CALEDONIAN GATHERING.

Evening Star, Issue 3702, 4 January 1875, Page 2

CALEDONIAN GATHERING.

SECOND DAY. In concluding our report of the sports on Saturday, we may state that, though the weather was rainy and the ground in bad order, the contests were more exciting than those on the first day. who carried all before him on Friday, was nowhere on Saturday, but this was most probably not so much owing to his meeting his opponents on worse terms as to his having overworked himself at first. He appeared to run on Saturday without any spirit or energy. Brooks won the 250 yards, though through carelessness he nearly let Burke take first instead of second place ; and Burke won the half-mile, coming splendidly at the finish. Both Brooks and Burke ran better than on Friday, and F. Wain was also more successful, winning the 350 yards in capital style. The hurdle race, owing to the slipperiness of the turf, was & complete fiasco , J. Murdoch alone clearing the hurdles—Burke and Easton having each slipped under a hurdle and gone on as if nothing of the sort had occurred. The judges awarded Murdoch first prize, although he came in second, and in this we consider they acted rightly, but why they should give second and third prizes to Burke and Easton we at a loss to understand. Perhaps it is because a certain amount of money has been set apart for prizes, and the stewards are afraid the public would think them mean in giving only the one prize; but that is no justifiable reason, and such conduct will establish a very bad precedent. Henderson, who slipped under a hurdle early in the same race, very properly gave up, thinking he would be too far behind if he went back and cleared it—whereas if he had known competitors would be allowed to go under or over the hurdles at pleasure, he might have taken second prize. The stewards showed good taste in giving a third prize each to Wain and Stanbrook for the two exciting dead heats they ran

in the 250 yards race, but a reward of merit should most decidedly not be given where it has not been earned. Stanbrook ran very well and gamely throughout the meeting, and is, without doubt, a rising and promising pedestrian. The walking match on Saturday (one mile instead of two) was a repetition of the previous day’s performance. Jacobson gave Macgregor 17 yards and Campbell 22 yards’ start, and, waiting until the last fifty yards, went by Mac* gregor like a shot, and came in a 'winner by ten yards amidst uproarious applause Macgregor , again looked most ridiculously disgusted, but j

no one sympathised with him. as the general impression was that he and Campbell had ar- ‘ ranged to divide first and second prizes in each | race. Of course that was only rumored ; but if it be the case, it is gratifying to find the con- . spiracy upset hy the appearance of a pedestrian who will walk fairly, honestly, and on his ’ merits, and not cheat the public and render the race nothing better than a walk over, "We i should like to see Jadobsen ahd Edwards wall?

on level terms. The latter was in Dunedin a. short time ago, and will, we believe, soon return. A great deal of annoyance and a number of false starts were caused through the thoughtlessness and stupidity of a lot of boys,.. who kept letting off crackers close to where the runners in the various races where awaiting the pistol-shot of the starter, otherwise the crowds of people were very well behaved. Though there were only 500 persons at the commencement of Satui day’s programme, the number gradually increased to about' 2,500. The booths did a good business the first day, and might have done well the second had it not been for a sea of mud which stretched between the ring and the stand. Compared with last year the long leap, 18ft, 6in., was lit. 6jin. better, but a long way short of the previous year, when Kox cleared 20ft 7in. In vaulting with the pole I>. Auld cleared aft. Bin., against his Oft. 2in. last year, but he was not hard pushed on this occasion, his only competitor having injured himself slightly. D. Chalmers threw the i6lb. hammer the greatest distance this year, but only managed 98ft. lOin. against a 100 ft. 2in. last year, and the same man put the 221b. bad farthest, doing only 29ft. Sin. against his own 32ft. 2in. last occasion. [ Chalmers won the prize for tossing the caber at last meeting with 31ft. 6in., and now he won it I with 33ft. Sin. The wrestling on Saturday was open to all comers, but none who entered had any chance with Robertson. The dancing was of the usual stereotyped fashion, with the exception of a new entry (J. Ogg) who appeared to go in for everything. The Artillery Band enlivened the proceedings considerably, playing unweariedly throughout both days, and having a race amongst its members into the bargain. There were also innumerable pipers, though we heard one enthusiastic lover of harmony repeatedly declare that the only mistake the stewards made was in not providing sufficient bagpipe music. We have to express our hearty thanks to all the gentlemen who were in authority for the readiness with which they supplied us with any necessary information, and to Mr R. H. Bailey for obliging us with the time for every race, The money taken at the gates amounted to L 402 on the first day, and Ll2O on the second L 522 in all, 1-ast year the takings were L 303 and L 272, making a total of 1-575, or L 53 more than this year. This is, of course, owing to the bad weather on Saturday. The following are the events which did not appear in our issue of Saturday r Bagpipe Music, consisting of Pibrochs, Marches, Strathspeys, and Reels.—Prizes. LlO. L 4. and L2 * William Sutherland 1 H. Mackay ... 2 Duncan M'Coll 3 The first two were considered equal, and divided first and second pi izes. M'Coll played for the dancei s|throughout the meeting, and he will receive a special prize for that. Wrestling, Cornish and Devonshire style.— There being only one entry, a scratch competition was held, in the above or the North Country style.—Prizes, LlO, L 4, and L2, George Robertson 1 Fothergill 2 One or two other competitors entered, but were easily disposed of by Robertson. Sword Dance, in Highland Costume.—Prizes. L 3, L2, and LI. J* Ogg I J. Murray 2 J. Haig 3 ■Vaulting with the Pole.—Prizes L 6. L 3. and LI. D. Auld (Bft Sin) 1 F. M'Lean (Bft 6in) 2 Both {vaulted well, but at last M‘Lean fell, jarring histelbow severely, and had to retire, Auld winning first prize. Handicap Walking Rack.—One mile. Prizes L 7, L 3, and LI. T. B. Jacobsen (scratch) ... f M. M‘Gregor (17 yards) ... 2 J. Campbell (22 yards) 3 Wade (30 yards), Fade (35 yards), and Wm. Stuart (85 yards), also started. This event was looked for with great interest after Friday’s race, as Jacobsen met Macgregor on 17 yards worse terms. The pace was made very warm from the start, so much so that Bade gave up in the second lap. In the third Campbell passed Wade and Jacobsen overhauled Macgregor, and spasmodic spurts from all hands (or feet) became the order of the day. In the fourth lap all five were close together, but Wade and Stuart gradually fell behind and were out of the race. Just before completing the fifth Campbell jostled Jacobsen, but without much effect, for the latter walked away like a machine. The sixth and seventh lap were not remarkable for anything, all three pegging away hard, Macgregor with a lead of a couple of yards. This continued to the eighth round, and loud shouts to Jacobsen to “ wire in” or he would lose the race were given by his admirers j but that gentleman knew what he was about. With excellent judgment he waited till forty yards only had to be traversed, and then put forth his extraordinary powers, passed Macgregor in three strides, and won “hands down.” Macgregor was a gloomy second, Campbell third. Time, 7min. 21isecs. The time for the two-mile race yesterday was 16min.

