OHORA SPORTS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 478, 29 December 1875, Page 3

OHORA SPORTS.

The annual sports and horse race* held on Boxing Day, despite the unfavorable weather in the fore part of the day, were carried out with a considerable amount of spirit during the afternoon. The popularity of the gathering, judging by the increased interest taken in this year’s sports, and the liberal manner in which the efforts of the committee were seconded, is evidently increasing. In addition to a number of vehicles containing picnic parties and the farmers’ families, the Kaiapoi-Byreton railway running that day for the first time brought together a good concourse of people. The locale of the sports was in a paddock kindly lent by Mr 8, Burrell, in close proximity to the principal public roads. Although the land was in places rough for horse racing, still that did not prevent some capital country racing. On the ground was a booth for the sale of refreshments under the presidency of Mr Lewton. Next to this was a confectionery and luncheon booth managed by Mrs Batchelor. On the ground were dressing tents and a committee tent. The running enclosure was well roped off, the courses marked with flags, and the tilting at the ring was provided for with eight poles placed in a circle. The fife and drum band of No 5 Co, C. R.V, was present, and decidedly enlivened the proceedings. A staff of mounted police was present on the ground, whose services were occupied in keeping the courses clear. One or two youths began to cause annoyance by throwing crackers into the crowd, and the police raignt have ordered them from the ground. The events were allowed to be competed for by all persons within the boundaries of the Ashley and Waimakinri. In addition to an alternate athletic sports event and a horse race, a number of junior races for children were got up and well carried out by the committee. The following are the events Horse Races.

Judge—Mr Buss, Clerk of the Course— Mr Mulcuck. Starter—Mr Cone. Clerk of the scales—Mr Wheeler.

District Hurdle race. Ist prize, £8 ; 2nd, entrance money. Distance, two miles; nine flights ; 3 yrs, 9st ; 4 yrs, 9at 121 b ; 5 yrs and aged, lOst 71b, Entrance, 10s. Three entries. Mr W. Collins’ Prince 1 Mr J. Nott’s Barmaid 2

The third horse was Mr Murfit’s Shillaghly,

Mr Cone effected a good start. Prince, however, soon took the lead, and won in a canter.

Ohoka Purse, of 10 sovs. Open to all comers. Distance, two miles. No horse to carry less than list. Second horse, entrance money. Entrance, 10s. Mr W. Bramley’s Manuka ... (Murfit) 1 Mr Gt. Cone’s Jimmy ... (Vallance) 2 The other horses were Mr McLaren’ Grasshopper and Mr Moran’s Kat«. Manuka got uhe lead. Kate would have been second but seemed heavily weighted ; Jimmy came up a good second, Kate third.

Pony race, not over 14 hands. Ist prize, £4 ; 2nd, bridle and whip. One mile. Catch weights. Entrance, ss. Mr M. Power’s Nelly ... (Collins) 1 Mr Lynskey’s Micky Free ... (Lynskey) 2 Mr Middleton’s Tommy, Mr Hopkins’ Take-it-Bob, Mr Seaton’s Dick Turpin, Mr Wheeler’s Jack Sheppard, and Mr McGowan’s Ladybird, were also entered, and the event was hotly contested, One or two of the ponies appeared certainly over 14 hands, and a slight dispute arose with reference to the result of the race. District Two Mile race. Ist prize, £8 ; 2nd, entrance money. No horse to carry less than list. Entrance, 10s. Mr Collin’s Prince 1 Mr J. Willis’s Mosquito 2 Mr Wilson’s Tommy Dodd, Mr Murfit’s Shillaghly. and Mr Stark’s Barbella were the other entries. Mosquito cut out the running, and certainly looked like the winner. Local race—One mile and a half. Ist prize, £5 ; 2nd, entrance money. Not less than lOst. Entrance, 7s 6d. Mr Power’s Nelly 1 Mr Lynskey’s Micky Free ... 2 Mr Garnet’s Polly, Mr Ward’s Moonlight, and Mr Stark’s Barbella were the other entries. In this race, Micky Free did his best to win, but was in too good company with Nelly. District One Mile race—lst prize, £4 ; 2nd, save stakes. Catch weights. Entrance, 5b Mr R. McQuillan’s Rebel ... 1 Mr McMoran’s Kate 2 Mr Harrap’s Mosquito, Mr Burton’s Zoey, Mr Hassall’a Warren, Mr McGowan’s Black Boy, and Mr Griffith’s Stockings were also started. The finish was an exciting one. Consolation race—Distance, one and a half miles. Ist prize, £4 ; 2nd, £2; 3rd, £l. Catch weights. Entrance, 2s 6d. Mr Cone’s Jimmy 1 Mr Ward’s Colleen Bawn ... 2 Mr Murfit’s Shillaghly 3 Tommy Dodd, Dick Turpin, Kate, Micky Free, Stockings, and Black Boy were also started. This, the last, was probably the most interesting event of the meeting, and won by Jimmy in good style. Tilting at the Ring—Sixteen rings. Ist prize, £1 10s, G. Cone, who took 13 rings ; 2nd, 2nd, do 10?, R. McQuillan. Seven entered.

Men’s Hurdle race—Distance, half-mile ; three flights. Entrance, 2s 6d. Prize. £1 10s. Five entries H. Goodcvo 1 C. Moody 2 The winner cleared the flights in excellent form. Men’s race—Distance, One mile. Entrance, 2s 6d, Ist prize, £1 10s ; 2nd, 10s. Three

entries H. Goodeve 1 H. Rainbow 2 This was fairly competed, but did not bring out the number of runners it was expected. Old Men’s Handicap—Distance, 200 yards. Entrance, Is. Ist prize, 15s; 2nd, ss. Four entries. J. Ward 1 G. Fisher 2 This event was the cause of considerable merriment, at the expense of the elderly gentlemen who came out as competitors. Walking race—Distance, one mile. Entrance, 2s 6d. Ist prize, £1 10s ; 2nd, 10s. Five entries. H. Goodeve 1 G. W. Wearing 2 Goodeve was never reached from the start, and came in a good winner ; Wearing a good second. back race—Distance, 100 yards. Entrance, Is, Ist prize, 10s Taylor 1 Three Legged race—Distance, 100 yards. Entrance, Is. Ist. prize 10s Mnrfit and Vallance ... ... I A Wheelbarrow race, and other events concluded the day’s programme