The Reporter

Kaikoura Star, Volume XII, Issue 1, 5 January 1892, Page 4

The Reporter

New Year’s Bay Sports.

Judges : Mr J. N. Flower and Mr W. Cooke. Superin ten dan t of Juvenile Sports : Rev Mr McAra. Stewards : The Committee. Treasurer: Mr M Adams. Secretary: Mr J. 11. Sanofi,rd. Starter: Mr J. H. Sandford. Handicappers : Messrs Renner and W. Cvoke

Jupiter Pluvius having for two years in succession—lB9o andl.B9l spoilt the New Year’s Day Sports, the atmospheric conditions last Saturday morning were very eagerly diagnosed. First impressions were not of a thoroughly satisfactory nature, but soon doubt gave way to assurance of a fine day, and this Was fully verified, the weather being perfect for 'holiday makers. However, owing to tlie prevalence of sickness, and to the number still engaged in shearing and other station work, the attendance was not equal to that on some previous - occasions, still it was very good. The proceedings were very enjoyable, particularly to those who went out to Mr Harris’" pretty enclosure for social reasons, the proceedings partaking very largely of the character of a pic-nic. The Sports were fairly successful, but lacked verve at times. This may not be avoidable in the absence of a host of competitors It was only by dint of forethought and a bit of engineering that Mr Sandford managed to keep things moving without absolutely doing the running men to death. In the dual offices of Secretary and Starter be worked very hard. Messrs N. Adams, J. Howard,'S. Maxton and Morris were very energetic ; while the Rev Mr McAra, with the assistance of Messrs Lochfeead, Mclver. Smart and others did a very great deal in amusing the Juveniles, quite a dozen events being got off, £3 being thus distributed in prizes.

Each year here shows one or two competitors towering above their fellows. As in former years we have had Schmidt, Cox, or Davidson holding a commanding advantage, so this year G. 8. Mcßae (The Shades) and Bert Smith (Ludstone) were the heroes-of the day. Mcßae certainly surprised the -specttrrviv; — rfo Started "five times”

gaining a place on each occasion, with 2 wins (including a tie). 2 seconds and 1 third. Smi'h. with 5 starts, had 2 struighout wins and 2 seconds, in the other e.vent he was crossed. Fred Close was in no •condition to give anyone a start, being’ altogether too gross to meet any one at all fit, yet feis victory in the Hurdles was a very meritorious performance. In this, however, he would have been disqualified for crossing had Smith proceeded with his protest, which, however, in a generous and sfortstnanlike manner be withdrew. Would that all competitors were actuated by a like spirit.

Ike course was not in good order for fast work. All the competitors, particularly the scratch men, deserve greater consideration than they receive. In the 220 yards the turn into the straight is a vile one. This could easily be obviated by starting up the paddock a bit, and making a straight run—at an angle—to the 120 yard flag. Another very necessary alteration is toping off the finish into runs, so as to prevent jostling. The run in should also be staked off to prevent the spectators crowding in upon the course.

The running throughout the day was generally very close. Smith got a ralher easy victory in the Maiden, through Mcßae breaking away and then not being ready when the pistol was fired. The tables, were, however, turned in the final distance of the Handicap. In this Mcßae, who had 6yds with Smith, improved his handicap by quite 1); yards at the start and, getting off splendidly, won by under 1 incnes. Smith took advantage of the starter in the second heat of the Handicap, and than won with ridiculous ease. Hadfield ran very gamely, and had it not been for a mistake in the 4M would have won that event. He also ran very pluckily in the other distances, just defeating Morris by two inches for third place in the final. The mile was run very slowly, except the last 60 yards, Mcßae and Pov.eil making a des; erate finish, the Judge’s verdict being a dead heat, though it appeared Mcßae just breasted the tape m advance of Powell. Still it was close enough to be adjudged a tie.

Mr Barnett supplied excellent refreshments in abundance, and received well merited patronage, while Mr

Whitehouse did good business at a fancy stall. Particulars of the days’ proceedings are as follows : 1. 120 yards Maiden Foot Race, Ist prize £l, 2nd 10s. Entrance 2s 6d. E Smith won comfoitably, with G S Mcßae, who got away badly, second. C Wilson came thi’d. F Gibson, J Mclnnis and C Paap also started.

2. Boys’ Handicap, under 15 years, 100yds Ist prize 10s, 2nd ss. Entrance Is. II Smart, (3yds) won easily, wi’h T Cooke (9yds) second, F Haswell (Byds) 3rd. A Renner and A Morris also started. 3. New Year’s Handicap, £7 15s; 10s to winner of each heat. Ist prize £3, 2nd £2, 3rd £1 5s In caseofacompetitor winning .the first two events, he will be put back one yard from his handicap mark in the 3rd event. Nomination 2s 6d, acceptance 2s 6d. Ist heat 440 yards. P Morris, 30yds ... ... 1 G Hadfield,. 15yds ... ... 2 G S Mcßae) 18yds ... ... 3 F Close, J IV Davidson, C Wilson, A Maxton and D Haswell also started. E Smith stood out of this distance. Close, at scratch, got away indifferently, as also did ©avid-on. Hadfield soon began to go up and bad Maxton and Haswell settled before half the distance was traversed. Mcßae here also began to draw on the leaders, Davidson had just compounded, Close drawing up, but his case was hopeless. Morris got a big advantage at the turn into the ’straight, through knowing the course, Hadfield, followed by Mcßae, ran wide, mistaking a flag, and Morris, in the lead, got over 3 yards pull, in addition to his lead, as they ran home, this advantage enabling him to win by 9 feet, a bare 6 inches separating Hadfield and Mcßae, the latter coming very fast. 2nd Distance: 220yds. E Smith, 14yds 1 G S Mcßae, 12yds 2 P Morris, 15yds ... ... 3 Smith was very quickly in command, and he won by quite 3 yards, easily. Morris a very good third. 3rd Distance : 120 yards. G S Mcßae, 6yds ... ... 1 E Smith, 6yds ... ... 2 G Hadfield, 2yds ... ... 3 Mcßae jumped off with the lead, to Smith’s evideut surprise, and won by about 18 inches, Smith (gaining fast) second, Hadfield a wonderfully good third, with Morris just beaten out ot place. Mcßae buied bmilh a stood deal. Result of Handicap: G S Mcßae, 10 points ... 1 E Smith, 8 „ ... 2 P Morris, 7 ~ ... 3 A protest was lodged by Morris against Meßae-fuf-nev-efttertrig-rn time, and againstSmith for not starting in the 440. The first mentioned was dismissed. The management not being unanimous on the other point, -though dismissal of the protest was favored, it was decided to refer the question to the N.Z Ueferee. 4. Three Legged Race, Ist prize 10s, 2nd ss. Entrance Is. F Cox and F Gibson ... 1 F Close and J Mclunes ... 2 E Harmon and H Davidson ... 3

