ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2193, 7 March 1881, Page 3

ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS.

The first or inaugural meeting in connection with the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club came off on Saturday in the grounds of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, commencing at noon. The weather was beautifully fine, and the temperature so well suited to outdoor exercise and amusement, that if choice in the matter had been possible, no alteration could have been desired. The ground was a little hard, owing to the recent drought, but artificial remedies had been brought to bear on the course itself, which was, under all circumstances, in very fair condition for foot racing. To all outward seeming, therefore, the Club wore especially favored; unfortunately for them, the success of their first j grand effort depended not alone on fair weather or a blue sky. The attendance was very poor, there being, at the outside, only about 400 present j the public, in fact, did not roll up as fondly expected. In the first place the club made a mistake in holding the sports on Saturday, the bicyclists having determined to meet on that dny previously to the Athletic Club fixing a date at all. The ground arrangements were not by any means perfect, and representatives of the press found considerable difficulty in obtaining information. The programme of events was as follows : 100 Yards Flat Race—Nineteen entries ; three beats. First Heat. A. G. Sheath 1 Anderson 2 Newton 3 Second Heat. F. N. Robiusen 1 A. Templar ... ... ... 2 T. J. Morgan ... ... ... 3 Half-Mile Flat Race. Fourteen entries. A. S Baker ... ... ... 1 C. W. Miles 2 Time—2min. 10 4-sths sec. Wide Jump—Fourteen entries, L. A. Huwkes, 18ft. IJin. ... 1 H. A. Knight, 17ft. llin. ... 2

250 Yards Flat Race (handicap)—Twenty-nine entries. L. A. Hawkea, scratch J W. H. Newton, Byds 2 Of the number entered, about half-a-dozen competed. Time—29 3-sths boc. One Milo Walking Race —Ten entries. H, C. Ford 1 C. Rogers... ... ... ... 2 A. L. Smith 3 Time —Bmin 1 3-ssec. 440 Yards Flat Rice. Nineteen entries, of which about half the number started. J. G. Smith (rimarn) 1 F. N. Robinson ... ... ... 2 C. W. Miles 3 Time—ss and 2-sth sees. High Jump. Nino entries. F. N. Robinson, sft. 6in. ... 1 H. A. Knight ... ... ... 2 100 Yds Flat Race. The final heat. F. N. Robinson 1 In this race, which was a good one, and well contested by all competitors, the name of the second man could not be ascertained. Time 11 and 2 sth secs. Patting Shot (IGlbs), Twelve entries. A. G. Sheath, 31ft. 9in. ... 1 L. M. Ollivier 2 120 Yds Hurdle Race. Sixteen entries. Only a few of those entered competed in this event. First Heat. A. P. Chapman ... ... ... 1 H. A. Knight 2 Second Heat. Sheath 1 Robinson 2 Time—l 9 and 4- sth secs. One Mile Flat Race. There were a number of entries, but only a few of those started. jk. S. Baker 1 J. W. Davis 2 This was a well contested race between tho two front men. The others were nowhere. Time, Ist quarter mile, Imin lOseo; 2nd, 2min 29sec; 3rd, 3min 48sec; 4th, smin Iseo. 120 Yards Hurdle Race. Final heat. Sheath 1 Robinson 2 Time, 18iaec. One-third Mila Flat Race (Handicap). Twentyeight entries, of which not half started. J. W. T. Boys, 20 yds 1 G. W. Miles, 15 yds 2 W. H. Newton, 15 yds 3 Throwing the Hammer (161 b). Ten entries. O. C. Corfe, 85ft lOin 1 J. Hay, 73ft 6in 2 Steeplechase—One mile. A. S. Baker 1 W. Potts 2 C. Rogers 3 This was a most amusing contest, and excited a good deal of interest as well as fan, by reason of the fact that the competitors had to take a long water jump, and each of them managed to get an involuntary bath before finishing the mile. A Consolation Race brought the day’s sports to a close. It should be mentioned that the Railway Band performed during the day, and their efforts to entertain were not the least enjoyable of the amusements in connection with the gathering. The two booths on the ground profited not.