scrimshaw, Doherty, Johns, and 11. Parkin did not accept. All got away to a very good start, and a capital race ensued, Hulston winning by about halt a yard. Time, ll.|aeo, Tos.ing the Caber ; first prize, LI 10s; second, 10s. J. Daley, 35ft sin ... ... ... 1 W. Dalton, 32ft 2 O. O’Conner, J. Anderson and Stockdata also competed,

Standing High Jump; first prue, LI;

second, 15s. W. Dalton, 4ft 3jin ... ... ... ■+ P. Coffey, 4fc 3£m + A. Malcolm also competed, but retired at 3ft Sin, Sword Dance ; first prize, L2 ; second, LI Janies banks ... ... ... ... 1 McKay 2 The dancing of James Batiks was in every way excellent, and very deservedly he took first honors. Grand Handicap, 220yds (second heat) 0. Hulston, scratch ... ... ... 1 F. Betts, syds ... ... ... ... 2 A. J. Kenny, 3yds ... ... ... 3 After a capital start the race resulted as above, Hulston taking first place by about a yard Time, 26£secs. Pole Vaulting ; first prize, LI 10s ; second, 15s.

W. Dalton, Oft 1 Geo Kidd, 8:t 10in 2 Three only competed. Pipe Music—Reels and Strathspeys ; first prize, L2 ; second, LI. David Campbell ... ... ... 1 A. McKay 2 The pibroch and marches of Campbell were much admired, and would, it is said, compare favorably with the music at the great Bidman gathering in Scotland.