TIMARU AMATEUR ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 897, 10 May 1877, Page 3

TIMARU AMATEUR ATHLETIC SPORTS.

[By Telegraph.]

FliOH THE SPECIAL REPORTER OF THE PRESS

The committee wove certainly to be congratulated on the went her for the opening day of the sports. It was a beautiful day, with perhaps a little too much wind from southwest. The ground was in first rate running order, and the different courses were well defined. There was a very large attendance, the fair sex being particularly well represented. To do their costumes justice a court milliner woidd have to assist in this report, for some of the dresses were {beyond my powers of description. The grand stand that has been recently erected is capable of accommodating three hundred people, and is really a good one. The different events were well contested, especially the Two-Mile Walking Race, and and the pole jump. The first event on programme was the Hundred Yards Flat Race, for which there were eight entries, six of whom faced the starter. First heat was won by W. B. Craig, E. F. Blundell second, and L. Macpherson third. Craig led from start, and won easily. In the second heat F. Gf. Westcnra finished first, E. A. Foster second, C. Turnbull third. This from the start was a gift to Westenra, who won easily. The final heat was won by F. G. Westenra, W. B. Craig second. This was a grand race, Westenra going a tremendous pace from start, winning by five yards. Time, lOlsec. For the Running High Jump there were five entries, four facing the bar. They commenced at 4ft. Gin. Foster and Craig retired at sft. and sft. lie. respectively. Blundell was first at sft. fin., Cameron second at sft. Sin. In the 120 Yards Hurdle Race, over nine flights, there were thirteen entries, of whom only four came to the scratch. It was a very good race between Craig and Blundell ; Tosswill and Turnbull being outpaced, and both fell at the sixth hurdle. Craig finished first, winning from Blundell by a yard. lime, 19 l-ssoc. For the Two-miles Walking Race four faced the starter—Davie, Rhodes, Marchant and Duncan. The competitors had to cover eight laps. Marchant gave up after the first lap, and Davie was outpaced from the first. The latter walked pluckily. At the end of the first mile, which was done in Bmin. 37sec., Rhodes and Duncan were striding within a foot of each other. Rhodes several times forced the pace, but Duncan answered the call, and woidd not allow him to pass. Nearly throughout the whole race they walked in this manner, and in the last lap, just before the straight walk in, they both spurted splendidly, Rhodes trying hard to pass his opponent. Ten yards from home, Duncan led by a yard, and a dead heat seemed inevitable, but Duncan managed to breast the tape a short foot ahead; A. Rhodes, second ; F. Davie, third. Time, 17min. 12secs. For the high pole jump, seven entered, three of whom whom elected to try conclusions ; commencing at 6ft. 6in. R. Sleigh, who jumped very prettily, failed to clear the bar at Bft. Craig and Cameron now had a hard tussle, both clearing Bft. 3in.; on the third jump, at Bft. 6in., both refused the first time, but clearing it at the second attempt, amidst hearty applause. At Bft. 7in. Cameron cleared his second jump, Craig failing to do so. In his three tries Cameron cleared 18ft. 9in., Craig 18ft. Gin. The Quarter Mile Flat Race showed ten entries, but only four went to hear the pistol’s report—-viz., Craig, C. Flint, T. Gr. Westenra, and E. A. Foster. This race needs no comment. Foster went off with the lead, closely followed by Craig, who soon passed him, but two hundred yards from home Westenra came through his men, and won easily by thirty yards, Craig slacking off. Time, 58‘l-sth sec. For Rutting 161 b. Stone seven muscular men entered, three only trying conclusions, and being won by a College boy, B. M. Moorhousc, with a very good put of 30ft. 10fin; II- D. Macpherson second, 29ft. HHn. lor the Long Jump ten again entered, and half of them faced the mark —Craig, Westenra, Turnbull, Blundell, Tosswill —resulting as follows : Westenra first, 17ft. 81-in.; Craig second, 17ft 7-iin. Blundell had to retire hurt after his second jump ; while Tosswill lost his chance by treading over the mark. TVestenra afterwards jumped 18ft. Jin. The Steeplechase Ladies’ Cup, one and half miles, was the great event of the day, and no less than thirty-seven figured on the cards, [thus showing their loyalty to the ladies, but when the time came only nine appeared to face the water jumps and gorse fences —A. Mathias, C. Flint, R. Sleigh, F. G-. Westenra, A. Nicholls, C. Delamain, E. A. Foster, L. A. McPherson, W. Tosswill. In the second lap McPherson, Nichoils, and Turnbull gave up, while opposite the stand Flint came to grief at the water jump and gave in. At the second water jump Nicholls forced the running for a time, but was soon supplanted by Foster, who in his t urn was again deprived of the lead by Mathias. Soon after passing the second water jump, the latter took a strong lead, and eventually won a hard earned race by twenty yards, from Foster, who just beat Westenra for second place by four yards, the latter came with a rush on the tape, but too late, A. Mathias finishing first, Foster second, and Westenra third. Time, 9min. Usee. The cup was presented by Mrs Wooleombe amidst much cheering for the winner, and three times three for the ladies. A whip was presented to Mr Delamain, who performed the duties of whipper very effectually. For the Hop-step-and-jump four entered, four of whom toed the tape, and after some very good jumping, was won by Craig, 40ft. fin. ; Western, second, 39ft. 6in. For throwing sixteen pound hammer four entered, but only two competed. This event proved a gift to L. A. McPherson, 63ft.; Mclntyre, second with 59ft. This brought the first day of meeting to a successful close, and as the entries lor to-morrow’s events are very numerous, a good day’s sport may be looked forward to providing the weather be favorable.