ANNUAL SPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6507, 4 January 1882, Page 6

ANNUAL SPORTS.

ELLESMERE. These popular Sports were held on Monday last, on the Recreation Reserve between Leestou and Soulhbridgo. The weather was beautifully fine, and the attendance was much larger than on former occasions, there being nearly 2000 parsons present. The programme comprised sixteen events, which were all well contested t but wo arc sorry to say the arrangements made for carrying out the programme wore not first-class. On former occasions the Committee have visited the course on the previous day to arrange matters, but this year Mr Bishop was the only representative present on Saturday, and to him is duo the credit for haying done all that could be done without assistance. The great event of Urn day was the Trotting Race, which brought out a field of eight horeos out of 14 nominations. The running course for the athletic events was rather rough j and now that the sports are so thoroughly established, it should be properly formed and laid off. Host Spring, of the Looston Hotel, presided over the publican’s booth in his.usual stylo of excellence. There were also several refreshment booths. Appended is the prize-list, viz Quoit Match.—Cummings, 1; John Small, 2 j S. 0. Doyle, 3. 100 Yards Baoo (Handicap), open to allcomers.—R. Young (sijda), 1; 0. Willis (4yds), 2 ; M. Dickie (3yds), 3. Eleven started for this race, and all oamoin together, Young winning by a few Inches only. Maiden Hemps Bach ; 1 mile. Horses to have been in the district three months previous to race; to be the bond fide property of residents in the district. No horse having won an advertised first prize qualified to enter. Catch weights. Three entries or no race. Mr F. M'Evedy’s Fython colt, 3yw (Smith) 1 Mr 8. Lemon’s Fair Nell, by Python (Webster) 2 Mr W. Pearce’s Barb (Owner) 3 Three others started, but the Python colt led the whole way round, winning easily by about five lengths. 440yds Handicap Hurdle Race, Open to all comers. 8 flights of hurdles, 3 feet 6 inches high. J. W. Storry (sor), 1; M. Dickie (10yds), 2 ; 0. GK Soett (syds), 3; Drayton (9yda), 4. The four got away to a good start, but Storry won easily. Running Long Jump (handicap). H. Corbett (Sin) (18fb 10in), 1; J. H. Doyle (10in) (18ft Sin), 2; M. Dickie (llin) (18ft sm), 3. 1 Mile Handicap Race. Three entries or no race. Winner may take Cup or money. 0. Pearce (33yds), 1; W. Treaves (30yds), 2; GK Palmer (6yds), 3. There were ten entries for this event, and it was very pluokily won by PearceVaulting with Pole. 0. Prankish (Bft 9in), 1; Philip (Maori), and Keande (Bft Sin), 2. Hack Hurdle Race, li miles (about). District horses. Three entries or no grace. Weights, not less than lOit. Mr Lewis’Albion, ... ... (Sheehan) 1 Mr Bryan’s Maori Jane ... (Owner) 2 Mr Woodman’s Forsaken ... (Owner) 3

