FORESTERS’ FETE.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 785, 27 December 1876, Page 3

FORESTERS’ FETE.

Judge—Mr W. H. Wynn Williama ; handicapper and starter, Mr S. P. Andrews; secretaries, Messrs J. S. Williams, and G, Swann ; treasurer, Mr W. Ness, The annual gathering and sports in connection with the various courts of the A.O.F. in Lyttelton and Christchurch took place yesterday. The place selected for the various events was Mr John Anderson’s paddock, which though laboring under the disadvantage of being somewhat rough for the foot races, yet from its contiguity to town was an improvement on the locale of last year. The proceedings commenced at 9 a.m, when the Christchurch brethren mustered at the Forester’s Hall, and with Mr Button’s band at their head, marched through the city to the railway station to meet the members of the Lyttelton Court and other visitors who came through in large numbers. The two contingents having joined, a move was made for the scene of the day’s sports. Here though somewhat shorn of the attractions of last year—notably the absence of our old friend Mr Richardson and his merry band of strollers —ample provision had been made for the enjoyment of the numerous visitors who commenced to pour in almost as soon as the gates were opened. For the lovers of athletics there were races enough of various kinds on the programme to satisfy the most exacting. Every distance from the hundred yards sprint up to the mile-walking had a place on the programme. For the juvenile portion of the visitors, who mustered in great force, there was a tent filled with toys of every description, which were either given as prizes for races or scrambled for. This tent, by the way, was the cause of many interruptions to the business of the day, for toys to the little people are a strong attraction, and they swarmed around it with attendant papas and mammas to such an extent that it was next to impossible for Mr Andrews and his assistants to discharge their duties properly. With the exception, however, of a little tacas which occurred at the conclusion of the race by married ladies, and which, wo are happy to say is the first, as we hope the last, occasion of anything like disorder when Canterbury people are out for a holiday, all went off well. For those who delighted in what Mr Swiveller designated as “ the mazy,” there was a commodious dancing booth with a capital string band, under Mr Button, which was kept going without intermission the whole day. Then there was our old friend the unicycle circus to the fore with his mechanical orchestra, and he did remarkably well also. All the events on the programme were got off except that for the best Highland fling in costume, for which there were no entries. In its place the committee substituted a quarter mile race for boys, which was an exceedingly good one. The various races do not call for any special comment, except two, which were productive of great fun, viz, the race for P C. Rangers, in which the contestants were handicapped according to age, and the young ladies’ race, which brought out a perfect host of competitors. In the first of these the style shown by some veterans, and the way in which they buckled to their work evoked roars of laughter. Some of them in their eagerness to get to the front assumed a recumbent position, and the (subsequent proceeding interested them no more. The young ladies’ race—stimulated no doubt by the fact that a plain gold ring was one of the prizes—was very keenly contested, and some excellent running was shown by the fair competitors, but several of them came to grief owing to the inequalities of the ground. The attendance was very large throughout the day, and the financial results must have been good. The following were the winners of the various events : 150 yards Flat race, for boys under twelve years of age. Ist prize. 15s ; 2nd, 7s fid, A. Woledgo ... 1 McCormick ... 2 Nine others started. 100 yards Flat race ; ooen to all comers. Ist prizs, value £3 3s ; 2nd, £1 la. W. Pentecost ... I A, Anderson 2 A, Biby ... 3 Two others ran. This was a very good race and was well contested throughout,

100 yards race, for Foresters only ; to be run in regalia, private clothes. Ist prize, Bro Ayers’ pipe, value £1 10s ; 2nd, 10s 6d. A. McNae 1 W, Lake ... 2 This race was remarkable from the fact that in running the heats Tally and Lake twice ran a dead heat, resulting in a victory on the third trial for Lake. Six others ran. Quarter-mile Handicap Flat race ; open to allcomers. Ist prize, BroW.Bolleston’s cup, value. £2 2s ; 2nd, value 15s ; 3rd, 6s. W. Pentecost fscratch) ... 1 J. Anderson (17yds) 2 M. Gibbons (syds) 3 Three others ran, Besley at twenty yards, J. Hewitt at fifteen yards, and McLeod at seventeen yards. One Mile Handicap race, open to all comers. Ist prize, Bro McGuinness’ cup, value £2 2s ; 2nd, £1; 3rd, 6s. O. Bowley (scratch) 1 J Fraser (120 yds) 2 H. 8. Phillips; ... (140 yds) 3 Four others ran. Bowley soon overhauled the distance men, and won easily. 250 Yards Handicap Flat race, for P.O.R’s only ; distance for age to be decided by handicapper. Ist prize, Bro Wilcox, P. certificate, handsomely framed ; 2nd, 10s fid, Perdie (9 yds) 1 Ranger (34 yds) 2 Eight others ran. Ranger near the winning post had the lead, but mistaking the place to win at pulled up, allowing Perdie, who was close up, to run in a winner. 200 Yards Flat race, open to Friendly Societies only ; to be run in regalia. Ist prize, Bro Fletcher’s gold ring and scarf pin, value £2; 2nd, Bro Allwright’s prize, value £1 Is, M. Gibbons 1 Wilson 2 Three others ran. Gibbons got a lon g way the best of the start, and was never headed. One Mile Handicap Flat race, open to all comers, Ist prize, £5 ; 2nd, £1 10s. M. Gibbons (15 yds) 1 Hewitt (10 yds) 2 Nine others ran, including several little fellows who ran pluckily throughout, especially Atkinson and Manning. 80 Yards Single Ladies’ race. Ist prize, a handsome work box ; 2nd, ladies’ gold ring, Miss Clarkson 1 Miss O’Neill ... 2 Twenty-five ran. 80 Yards Married Ladies’ race. Ist prize, bex of tea ; 2nd, dress piece. Mrs Thompson ... 1 Mrs Matthews 2 Nine others ran. 150 yards Flat race, open to all comers. Ist prize, £1 10s ; 2nd, 10a fid. M. Gibbons 1 W. Pentecost 2 Six others ran. Gibbons and Pentecost cut out the running, and a capital race ensued, Ultimately Gibbons, who stayed best, won by a couple of yards. 200 yards Hurdle race, over five huddles, for Foresters only. Ist prize, Bros Gibbon and Shaw's box of fine old cigars ; 2nd, 7s fid. A. McNae 1 F. Clark 2 Six others ran. 200 yards Boys’ Three-legged race (under 15). Ist prize, 15s ; 2nd, 7s fid, Lawrence and Gibbons ... 1 Smith and Atack ... ... 2 Seven other pairs competed. Boys’ race ; quarter of a mile. Ist prize, 15s; 2nd, 10s fid ; third, ss. A. Lawrence 1 Burns 2 Atkinson 3 The first race for this event was declared null, owing to jostling. The offender being disqualified, the race was run over again with the above result. This, with some quoiting, &c., concluded the sports, and those present, having enjoyed a capital day’s outing, returned home.