SPORTS AT THE STADIUM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1136, 25 May 1911, Page 4

SPORTS AT THE STADIUM.

INTERESTING CONTESTS. SHAW WINS THE MARATHON. ; The sports which were held in the evening in the stadium attracted a fair attendance, and the events were most interesting. This branch of the exhibition show is likely to prove one of the chief features. The Marathon race of eleven or twelve miles, from the Exhibition Buildings to Island Bay and back, was won by E. H. Shaw, of the Brooklyn Harriers, with eleven minutes start, in the very good time of one hour thirty-six seconds. F. Pinckney, of the Wellington Harriers, who was giving Shaw six minutes, was second, about four or five minutes behind the winner. V. Delaney, Brooklyn Harriers, v;as third. The fifty yawl*, football championship was run in- two heats, tho final being won by Parker in 5 3-ssec, Dawson second. P. Fitzgerald won tho milo walk in 7min. 23scc. F. Turner second. Considerable interest was shown in the tug-of-wnr, Drivers versus Druids. The Drivers, who have been unbeaten for four years,' were somewhat lighter • than their opponents, but their hands were harder, and apparently they had in H. Spargo the

mora skilful skipper. The conditions were the best of three five-minute pulls,' but the Drivers won the.first two efforts, the first by six or eight inches, the second by eight inches, and, that settled the business. Axel Peterson captained the losers. The potato and bucket race was run in heats, the- first being won by Tracy, liowborry second, and the other by V. Gray, L. Baxter second. No time was taken. The final vjill be run on Monday night. Tho sports arrangements were under the control of Mr. F. Allen, secretary, and an enterprising committee, of which Messrs. W.H. Pollock and L. Chaffey were a subcommittee. Mr. J. Doyle judged tho tug-nf-war contests. The results are as follow :— Marathon Race. Exhibition to Island Bay and Back. H. Shaw, Brooklyn Harriers, llmin., 1. P. Pinckney, Wellington. Harriers, 5 min., 2. F. Dclancy, Brooklyn Harriers, -turin., 3. Also started: C. liowberry, scr.; W. Bennett, lmin. 25sec.; F. Hodson, 2min.; C. Murray, 2min.i P. .T. Bryne. 2min. 45sec.; W. Press,' llmin. 15sec.; B. W. Curry, •lmin.; P. Polio, 4min. 15sec.; A. Robertson, smin. 30sec; E. Reid, llmin. 30?ec. Won by four or five minutes. Time, GO miu. 36sec.

50 Yards Football Championship, First Heat: J. G. Parker, 1; F, Gray, 2. Time, .5 d-Ssec. Second Heat: S. C. Hunt, 1; H. H. Dawson, 2. Time, 5 4-ssec.

Final: Parker, 1; Dawson, 2. Time, 5 3-Ssec J. Croft, Berry, L. Campbell, and -JI. Pool also competed. One Mile Walk Handicap, . P. Fitzgerald (20yds.) ". 1 P. Turner (syds.) , 2 Also started: G. Turner, scr.; P. Tracy, 75yds.; M. Tracy, 100 yds. Time, 7miu, 23sec. Tua-of-War. Eight men aside. Best of three pulls. . Drivers won the first two pulls, and were declared tho winners. Potato and Bucket Race. First Heat: T. Tracy, 1; F. Itowberry, 2. Second Heat: F. Grav, 1; L. Baxter, 2. A. J. Hill and P. C Hubbard also competed. - The final will bo run on Monday evening. THE ENGLISH PIERROTS. A DELIGHTFUL ENTERTAINMENT. The English Pierrots, who aro to entertain the public at the Coronation Theatre ill the Exhibition for the next two ihonths,- commenced their long run auspiciously last evening before a largo audience, iVhich gave every sign of being thoroughly satisfied with the fare' provided. The entertainment, tho keynote to which is refinement, follows closely on tho lines of "The Merrymakers" and -'The Scarlet Troubadours." There are two ladies and five gentlemen, who, neatly attired as pierrettes and pierrots, provido a programme of a class that comes somewhere between the music-hall and the popular concert. Each ' member of the little troupe has.his or her own J articular line of business, and all are .competent. In some cases warmer praise- is. ■due, notably to Miss Elsa Langley, whoso extreme daintiness is" encompassed by a rare personal charm, and Mr. Maynard Dakin, who is a capital comiquo, and knows where to draw the line; and howto get the best of the good material in his party. The company, would appear to better advantage in a smaller hall, whero the performers would be on inoro intimate terms with the audience, but the big hall is not a serious drawback as tho acoustics Were found to be quite good, and the smallest voice could bo heard clearly high upon the stairs hading to .the stadium at the rear of the'hall.'

