CANTERBURY TRADESMEN'S ATHLETIC CLUB.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 296, 25 May 1875, Page 2

CANTERBURY TRADESMEN'S ATHLETIC CLUB.

{From the Press.) Committee—Messrs Millett, Maxwell, Davison, McNichol, and Cogan; starter—Mr E. W. Millett; judge—Mr E. Griffiths ; judge of walking race—Mr Cogan ; time taker— Mr George Stead. It is always matter for congratulation when any club starts in our midst, having for its object the encouragement of athletics, but when a club of this kind has beeu formed by tradesmen, which necessarily includes so many of our citizens, and the programme of sports put forward by them has not only been faithfully carried out, but with the determination;of each < ompetitor to be the best man and try to win, then the congratulation that such a club should have been originated and founded on such sound principles is increased ; the more so that in these days it is to be regretted that where the distinctive appellation of " amateur" has not immediately preceded the events, circumstances have caused the public to look upon the majority of foot races as somewhat " shady." So far as the inaugural sports of the above club are concerned, the conduct of those of yesterday has dispelled this feeling with respect to them, and it may be mentioned parenthetically, that with the number of respectable and prosperous tradesmen in Christchurch, why a tradesmen's athletic club should not be continued to be carried out as originated on the Riccarton grounds, and result in an annual success, can only be matter for surprise. The sports were held in a paddock alongside the Riccarton Hotel, the course being roped off, but altogether too narrow, giving those competitors placed at scratch but a very poor chance of getting through the ruck; those having a start not only deriving this advantage, but had also an additional one in the course being formed of so many sharp turns. On such a course it is hardly fair to criticise too closely the work of the handicappers, but certainly the way the men who had such long starts pulled up, showed they had been let in far too easy. As Young Delaney's .match of ten miles, to be run under the hour, was without doubt the feature of the programme, we shall refer to it first. Delaney started at four minutes past four o'clock on his long hunt, and immediately afterwards a drizzling rwin set in. Up to the tenth lap he was within his average, but as the ground became heavier through the rain, he fell off for several laps, making good time, however, at intervals, with the aid of Pentecost, who ran alongside of him now and then. When Mr Stead called timeJDelaney was running in for his sixty fifth lap, having made when he reached the flag, nine miles and 495 yards, and being then five seconds over the hour with five laps to cover to complete his number. He finished the distance in 61 min4lfsecs. To his credit, be it said that he ran well and honestly throughout, and but for the disadvantageous circumstances of a strange and sharp turned course—giving him little opportunity of judging his time—and the ground made heavy and slippery through the rain, it is more than probable he would have completed his task successfully, as judging from his final spurt, he had plenty of " go " left when he finished. A subscription was started for him on the ground, and it is said that, as the greatest loss will be his through not doing the distance within time, the club have determined to raise a sum of money among the members to indemnify him against actual loss. For the 200, 300, and 440 yards handicap races, Dunbar, who received 18 yards, was too warm, leading from start to finish, and though Macfarlane, Davison, and Gougb, respectively tried hard to reach him, he was enabled to get too far away from them at the first. Though he was held too cheaply by the handicappers had the course been wider, and the men at scratch and enabled to get through, the chances were that he would have been made to travel a little faster to win, though he must be commended for the plucky manner he ran throughout. For the last of these events (supposed 440 yards) a mistake wa9 made in the distance, and only about 310 yards were run. This, of course, was no fault of the competitors, who were placed in their stations and ran home where told to. It is probable that this matter will be brought before the meeting of the club to-night, The result of the handicap walking match was a surprise to many. We mentioned in our notice of yesterday that for this event it was probable Bowley would find a pretty stiff antagonist, and so the result proved, for Prebble, with 125 yards start, led from first to last, though had there been another lap to go Bowley, who had beeu overhauling him hand over hand in the final lap, must have lauded the money. Prebble, however, walked well and fairly throughout. In the 440 yards hurdle race Pentecost led over the first hurdle, increasing his lead until nearing home, when Gough came up and lessened the distance, but was unable to reach him, Pentecost winning by several yards The mile handicap fiat race was well contested; Gibbons'peculiar kangaroo-like stride kept him in the lead until the fourth lap, when Pentecost, who had been ruuning a waiting race, began to show up, Davison putting it on with him having at the time a slight lead of Pentecost. At the sixth lap Davison collared Gibbons, when Pentecost emulated his good example, and passed Gibbons, serving Davison in the same manner. It was now a match between these two, and

Pentecost breasted ihe tape about four yards a winner. Some boys' races, and a match between Winney, a grown lad, and Manning, a little boy, for a mile, were run during the day. In the latter event Manning received a start of 100 yards, and though running all thiough like a little plucky fellow that he is, he was over-matched, but will most likely be heard of in the future. The following is a list of the events in the order of the programme:— 200 Yards Handicap Race (first event)— One of three events, five points allowed to winner of each event, three for second, and two for third. First prize, £o; 2nd, £1; Hid, 10s. Dunbar (16yds) 1 Macfarhme (16yds) 2 Gough (3yds) 3 Pentecost. Gibbons,and Brunsden (scratch), Oorbett (syds), Davison and Richards (6yds) also started. Mr Millett jot them all away together, Dunbar leading with Macfarlane lying close by, but lost ground at the sharp turn before lending home. It was here seen that the course was too narrow for the " scratch" men, who having got into the ruck, hadn't space to get through, and in his effort to do so Pentecost spiked Gibbous badly in the foot, while he (Pentecost) received a spike wound in the right knee. Dunbar kept the lead landing in front of Macfailane by nearly four yards, Gough and Corbett racing sharply home for third place, the former breasting the tape first, Time- 23secs. One Mile Handicap Walking Match. First prize, £1 10s ; 2nd, 10s. C. Prebble (125 yds) 1 C. Bowley (scratch) 2 W. Pentecost (20 yds) ; A. R. Ritchie (60 yds) ; and A. Richards (150 yds) also started,

