AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5326, 23 April 1878, Page 2

AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS.

Patron: His Excellency the Governor. President; Sir William Kitzherbert, K.O.M.G. Vice-presi-dents : His Worship the Mayor and Mr. Thomas Buchanan. Committee: Messrs. E. Davy, P. Shappcre, A. Cooper, J. Thomson, C. Major, C. Webb. F.. Harrison, C. R. Welsh, and G. F. C. Campbell.

The Wellington Athletic Club held their annual meeting on the Ba«in Deserve yesterday. Until 3 o’clock the attendance was small, but it then increased considerably, though at no time were the sports so well patronised as they deserved tu be, for the club had arranged a capital programme, and the liberal prizes had caused, good entries. The committee managed everything very well, and got through the .events in excellent time. They, however, brought the meeting to a close with®ut:running the consolation race, and this was all the better, for it enabled people to get away in proper time. It is to be feared that the club will lose considerably, for although, many prizes had been presented for competition, the committee laid out a round sum in cups, and the other expenses mount up to an important total. For instance the band cost £ls, an amount which might be saved without , lessening the, attractiveness of the gathering or the enjoyment of the spectators. Yesterday’s music was very poor indeed. Cyrus Webb secured the championship of the club, beating C. Major by one point. This was very close work, and had Major managed to beat Cooper in the 600 yards race he would have secured the championship medal Webb had two firsts, one second, and one third; and Major one first and three seconds; the points being 15 to 14. One of the features of the meeting was Davy’s performance in the 880 yards steeplechase, which he won in excellent style. Berry proved himself, a very good walker and a fair runner. It will take a smait walker to beat him from scratch when he is in hia best form. Johnston, who is also new to our ground, is a capital mile runner, and he has cool and easy way of getting over the ground, indicative of his having run many a long race. He will trouble our best mile runners if they give him any start,- and : his form yesterday was so good that it would not be at all surprising if he could hold his. own with any of them oh even terms. Webb and Major well deserved their prizes. It was disappointing to see so small a field for thejcollegians’ race, and it is strange that the heads of the school ■ should only have one representative. However Cooper sustained the honor of his form by winning with ease, and afterwards running first for the the 600 yards race. Campbell, who was starter, get the fields off well together. The time of some of the races may perhaps be questioned, but it is that which was officially given. At the conclusion of the sports Mrs. Drausfield presented the prizes to the lucky winners ; Webb, to whose coat the club medal was pinned, coming first. At the conclusion- of the numerous presentations three hearty cheers were given for Mrs. Dransfitld, and the gathering broke up. ' Capital order was preserved throughout the day, and there were no protest*.

A report of the various, events is given below ; Hurdle Race, 220yds.—Shappere, 1 ; A. Cooper, 2 ; G. Wright, 0. Shappere won. after a good race with Cooper. Time, 29sec. Hop, Step, and Jump.—C. Webb (37ft. 7iu-), 1; Hickson (37ft. 3in.), 2 ; J. Thomson, 0. Webb aud Hickson made a close contest. Chib Championship i(22oyds. handicap).— C. Webb, 1 ; Major, 2 ; Davy, 3. All started from scratch. Webb soon had a clear lead, aud without being pushed ran in a winner by Byds. Davy at one time seemed likely to secure second place, but Major shook him off. Time, 26miu. 30scc. Long Jump.—C. Webb (15ft. Him), 1. The only other competitor was Hickson, who was unable to make Webb exert himself. Collegians' Handicap, 880yd*.—-A. Cooper (scratch), I; G. Cooper (75yds.), 2. F. Leckie (75yds.) and Ludwig (35yds.) also ran. A Coojier had the race won at 300yds., aud let tile others keep with him on sufferance. At the finish his brother, who heat the other boys very easily, made a capital spurt, and was beaten by about a foot. The pace was slow. No doubt the small field that compered for these prizes disappointed both the committee and the spectators. High Jump (open). —J. Thomson (4ft. lOic.j, 1 ; Hickson (4ft. 9in.), 2. Two others competed. Hurdle Handicap, 120yds.—Davy (scratch), 1 ; J. Thomson (6yds.), 2 ; A. B. Campbell (4yds.) 3. Thomson stumbled at the start and lost a couple of yards. Davy quickly passed Campbell, who when second fell at the last hurdle, leaving Davy a very easy winner. Time, ISsec. 440 Yards Handicap (open to members of the Tradesmen’s Athletic Club only).—Woods (scratch), 1; Moran (Byds.), 2; Judd (scratch), 3. The tale of this race is simply told. Woods went to the front and stopped there. Judd was a long way behind. Time, Imin. Isec. Club Championship (300yds. handicap).— Webb (scratch), 1; Major (3yds.), ,2;'Shappere (12yds.), 3. Webb caught his’opponents quickly, and although Major ran very pluckily he could not regain the lead, and was beaten by a little mote than a yard. Time, 3 isec.