.•'file programme opened well with a bright chorus by the company, whose excellent .."business" and brightness made on. • impression altogether favourable.Next • came Hie. nnmorous sextet, "The Multi-Millionaire and •. the Hish'-' born Maid," a bright number with plenty of action: - Mi'." Leslie Austin, the possessor of a .pleasing, light baritone of even quality, sang "The Storm Fiend," and in responss. to .an .encore sang effectively the pratty'bliliad "I Wonder if Ever a. Rose.".., .Miss,Phyllis. Phillipson, the soprano of'the party who ha.s but sweet voice,, sang., prettily about, butterflies. She will do much better when her nervousness disappears. . Mr. W. P. Turner's humour is of broad, vigorous order.." He scored a success in the song "Will You Waltz..Wj.tli Me?" and.beUered fho.-fh'st impression in (ho comic ditlv "When Father Papered the Parlour,"*, which ..is full of laughs... Tho audience todk^Miss-'Dlsa'"■•Lahgley to .their-.-heart-without hesitation. ' This comedienne, who appeals by a certain natural winsnrhericss, sang.the catchy lilt "Tho Wedding in the Jungle," and had to respond to an impcia tive encore. J mummer of distinct merit is Mr.. Maynard Dakin, who jumped info favour, in the clever comic

"Exercise," broko down all restraint in an ultra-legal dissertation, on "Sully in Our Ally," and demonstrated his ability to characterise in "The Little,. Crossing Sweeper." The progremme also included a musical sketch by Miss Langloy, Messrs. Dakiu and Turner, a ".jolly, quartet by Mi-sos Phillipson and Langley and.Messrs. Dakin and■ Turner, and the duet "The Moon Hath ' Rinsed . Her Lamp -Abovo"(from Benedict's ojiera "The. Lily of.Kfllarney"). . Mr. Rob Thomas was effective at the piano. During the entertainment Mr. Thomas, on behalf of the management, thanked the audience for the warmth of their welcome, and hoped that, with the frequent changes of programme, the Pierrots were, capable of making, they would be even more appreciated as the Wellington public gained their closer acquaintance. If

last -evening's standard of excellence is maintained there is small doubt that the Pierrots will have a popular and prosperous run at the Exhibition.

OFFICIAL BOWLS. After the opening ceremony a game of bowls was played on the Stadium between teams skipped by the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. James Carroll) and the chairman of the Executive Committee (Mr. Thomas Ballinger). The going was pretty fiery, and though only 13 licads were played, four were "dead." Tho game resulted as follows:— Fletcher, Wilford, Hildreth, Carroll (s.), 10; Mayer, Leslie, F. Laurenson, Ballinger (s.), C .. ... OPENING KINE.MATOGRAPHED. A.number of scenes outside the Exhibition were kinematographed by West's and the Royal Pictures' operator yesterday. Ono of tho viqws secured was the opening rush at the turnstiles at 2.30 p.m. If the film turns .out well, it will doubtless be exhibited- here, and possibly in Australia. THE; OFFICIAL CATALOGUE. The first issue of the official catalogue for the Exhibition will be obtainable today at the Vacuum Cleaning Company's stall, near the main entrance. Skating will commence in the Sports Stadium at the Exhibition to-night. Skaters are to provide 'their own skates, and admission to the stadium is Gd. In connection with tho Wellington Gas Company's display at tho Exhibition, a gas cooking demonstration will be given by Mr.'Forstcr Denny at 3.15 p.m. today. , , ',