Prebble walked so well from start to finish that the distance he received must be put down as a " Queen's Birthday gift." Pentecost gave up in the third lep, and Richards who had been cautioned by the judge, but continued to persist in "jogging " also gave in. Ritchie, who at intervals had been going the pace in a somewhat similar fashion, notwithstanding one or two cautions, continued to persist and was declared to be disqualified. At the last round home Bowley spurted magnificently and with judgment, and but for his late illness would -no doubt have been able to put it on earlier, coming up hand over hand. His plucky little antagonist, however, who had walked as fair as a die—with the exception of but two steps, when he received a caution—was too far ahead, and landed about thirty yards ahead of him, Ritchie, who had been disqualified, continuing to trot in between these two. lime, 7min 45sec. 300 Yards Handicap Race—Second event. Dunbar (18 yds) 1 Davison (8 yds) 2 Gough (4 yds) 3 Gibbons (scratch), Brunsden (4 yds), and Macfarlane (18 yds), also started. Through eagerness to get away a very bad start was made, Gough, Dunbar, and Macfarlane starting before' the pistol fired, the latter being on the point of returning to his line when the report was heard. After an expression of " false start" and a (second's hesitation, a general start was made, but Dunbar, who had made good his stt.rt, was going it at a proper pace, while Davison, who had run up, was doing his befit to see how he would look in the lead. Dunbar, however, thought better of this, and spurted his level best, keeping his distance. Gough, when opposite to the flag from home ran his hardest; but being unable to pass Davison without diverging, through the narrow course, had to change his foot, and lost ground. Dunbar ran home a winner, with Davison about a yard and a half behind, and Gough following. Time, 36isec.

300 ifABDS Race—Boys under 16 years—--Ist prize, 12s 6d j 2nd, 5s ; 3rd, 2s 6d. Winney 1 Simmonds 2 Blighting 3 Dunbar, Manning, and Mummery also entered. Winney led from start to finish, and won easily. Time—43sec. 440 Yards Handicap Race. (Third event.) Dunbar (18 yds) 1 Gough (4 yds)... „ 2 Davidson (8 yds) S Gibbons (scratch), Brunsden (5 yds), and Macfarlane (18 yds), also ran. A vary good start was effected, Dunbar leading well from the start. Coming into the straight on the first round, Brunsden slipped and fell in front of Gibbons, who was coming up strong, throwing him altogether out of his stride, and thus out of the race. Davison followed Dunbar as closely as he could get, and in the round leading to the flag Gough, who had been going a "bat." put on a tremendous spurt, passing Davison, and landing only about a yard behind Dunbar. Time—4o£secs. There is some dispute about the distance, the men only actually running about 310 yards ; but they are not to blame, as they started from where they were placed. 440* Yards Hurdle Race, over six flights of hurdles, 3ft high. Ist prize, £1 10s; 2nd, 10s. Pentecost 1 Gough 2 Macfarlana 3 Bowley also started.

Pentecost led over the first hurdle, increasing his lead over the next four successive huidles. Guugh and Macfarlane then came up strong, but Pentecost had got: too far ahead for them to be able to push him, and he landed an easy winner, Gough and Macfarlane runniug in well for 2nd and 3rd places. One Mile Handicap Flat Eace. Ist prize. £1 10s ; 2nd, 10s. Pentecost (scratch) 1 D '.visou (35 yds) 2 Macfarlane (scratch), Bowley (35yds), and Gibbous (40yds) also started. The men started well, Gibbons running away with a kangaroo sort of stride, keeping his jumps up pretty regular, closely followed by Davison, Pentecost and Macfarlane evidently lying by. Gibbons lo'pt the lead over the fourth lap, when Pentecost began to come up, and passed Bowley, nearing and shepherding Davison who had evidently been keeping his eye on Gibbous. At the fifth lap Bowley spurted and passed Pentecost and Davison, but immediately afterwards cried a go. Iu the sixth lap Davison and Pentecost spurted, passing Gibbous, Pentecost finishing iu front of Davison before he completed his rush.' For the last lap home Pentecost put the pace on warm, Davison following his example. Macfarlane now gave in, and the race was left to Pentecost and Davison. Both men ran in well, Pentecost winning by about 4 yards. Time, omin 43£ sec. Ten Miles against Time (to be run under the hour.) Young Delaney started for this race at four minuted past four o'clock. It is unno

cessary to give the time of each lap, and, as we have already stated, he kept the average time to win, until the tenth lap, when the rain, which had commenced to fall shortly after he started, without doubt made the running heavier, and. he finished the ten miles in 4 minutes 41f seconds over the hour from the time he had started. It was rumoured on the ground that when about half through his task, he was partly crippled by one of the spikes of his shoes working through the leather into the front part of his foot. Nearly eleven hundred persons visited the ground during the day, and £52 15s gate money was taken. Herr Bunz' band played at intervals, and refreshments were supplied from a stand by Mr W. Harris. Mr Inspector Buckley, with Sergeant Wilson and constables, were present, but beyond seeing that the course was kept clear, their duties were otherwise light.