AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5329, 26 April 1878, Page 7

AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS.

Patron; His Excellency the Governor,’ ’ President: Sir William Kitzberbert, K.O.MiG. Vice-presi-dents! (Ills Worship, tbo Alayor and Mr. Thomas Bucbanan.. Committee Messrs. E. - Davy, p.Shappere,. A. Cooper, J. Thomson, C. Major, C. Webb, F. Harrison, C. E; Welsh, and G. F. C. Campbell. ' ’■' i: ” ' The Wellington Athletic Club held their annual meeting on the Basin Reserve on Monday. 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 to 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 without 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 or 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. Monday’s music was very poor indeed. Cyrus Webb secured the championship of the club, belting O. 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 his best form. Johnston, who is also new to our ground, is a capital mile runner, and he has a 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 on even terms. Webb and Major well deserved their prizes. It was disappointing to see so small a field for the collegians’ 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, got the fields off well together. The time of some of the races may perhaps he questioned, hut it is that which was officially given. At. the conclusion of the sports Mrs. Dransfield presented the prizes, to the lucky winners ; Webb, to whose coat tho club medal was pinned, coming first. At the conclusion of the numerous-presentations three; hearty cheers were given for Mrs. Dransfield, and the gathering broke up. Capital order was preserved throughout the day, and there were no protests. 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, 29see. Hop, Step, and Jump.—o. Webb (37ft. 7i0.), 1; Hickson (37ft. 3in.), 2 ; J. Thomson, 0. Webb and Hickson made a close contest.

Club Championship (220yds.' handicap).— O. Webb, 1 ; Major, 2 ; Davy, 3. All started from scratch. Webb soon had a clear lead, and 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, 26min. 30scc. Long Jump.—O. Webb (16ft. Him), 1. The only other competitor was Hickson, who was unable to make Webb exert himself.

Collegians’ Handicap, 880yds.—A. Cooper (scratch), 1 ; GK Cooper (75yds.), 2. • F. Leckie (75yds.) and Ludwig (35yds.) also ran.' A Cooper had the race won at 300yds., and let the others keep with him on sufferance. At the’ finish his brother,' who beat the other boys very easily, made a capital spurt, and was beaten by about a foot. The pace was slow. Kb doubt the small field that competed for these prizes disappointed both the committee and the spectators. • . High Jump (open).— J. Thomson (Ift. 10in.), 1 Hickson (4ft. Oin.), 2. Two others competed. - Hurdle Handicap, 120yds.—Davy (scratch), 1 ; J. Thomson (6yds.), 2 ; A. B. Campbell (4yds.) 3. Thomson stumbled at the stayt 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, 18sec., 440 Yards Handicap (open to members of the Tradesmen’s Athletic Club only).—Woods (scratch), T; 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. Iseo. ■ Club Championship (300yds. handicap).— Webb (scratch), 1 ; Major (3yds.), 2; Shappere (12yds.), 3. Webb caught his opponents quickly, and although Major ran very placidly he could not regain the lead, and was beaten by a little more than a yard. Time, 34sed. Club, Championship (100yds. handicap).— Major (scratch), 1; O. 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, lljseo, , One Milo Handicap (open). ■ — Johnston (30yds.), 1; Berry (30yds.), 2; Moran (scratch), 3; Judd (scratch), 0. Judd began to lag behind immediately after the start. After they had gone a quarter it was evident that Johnston had the best chance of the race, for ho was going very strong and well. Perry, who ran in a rather cramped stylo and seemed soon to tire, kept pegging away.and although Moran bad got a lead of him put on a epurt

“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, aud at 90yds. looked like a winner, but unfortunately for him he stumbled and lost his chance. He was a good second. Time, llsec. Club Handicap, 600yds.—A. Cooper (25yds), 1; Major (scratch), 2; C. Webb (scratch), 3. At first it appeared that Cooper would run off with this race without being pushed. Webb fell back after they had gone 400yds, but Major 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. 29Jseo. Two Mile Walking Handicap (open).—J. Berry (scratch), 1 ; Zesoh (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 Zesoh, 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 au early stage of the contest. Time—First mile, 7min. 45sec.; total, 16min. 20seo. 1 Singlestick.—After some very rough’ and poor play, Somerville was declared to have won the first prize. Steeplechase, 880yds.—Davy (20yds.), 1 ; Wright. (20yds.), 2; Berry (20yds,), 3. J. Thomson (40yds.), A. Cooper, (40yds.), Hickson (40yda.), Shappere . (50yds.), also ran. : This face was from the hillock 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 fihead. ’ After Shappere came Hickson, Cooper, and Wright. Thomsou kept his lead to the ditch, into which he got first, but was dead heat,’and did not again show, in the /race. who had been going steadily, rushed at the ditch, cleared: it, and here showed 'in advance. ■ jumping; well and 1 running strong,, he kept ahead; Berry, for a time was second, • but suddenly dropped, bade, 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.’4ssec.

; HIBERNIAN SOCIETY’S SPORTS. ! The Wellington Hibernian Society held their second, annual gathering in Mr, Parker’s paddock at the Lower Hutt on Monday, The society, to the number of about 10.0,’ headed by their band, formed in procession in Boulcott street, and marched te the railway station, leaving by the 9.40 a.m. train. This was the, first public ■ appearance ■of . the band. The sports were well patronised by residents in the district and visitors from town. Although there had been no prearranged programme, • a series of events was got up, for which there was no lack of competitors. A ring was pegged out, and notwithstanding the rough nature of the ground the races; were run in very good time..... The maiden. r\ce : was -run in .three heats, Askew being, the winner, and Sievers second.. Several scratch matches at football were got, up. among, members of - the society, who were conspicuous by their green sashes, and there was kiss-in-the-ring for the young folk. During: the day the band played musical selections,: which tended in 'no small degree to enliven the gathering. The Right Reverend Bishop Redwood was presentduring a » portion ,of the day. The following are the winners . of the various events;— • . .

■ Maiden! Race.—Askew, 1 ; Sievers, 2, In the first, heat, Askew was first and Farley second ; in the second heat Sievers was first and Morris second,: aud in the third heat, Askew was first and Sievers second.

Boys’ Rape.—McKenzie, 1. There were four competitors. ... Running Hop) Step, and Jump.—O’Sullivan, 1, - There were nine entries,' Sullivan covering 38ft.

Hibernian Handicap, 250yds.—Fox, 1 ; S. Driver, 2 ; Morris, 3. Irish Jig aud. Reel.—J. O’Sullivan and J. Kelleher equal. ! There were six entries, and the prize money was divided.« Hibernian Handicap, 100yds.—Fox, 1 ; J. Morris, 2 ; Simpson, 3. Rutting tbe Stone.-—R. Daly 1, Walsh 2. Hibernian Handicap, 400 yards.—Simpson, 1; Brighton, 2; Morris 3. The sports were brought to a termination in time to allow the visitors from town to return by the 5.15 train.