THE ATHLETIC CLUB.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4393, 19 April 1875, Page 3

THE ATHLETIC CLUB.

The sports remaining from the Easter Monday meeting were run off on Saturday at the Basin Deserve, in presence of about 600 people. Dux-ing the afternoon the ground presented a brisk appearance, the intervals between the events being enlivened by an array of footballers, who, being provided with the necessary materia], kept up the leather-hunting pursuit with evident zest, the weather being rather seasonable for the pastime. The grand stand was not so extensively patronised as inidit have becn expected, though late in the afternoon the ladies did put in an appearance in numbers sufficient to indicate an interest in the proceedings of tne club. The arrangements, however, were not calculated to sustaiu the prestige gained by the club at its opening meeting. The running circle was stalled off, but there were no ropes to keep the public at a respectful distance from the runners, and in the straight races the committee made no effort to keep the people from crowding in at the finish. The consequence was that while the hurdle race was being run the spectators clustered round the last hurdle, and were barely out of the way when the runners came up to it, although tlxere were forty yards of the race still to be nxn. It happened that the race was an exceedingly slow one, else there must have been some difficulty, as the people could not have got out of the way in time to allow the men to pass. The public were also disappointed in the number of competitors that came to the post in each of the events. As many as thirteen competitors were entered in most of them, but in some unaccountable manner the fields dwindled down to six, five, and four ; and, a greater objection still, some of those who did start, did not appear in the published handicaps at all. This latter irregularity would not be permitted in a regatta boat race, and ought not to he allowed at an athletic competition. The deduction from these remarks is that, if the club becomes regardless of appearances at scratch meetings they are just as likely to relapse into forgetful laxity at the recognised annual meeting. Of Saturday’s racing there is not much to be said, except that it confirmed the opinion that the “ youthful ” Webb will turn out to be one of the fastest runners in the province. Hedley, a new man, was not in sufficiently good trim to meet Webb on the terms announced by the handicapper, though he ran the quarter-mile race well, and would have won it but for want of condition. Bishop only ran in the hurdle race, and, of course, won it, in the absence of A. Campbell, who was the only member ot the club likely to make a race of it. Harrison, who has hitherto been classed amongst the “muffs,” for once, shook off his association with these distinguished persons, and ran a splendid half-mile race with W. Skellie. Skellie was a little the worse for his previous efforts, having already ran three races within a very short time, hut he is a good half-miler, and it was never thought to he possible that Harrison could live with him. To counterbalance this it must he stated that although Harrison had 16 yards given him, Skellie had so much the best of the start that he was within three yards of Harrison before the latter moved off his mark. For the first quarter the pace was moderate, but from this point Harrison pushed Skellie every inch of the ground, and only lost the race by six inches. Both were loudly cheered at the finish. The races were run in the following order : 300yds. race. C. Webb (7yds.) 1 Harrison (12yds.) ... ... ... 2 Hedley (scratch), W. Skellie (5 yards), Lynch (7 yards), Major (10 yards), Minifie (12 yards), and McLean also ran, A very good start was effected ; but before fifty yards had been got over Hedley passed Skellie, and went in hot pursuit of the youngsters in the front, who held their own very well until the hack of the course was reached, where Hedley went past them one by one. Want of condition, however, began to tell at about 250 yards, and Hedley fell off, leaving Webb and Harrison to finish first and second. Webb was six yards in front of Harrison, and Harrison four yards in front of Hedley. The time was not taken. IOOYDfi, KACE. 0. Webb (4yds.) 1 Major (4yds.) ... ... 2 W. Skeilio (2 yards), Lynch (3 yards), Baker and Churton (6 yards), also started. All got away pretty well together, and a very fast race resulted. Churton “ worried it” gamely all through, but failed to get nearer than third. Webb and Major had a splendid set-to from the start, and _ finally Webb breasted tho tape six inches in front. The others were very close up, Churton being only a foot behind Major. 440yds. race. G. Webb (10 yds.) 1 Hedley (scratch) 2 Skellie (scratch), Lynch (9 yards), Churton (14 yards), and Minifie also started. Tlxo start gave no advantage to any of tho competitors. Immediately they wore set going Skeilio speedily went to work, and cut down the field at such a pace that he looked like the

winner from the'first. Hedley, on the ran a waiting race and persistently remained in the rear until the last 100 yards, when he gave them the go-by one by one, but never could get on level terms with Webb, who won easily by four yards. Lynch, from whom great things were expected, “ caved in ” at 300 and, fell out of the race. Churton, on the other hand, ran gamely as ever, and repassed Skellie, with whom he seemed to vie for honors. After a final spurt with Hedley he finished third, “ all in pieces," as a by-stander put it. 150 Yards Hurdle Race. Bishop (scratch) 1 McLean ... ... ... ... 2 Major (9yds.), Baker (10yds.), and Churton, started. The race was a trot all the way. Bishop was never pushed and won as he liked. Half-Mile Race. Skellie (scratch) 1 Harrison (16yds.'... ... ... 2 Churtou (18yds.), and Minifie (22yds.), also started. Minifie and Churton were speedily out of it., the race being in reality a match between Skellie and Harrison. Skellie picked up about 14 yards at the start, the other three being in doubt as to whether it was a start or not. While they hesitated Skellie was on the move, and finally they all went away. Of course Skellie was not long in getting to the front, aud after going about a quarter of a mile Minifie and Churton were missing from the scene, Skellie aud Harrison being left to try conclusions. Eor the next 300 yards Skellie was not troubled much by his antagonist in the rear, but from this point Harrison made repeated attempts to get past, but failed on account of the sharpness of the turns. He was nevertheless not to be shaken off, and tried it on to the last yard, being beaten on the post by only a few inches. Harrison’s running was greatly admired for its neatness and his plucky endeavors to pass Skellie, and at the conclusion of the race both were loudly cheered., A consolation race concluded the day’s sports.