Club Championship (100yds. handicap).— Major (scratch),. 1; C. Webb (scratch), 2; J. Thomson (4yds), 3. Major and Webb soon caught Thomson. They ran together for a short distance, when Major got in front and won a good race by a yard. Time, HJseo. One Mile Handicap (open). Johnston (60yds.), 1; Berry (80yds.), 2; Moran (scratch), 3- Judd (scratch), 0. Judd began to lag behind immediately after the start. After they had goue a quarter it was evident that Johnston had the best chance of the race, for he was going very strong and well. Berry, who ran in a rather cramped style and seemed soon to tire, kept pegging away, and although Moran had got a lead of him put on a spurt and ran in second. Johnston won by 40yds. Time, 4min. 56sec. 100 Yards’ Handicap (open). —Mitchell ■(lyd.), 1 ; Major (scratch), 2 ; Freeman (scratch), 3. J. Thomson (4yds.) also ran. This was a very good race for 90 yards. Mitchell, who started at a great pace, soon had a commanding lead, but Major began to overhaul him, and at 90yds. looked like a winner, but unfortunately for him he stumbled and lost his chance. He was a good second. Handicap, 600yds.-A. Cooper (25yds), 1: Major (scratch), 2; C. Webb (scratch), 3. At first it appeared that Cooper would run <.ff with this race without being pushed. Webb fell back afterthey had gone 400yds,butMnjor gave chase to Cooper, and gradually overhauled but could not quite catch him. Cooper won a well run race by 2yds ; Webb walked in third. Time, Imiu. 294 sec. . Two Mile Walking Handicap (open).—J. Berry (scratch), 1 ; Zeach (50yds.), 2; John Moran (50yds. >, 0. This proved a gift to Berry. Although he walked very stiffly at first, he gradually improved in style and pace, and eventually won by 100yds. from Zesch, who never can make a walker unless he changes his style. At the finish Berry put on a capital spurt, and showed what he could do Moran, who was suffering from a sprained ancle, was compelled to stop at an early stage of the contest. Time —First mile, 7min. 4osec.; total, 16min. 20sec. Singlestick.—After some very rough and poor play, Somerville was declared to have won the first prize. Steeplechase, SSOyds.—Pavy (20yds.), I ; Wright (20yds.), 2 ; Berry (20yds.), 3. J. Thomson (40yds.), A. Cooper, (40yds.), Hickson (40yds.), Shappere (50yds.), also ran. This race was from the hillock opposite the stand, then round the course, over the ditch, across the hillock, over the ditch again, and home. There were numerous hurdles, and the course was a severe one, the ground being very rough in places. Thomson cut out the running at a good pace, led over the ditch, followed by Shappere, and passing the stand was a long way ahead. After Shappere came Hickson, Cooper, and Wright. Thomson kept his lead to the ditch, into which he got first, but was dead beat, and did not again show in the race. Davy, who had been going steadily, rushed at the ditch, cleared it, and here showed in advance. Jumping well and running strong, be kept ahead. Berry for a time was second, but suddenly dropped back, and was passed by Hickson and Wright. After crossing' the ditch the last time, Davy had a long lead, which he increased, winning by 30 yards, Wright, 2nd; Berry, 3rd; Shappere, 4th; and Cooper, sth. Time, 3min. 45seo.