Forsaken led most of the way round, but Albion passed him on entering the straight, and won by half a length. 220yds Face (handicap). M. Dickie (6yds), 1; H. Corbett (2yds), 2 j T. Milne (6yds), 3. T. Young (4yds) also ran, but Dickie maintained his lead throughout. Running High Jump. T. Willis (sft), 1; 0. G. Scott (4ft llin), 2. Drayton and Dickie also competed. 440yds Race (handicap). M. Dickie (lOyde), 1; J. W. Storry (3yds), 2; H. Corbett (6yds), 3. Dickie held the lead throughout, and won by about two yards. Ellesmere Grand Handicap Trotting Race; a sweepstakes of £2, viz., £1 nomination and £1 acceptance, with £lO added ; for horses the bond fide property of residents in the Ellesmere Bond Board District; to have been located not less than' three months previous to Jan. 1, 1882. Horses to be ridden in saddle only. Distance, 3 miles. Ho weight under lOst 71b. Mr Spring’s ch m Jess, 30yds 1 Mr Dobbin’s b m Dairy Maid, 125yds ... 2 Mr Smithson’s cmy Taffy, 100yds ... 3 Mr George’s b m Psyche, 300yds 4 This was the great'event of the day. There were 14 nominations for the race, but only eight started. Psyche held her lead well till the last round, when she shied and broke, losing fully sixty yards. Jess ran third -till within half a mile from home, when she passed Taffy, and then ran a neok-and-neck race with Dairy Maid, passing her by only half a neck on the post. Immediately after the race Mr George entered a protest against Jess to the effect that she broke and did not turn. A Committee meeting was held on the ground. The referees stated, that she did not break, and the protest was disallowed. 880 Yards Race (handicap). Alex. Maoleod, 1; O. Scott, 2. Horse Race, one mile and a half. Open to all district horsesj ten stone up; three entries or no race. Ellesmere Jockey Club rules. Mr R. Bryan’s Lady Ellen... 1 Mr B. Bryan’s Lady Caledon 2 Three others also Started, but strange to say they all went off the course. Probably the Committee will make some inquiries about it. Consolation Hack Race. Half a mile. Mr Bell’s Orange Peel 1 Mr Frankish’sSquattereas... 2 Consolation Baoe, 150yds (handicap). G. Droyton (SJyds), 1; H. Young (sor), 2; W. Woods (6Jyds), 3.

OXFORD. The annual sports were Held on Monday in a paddock of Mr Meyer, kindly lent for the occasion. The weather was really fine, though a little too hot in the early part of the day. Towards the afternoon a oooi wind sprang up from the south-east, and made the temperature very pleasant. It was decided to hold the sports more in the centre of the district this year, with a view to make them more popular, but this had not the desired effect, as the attendance was smaller than usual. The attractions of the day were neither varied nor many; the want of a band of music to enliven the proceedings was much felt; and the whole affair was rather dull. The only excitement of the day was the tug of war between members of the Orders of Druids and Oddfellows. The pull was a long one and a strong one, but the Oddfellows were successful in pulling the Druids over the line. The rope, a very strong one, was broken at the first attempt, but after being tied again it stood the test. The Committee, the honorary Secretary (Dr Roes), and the honorary Treasurer (Mr Sodoole), deserve great credit for the untiring energy they displayed during ho day in getting the events off. The arrangements of the Committee wore much better than on any former occasion, the ground being nicely arranged and laid off. Their efforts certainly should have induced a larger attendance. The prizes, as » rule, wore rather small, but a few of the events had a sum added to the amounts advertised in the programme. The competition in most of the events was very good, the results being as follows: — Boys’ Race, under 14 (100yds). First prize, 7s 6d ; second, 2s fid. Five entries. — J. Sinclair, 1; S. Keats, 2. Men’s Race (100yds). First prize, £1; second, lOe. Five entries,—J. Atkinson, 1; W. Church, 2. Boys' Bttoe, under 18 (100yds). First prize, 15s j second, 7s fid. Five entries.—A. M’Laugblan, 1; F. Knowles, 2; A. Lee, 8. Boys* Race, under 14 (220yds). First prize, 7s fid j second, 2s fid. Four entries.— A. Sinclair, I j J. Truman, 2. Girls’ Race (100yds), First prize, 6s j second, 2s; third, Is. Seven entries.— Ginivan, 1; Wilke, 2; Duder, 3. Men’s Race, handicap (220yds). First prize, £1 j second, 10s, Throe entries.—W. Church, 1 1 J. Atkinson, 2.