Smith and McKay and bmilh Bros, also started. About a dozen yards from home Cox and Gibson were at least a yard to tuc bad, but they came with a rush aud won, on the tape, by 6 inches ; like distance between 2nd and 3rd. 5 Running High Jump, Ist prize 10s, 2nd ss. Entrance Is. C Paap, 4ft 10, 1, Il Davidson, 4. 8,2. Four competitors. The altitude is questionable. 6. Boys’ Hop, Step and Jump (under 15), Ist prize 7s 6d, 2nd cs. Entrance Is.This event did not fill. 7. Hurdle Race, 6 flights, Ist prize 15s, 2nd ss. Entrance Is. F Close ... ... ... 1 II Smith .. ... ... 2 This was one of the most hotly contested events of the day. With eight entrants it was decided to run the race in two heats. H Smith, F Close, C Wilson and Harmon started in the first, which resulted in favor of Smith and Close, the former being first by about 6 inches. The second heat was equally close, F Gibson and E Smith gaining the places, from Hadfield and C Paap. For the final Close, 11 Smith, E Smith and 1* Gibson came to the post. The report of the pistol was followed by Close running right across F Gibson and E Smith, putting Close from outside to inside of ll Smith, between whom a fairly even jumping contest resulted, though 11. Smith had all the best of tue ” leppmg,” and be got over the last hurdle nearly 2 yards in advance of Close, who appeared so hopelessly out of the race that it would not have surprised anyone had he cut it. Instead of this, however, he came at a tremendous pace, aud, notwithstanding that Herb. Smith fouled him, obtained first place on

the post by a bare two inches, amidst great excitement, Close’s plucky effoit gaining him a round of applause. SlMvheei-barrow Race, Ist prize 10s, 2nd „ ss. Entrance la. H Smith ... ... 1

D Boydjnr. ... ... ... 2 1 bis event, 'described on the programme as a race, was really a blind-folded attempt to Wheel a barrow 50 yards in a straight : line to a given point. There were 7 en• trants, and as the various competitors, after having a thick handkerchief placed over their eyes and bound round their head, started on their short but erratic journey the Spectators were convulsed with laughter at the manner in which the men strayed from the straight path. The moral is left to the reader’s own deduction. 9. Old Men's Race (handicap), 50 and over. Ist prize 15s, 2nd ss. Entrance Is Only 2 entries. No race. 10. One Mile Handicap, Ist prize £1 15s„ 2nd 10s. Entrance 2s 6d. jG S Mcßae, scr ) Dead F Powell, scr J heat A Smith, 25yds ... 3 H Smith, 15 yds, started, and after trying to force the pace for one round, L mile, dropped out. Smith held the lead until 200 yards from home, where Powell assumed command, and Mcßae immediately after passed Smith, and in the straight made a race of it with Powell, getting home in the last two strides. A protest against Mcßae for not entering in time was dismissed. Mcßae and Powell agreed to divide. 11. Throwing the Hammer, Ist prize 10s Entrance Is. E Harmon, 89ft, ... ... 1 A Smith who was second, C Smith, B Topp and J McKay also competed. 12. Sack Race, Ist prize 10s, 2nd ss. En- ' trance Is. A W Renner ... ... 1 H Smart ... ... 2 C Prince and another started. The two lads, who took the places of their respective parents, made a grand finish. Both fell at the tape, but Renner got up first and breasted it. 13. 440yds for Boys’. L Clark, 16yds ... .. 1 B Jones, Syds ... ... 2 S Clark, scr 3 This brought out a field of over 20. Len Clerk ran surprisingly well and won rather easily, though Bert Jones also ran pluckily and gained second place easily. 14. Obstacle Race, Ist prize 15s, 2nd 7s 6d. Entrance Is. C Paap 1, F Powell 2. There were two other competitors, but one gave in early, and the other was too burly to get through thy'sscks. The event caused mnch amusement. 15. ’Vrestliijg (Cumberland), Ist prize £l,

second 10s. Entrance 2s 6u. E Harmon 1, A Smith 2. C Smith who did well last year, was out of form. Harmon had a fairly easy win, Mr B Topp acted as referree.

16. Consolation, 150 yards, Ist prize £l, 2nd 10s, 3rd ss. Entrance Is. J Davididson I, E Harmon 2, A Smith 3, Won by 3 yards easily.