Grand Challenge Dance.—For youths of 16 and under, with choice of dance. Frizes. LI 10s, LI, and 15s. ■ Jaanes Murray , j un., was the only competitor, and took first prize. Half-mile Handicap Race.—Prizes, LB. L 3. and LI 10s. * J. Burke (scratch) 1 J. Murdoch (12 yards) 2 G. Murdoch (20 yards)... ... 3 Eight started, Henderson and Brooks being at scratch, Aarons 35 yards. The tw© Murdochs cut out the running, Brooks and Burke closing up rapidly, but the other competitors gradually falling out. About 150 yards from home Burke seemed completely baked, but, putting on one of his magnificent rushes, he passed his men and came in a winner by one yard. Time. 2min. 23sec. Picking dp 30 stones, Handicap.—Prizes, LI 10s, LI, and 15s. Heats. W. Nicholson (3min. 50sec.) ... 1 J. Lindsay (3min. 52sec.) ... 2 D. Grater (4min. 13sec.) ... 3 Four started in each heat, Grater winning the first, but he was well beaten by Nicholson’s and Lindsay’s times. Tossing the Caber.—Prizes, L 3, L2, and LI. D. Chalmers (33ft Sin) 1 J. Ogg (33ft lin) 2 W, Niool (32ft 4in) 3 Youths’ Handicap Walking Race, one mile. Prizes, Hngh Duff (15 yards) 1 A. Sims (scratch) 2 F. Miller (25 yards) 3 Only three started, and Miller fell behind very soon. Duff was never caught, and came in a winner by fully his handicap. Sims walked gamely, but was barefooted, and this, no doubt, spoiled his chance. Time, Bmin. 55aecs. Gymnastics, Fencing, &c.--Trophies. These competitions did not come off, owing to the wet. Handicap Race, 350 yards.—Prizes, L 7, L 3, and Ll 10s. P. Waia (7 yards) 1 J. Murdoch (scratch) ... I o Nightingale (14 yards)... f * Seven started, Henderson at scratch, Brooks 6 yards. Aarons (10 yards) went away at a tremendous rate, heading the lot first time past the stand, but then shutting up. The rest kept well together until fifty yards from home, whan Wain got clear of them all, shook them off, and won easily by five yards. Murdoch and Nightingale tied for second place, Brooks and Easton close behind. Time, 67secs. Qdoiting.—Prizes, L 5 and L2. J, M‘Crorie ... j J. M'Lennan 2 , Crorie having taken first prize at six previous meetings has become holder of the position of champion, the Society having recently passed a rule that a winner of any unhandicapped event for three consecutive years shall champion of that competition, and be debarred from taking first prize. M'Lennto therefore took first and M‘Crorie second priST Three Rising Springs, standing.—Prizes L2 ■ „ Ll, and 10s. * * H. Carey (28ft) ... i J. Murdoch (27ft) g

Irish Jig.—Prizes, L 3, L2, and LI. Duncan Buchanan ... ) J. Haig f 1 Both were consideied equal, and divided first and second prizes. Consolation Handicap.—For all who had run in one race at least each day. Prizes L 4, L 3. and L2. W. Hogg (8 yards) 1 Aarons (3 yards) 2 Nightingale (scratch) 3 This was a good race, and was well pulled off - by Hogg, after a close finish.