HEAD OF THE BAY RACES AND SPORTS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 61, 26 May 1882, Page 2

HEAD OF THE BAY RACES AND SPORTS.

Races and sports took place at the Head of the Bay on Wednesday, May 24, the Queen's Birthday. The day was all that could be wished, but the sports were poorly attended. No doubt the short notice, owing to the intended steeplechases at German Bay being previously adver tised, had something to do with this. There were about 150 people present, but very little interest seemed to be taken in the various events, and entries were hard to obtain. Host Brooks was ecpial to the occasion of catering for the creature comforts of the visitors, a very good dinner being provided, which seemed to be well patronised. At about 1.30 p.m. the first race started. It was called the trial stakes of 3 soys. heats, weight for age; entrance 10s, second horse to save his stakes.

Mr A. Condon's eh g Chester, 5 yrs, Dat lib (J.Condon) 1 Mr Giles' eh g Present, syrs 9-itllb (Owner) 0 Mr OUens' en m Dolly, 3 yrs Bst 7lbs (Hartley) 0 Only three horses started, and Chester had it all to himself, ai.d won easily. Dolly came second in the first heat and Present second in the next. The second prize was therefore divided between them.

Silver cup, presented by Messrs Muling and Co. Weight for age ; entrance 10s. No stakes saved.

Mr A Condon's eh g Chester, 5 yrs, lOst (J.Condon) 1 Mr A. Lelievre's by m Minnie, 3yrs 7st (11. Shadbolt) 0 Mr S Curry's by g Eclat, 3 yrs 7st

(Hartley) 0 Threo only faced the starter for this event, which again resulted iv a victory for Chester, who proved too strong for anything brought against him, although he was pushed in the second heat by Minnie, who was remarkably well ridden by 11. Shadbolt, a novice, who promises to make a good jockey with very little train-

ing. Eclat came second in the first heat, but was sadly out of it in the second. For the Consolation Handicap for Messrs Vincent's silver cup ; entrance 10-i, there were no entries.

Pig..race ; entrance Is. There was only one entry for this, and the owner at last let the pig go, to be caught by anyone free of entry. Ibis created considerable excitement. It was let loose on tbe beach and made straight for the paddock, but was held by some dogs until one of tho runners emu. up. This was considered unfair, so piggy was started again in the direction of Mr Lee's stables, where it gave a good run, but was eventually caught by Mr Geo. Bryant. There was no entry for the one mile n.ce for Mr Brooks' silver cup. - 200 yds foot race: entrance 2s 6d. Prize 30a,.

B. Shadbolt (20 yds) 1 W Curry (20 yds) 2 ■■' W. Watkins, scratch, and J. Armstrong, 5 yds, also competed. „, 200 yds foot race; entrance 2s 6d. Prize 30*5. A. Shadbolt (scratch) 1 W. Watkins (scratch) 2 J. Armstrong, scratch, B. Shadbolt, scratch, and W. Curry, 5 yds, also ran. It was getting dark by this time, and the people were going on their way home, not at all enraptured with the races and sports of the Queen's Birthday, 1882, but all seemed to predict a better state of affairs next year. Those engaged in getting off the sports did their best to make them a success. Mr S. Johnson acted as starter, and Mr P. Shadbolt as judge. It is needless to remark that Mr Barwick as usual did his level best, and he was much assisted by Mr Duxbury.