Boys’ Race, under 18 (220yde), First prize, 15s; second, 7s fid. Four entries.— A. M'Langhlan, 1; H. Odgiers, 2. Boys’ Sack Race, under 14 (150yds). First prize, 7s 6d ; second, 2s fid. Three entries. —G. Byde, 1 j H. Eyde, 2, Men's Race, handicap (quarter-mile). First

prize, 25s i second, 10*. Si* sntriw.—J. Atkinson, I )l. Keats, 2, n _ Egg and Spoon Race. Snte, 10*. Four entries.—W. Church, 1. . , Running High Jump. First prize, olook ; second, ss. Four ontrie*. —H. Feary, 1j B feary, 2. Boys’ Baoo, under 18 (quarter mile.) First prize, 16* ; second, 6s. Four entries.—A, Lee. 1 1 B. M'Laughlan, 2. Boys’ Three-legged Baoo, under 14 (100yds). First prize, 6s s second, Bs. Four entries,- GK Hyde and F. Tigg*, 1 j J. T, Perhatn and T. M’Grath, 2. Men’s Hurdle Race, handicap (quartermile). First prize, 80s; second, 10s. Four entries.—W. Church, 1; A. Leo, 8. Tug of War (10 or 12 a side), Druids v. Oddfellows. Prize, £2,—Oddfellows. Vaulting with Polo. Frst prize, 16s; second, 6s. Two entries.—W. Church, 1. _ One Milo Walking Race, handicap. First prize, 80* j second, 10«. Four entries.-—H. Feary, 1; E. Bockor, 2. Pig Hunt.—J. W. Lee. Patting Stone. Prize, 10s. —James Clark. Ono Mile Race, handicap. First prize, 80s j second, 10s, Nine entries.—GK Gibbs, 1 1 8. Keats, 2. Trotting Race, round Block. Firat prize, 80s; second, bridle.—J. Knowles’ Medora, 1; W. Mash’s Kitty, 2. Quoit Match. Sweepstake of 2s 6d, 6s added as prize. Six entries.—B. Fisher.

SKFXON. This rising township entered the lists on Monday with reference to athletic sports. Th gathering was an impromptu one, and owing to the various attractions both north and sonth, a number of the inhabitants of the township and surrounding district were unavoidably absent through previous engagements. Nevertheless, there was a remarkablo good sample of health, strength, and beauty on the ground, and from the general feeling it wps evident that a unanimous rote was recorded that next year a suitable day shall be appointed, and a good programme placed before tho general public, with a view loan enjoyable holiday for both old and young. An amateur Band, composed of old and new Volunteers, contributed to the enlivenment of tho gathering, and it was exceedingly amusing to see with what esprit de corps many of the oldest identities joined in the fun. The programme was Boys’ Race, over 12 (200yds.) First heat. —F. Prosser, 1; F. Furgeson, 2. Second heat —D. Furgeson, I ; A. Binnie, 2. Girls’ Race (200yds).—Mary Furgeson, 1; Mary Board, 2 ; Grace Carr, 8. Boys’ Race (200yds), final heat.—J. Binnie, 1 ; J. Wilson, 2 ; J. Roberts, 3. Boys’ Race (150yds.)—W. Prosser, 1; H. Carr, 2. ■ Girls’ Race.—Clara Phillips, I; Carolina Doon, 2. Girls’ Race (160yds).—M. Beard, 1; Lizzie Phillips, 2. Three-legged Baoe, boys (200yds).—T. Prosser, and S. Beard, 1; J. Proseer, and F. Beard, 2. Ladies’ Baca (200yds).—Mrs Lewis, 1; Mrs Wilson, 2; Mrs Atyeo, 3. Men’s Race (250yds.)—J. Stewart, 1} E. Skillen, 2. Committee’s Race, married men (200yds.) —O. H. Pemberton, 1; James Furgeson, 2. Boys’ Race (200yds).—Douglas Pemberton, 1; P. Binnie, 2. Men’s Race (200yds),—S. Croft, 1; W. Atyeo, 2. High Jump, boys.—Thomas Prosser, I; J. Beard, 2. • Men’s Race (200yds), —R. Lewis, 1; J. Steward, 2. At the conclusion of the sports the assemblage marched from tho grounds to the township, two deep, headed by tho Amateur Band, and in charge of au old volunteer captain. “God Save the Queen’’ was played, and good wishes for future prosperity, and mutual congratulations, wound up tho proceedings.