ATHLETIC MEETING.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 21 March 1927, Page 3

ATHLETIC MEETING.

SPEEDY WHIPPETS TN ACTIOX. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. Th'e excellent attendance at the North Otago Caledonian Society's sports meeting at the Showgrounds on Saturday was no douht largely due to the Solciety's initiative in making provision on the programme for several whippet races, sport that has proved extremely popular in other centres and which had hitherto not heen witnessed in North Otago. The spectators wero compelled to view the events froih outside the grandstand which was not available on acount of recent painting operations. The officers of the Caledonian Society had everything well in liand, their past experience in such matters enabling the afternoon's sport to be bronght to a successful issue. The remarkable speed of the whippets was early evident, the first heat (110yds) in which the dogs took part being cut out in 7 4-5 secs, and the second in a fifth of a seieond less. There was then a good deal of conjecture as to how a loeal sprinter ,conceded a liberal handicap, would fare in a special match race that had heen arranged. A. A. Cameron was to have tried his paces against a whippet, but he was xmable to take the field and T. Hepburn agreed to have a go. The distance was 100 yards and Hepburn was placed on the 37 yards mark, Young Argyle and a pacemaker taking their positions on scratch. The trio away well togeth- j er and at 70 yards Hepburn still ! had a commanding lead, but the.j dogs quickly overhauled him and j passed the post with five or six i yards to spare. It was a clear de- j monstration of the relative speeds j of man and dos with the honours !

decidedly in favour of the latter. The dogs were also seen in action over hurdles which were cleared with remarkable ease. In catering for the ladies the Society made a step in the right direction, the two sprint events being well patronised. Chief interest ceni tred in the 75 yards championship ! which was won by Miss J. McDoni ald, a youthful Dunedin runner who j later annexed the 100 yards handi- | cap from scratch in ISsecs. The 100 j yards open went to T. Hepburn, j who narrowly defeated I. Cameron j and the half-mile proved a good i thing for May. The numerous entries for the Directors' Handicap necessitated the running of four heats one of which resulted in three of the performers dead-heating for first place. The final was a spirited contest hetween G. Craig and J. D. Forbes who breaste.d the tape together. During the afternoon the Municipal and Regimental Bands . contributed a number of choice selections, the former comhination also giving an exhibition of the contest quickstep. Following are the results: — 100 Yards' Handicap (open). — First heat: T. C. Plepburn (5yds) 1, 1. Cameron (7yds) 2. Second heat: J. May (8$yds) 1, S. Neeve (8£yds) 2. Final: Hepburn 1, Cameron 2. The two plaoed men fought out an excellent finish, the former getting the verdict by inches. Time, 10 4-5 secs. 220 Yards' Handicap (youth under 18. — L. Park (18yds) 1, M. Sullivan (11yds) 2,. I. Cameron (scr) 3. Time 24 4-5sec. 110 Yards Whippet Handicap (open)-rFirst heat: J. Williamson's Cayenne (8yds) 1, J. John's Tinker Toy (12yds) 2. Time, 7 4-5seO. Second heat: V. Drake's Molly (12yds) 1, A. B: L. Smith's Young Pepper (10yds) 2. Time, 7 3-5secs. Final: Molly 1, Young Pepper 2, Cayenne 3. Time, 8 sec. 75 Yards' North Otago Championship (ladies). — First heat: Miss J. McDonald (Dunedin) 1, Miss M. Ramsay 2. Time, lOsec. Second heat: Miss M. Wilson 1, Miss H, Campbell 2. Time, 10 3-5sec. Final: - Miss McDonald r,r,j [«%»•, 1 Miss Campbell .. .- r.:.. 2 Won with ease. Time, lOsfecs. 75 Yards' Directors' Handicap. — First heat: G. Craig (scr) 1, A. W. Moss (3yds) 2. Second heat: G. P. Gerrie (5yds), T. Stephens (5yds) and D. Burns (8yds) dead heat, 1. Third heat: J. D. Forbes (scr) 1, W. Sparks (scr) 3. Fourth heat: R. B. Meek (6yds) 1, J. S. DufF (7yds) 2. Final: Craig and Forbes (dead heat) 1. 110 Yards Hurdle Handicap, Whippets — First heat: A. H. Forbes' Laughing Eyes (11yds) 1, A. B. L. Smith's Young Pepper (10yds) 2. Time, 9 2-5sec. Second heat: J. John's Captain Comedy (9yds) 1, J. Owen's Midget (7yds) 2. Time, 9 1-5 secs. Final: Captain Comedy 1, Midget 2. Time, 9 secs. 100 Yards Handicap, ladies. — First heat: Miss J. McDonald (scr) 1 Miss M. Ramsay (2yds) 2. Time, 13 secs. Second heat: Miss H. Campbell (scr) 1, Miss D. Dodds (3yds) 2. Time, 13 2-5secs. Third heat: Miss M. Wilson (2yds) 1, Miss B. Campbell (3yds) 2. Final: Miss J. McDonald 1, Miss M. Wilson 2. Time, 13secs. 880 Yards Handicap, open. — J. May (40yds) 1, W. Diver (50yds) 2, D. W. Blyth (45yds) 3. Time, 2min 11 4-5sec.