THE STAR SPORTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8086, 17 April 1906, Page 3

THE STAR SPORTS.

The annual Easter Monday gathering, the Star Football Club's sports, were never so 'admirably managed, nor so interesting as yesterday's meeting. Favored by fine weather, the track—if track it can be called—was in the best condition that could be reached by such an uneven turf, and the attendance was good: The committee set themselves a big task when they drew a programme of twenty events—or, with heats, twenty-five events—to be run between 1.30 p.m. and -1.20 p.m. Yet, when the latter hour was reached, only the football place-kicking competition had to bo completed, this event taking some time owing to the big entry. This speaks volumes for the officials, whose arrangements all fitted so admirably that the day's sports progressed as evenly and regularly as a well-oiled piece of machinery. Every man seemed to know his work, from experience, and carried out his duties in an exemplary fashion. As a suggestion, it may be worth mentioning that a quarter of an hour is not a long spell for cyclists between their qualifying and final heats in a two-mile raco. Otherwise, there was little room for complaint. Toindiviiualisethc officials for mention would scarcoly be fair, except it be to compliment the secretary, Mr Everard Gilmour. The racing was good, perhaps the best seen for a long time in this district. A big surpriso was caused by W. G. Harding, a runner without performances, who won the Maiden (150 yards) flat, the Sheffield Handicap, of 120 yard*, the 220 yards, and tho quarter-mile handicap, with any amount to spare. The cyeling was good, and, to even the most critical observer, was clean. The riding of Hunt, of Marton, who gamely won the mile and two-mile events, was much admired, aud he would have had a say in tho three-mile event had the other back-markers helped him into position instead of retiring at about half-way. Wade ran him close in the Two Mile event, and, for a young rider, his sprint was a most praiseworthy piece of riding, and his determined "sticking" won him rounds of applause. Drake had hard luck in smashing the front part of his machine in the second round of the two-mile event. Only one protest was entered, against Pulford for alleged jostling in the Mile Handicap. The finishes for the most part were close, though the handicapper had failed to gauge the running powers of Harding. A pleasant feature was the excellent music supplied by the Military Band, urder Mr Conductor Garry. Messrs. Anj,us and Thomson had charge of the refreshment booth, and appeared to do good business. Among those present were Messrs. 2. M. Smith and W. T. Jennings, M.H.R.'s, the latter acting as judge, and scooping the prize in the Committee Race, over fifty yards. Details of the racing arc appended : Maiden Race, 120 yard*: G. Hardjjng 1, P. Burgess 2, 'K. Gibsou 3. Time, 10 1-5. Seven starters.

Half-mile Handicap: G. Pulford (45yds) 1, C. W. Eyan (50yds) 2. P. W. Griffiths (45yds) 3 A splendid .race. Pnlford and Eyan fought a good finish, but. Eyan had not enough condition. Time, 1.58. Seven starters.

Sheffield Handicap, 120 yards: First heat: S. Spence (12yds) 1, M.Ward (9yds) 2, W. Skally (10yds) 3. A close finish. Four starters, Time, tl 2-5. Second heat: W. Smith (llyds) 1, L. Stohr (7yds) 2. Five starters. Time, 12 1-5. Third heat; W. G. Harding (12yds) 1, A. J. O'Driscoll (llyds) 2, P. Burgess (12yds) 3. Five starters. Won easily. Time, 114-5. Final: W. G. Harding I, S. Spence 3, A. J. o'Driscoir3. Won somewhat easily. Time, 111-5. One Mile Bicycle Eace: First heat: J. T. Wade (120 yds) 1, S. H. Hunt (scr.) 2, 0. Manley (80yds) 3. Five starters. The scratch man had the field eaug'ut in the third lap. Time, 2.55. Second heat: B. A. Wan (70yds) 1, W. Whitaker (120 yds) 2, A. MePhail (10yds) 3. Five starters. An interesting rape, McPhail seemed to lose ground by endeavouring to lui',' the inside. Time, Bmin, Final t Hunt 1, Wade 2, ,Wan 3. This was a good race, but Host had thi»ss pretty much his own way, after catching his field one lap from home. Tunc, 2.58 4-5. Manchester Handicap, one mile: G. Pulford (65yds) 1, C. W. Eyan (100 yds) 2, R. Gibson (100 yds) 3. Six starters. The limit ma» was soou overhaul ;d, Ryan holding the lead for some time until collared by Pulford. A ncck-and-neck sprint half-a-lap from home gave Pulford a desided advantage, and Ryan's want of condition nearly cost him second money. A protest was entered against Pulford for crossing and jostling. Time, 4.34, Bicycle Handicap, two miles: First heat: A. L. McPhail (20yds) 1, J. T. Wade (220 yds) 2, W. Whitaker (220 yds) 3. Five started. The winner, who was the scratch man, got on even terms in the fifth lap, and went to the froat in the seventh, with two to go. The finish between second and third was exciting, second place being secured by a final sprint that was too much for Whitaker, Time Gmin 17 1-5 sec. Second heati 8, H. Hunt (scr) 1, C. A. Lambert (80yds) 2, J. Dravitzki (220 yds) 3. The scratch man was separated from Lambert, his next man, byißoyards, and the latter was ill). yards from the next. Lambert wore down ilie limit men, and was then beaten by Hunt, who took the lead a lap fro.a home. Time 6min 83 1-5 sec. Final: S. H. Hunt 1, J. T. Wade 2, C. Lambert 3. The back-markers were handy, at two laps from home, when Hunt shot out, taking the lead. Wade then.challenged, and took front place, but Hunt was equal to the occasion, and AVadc chased him home. Time fiinia 24sec.

220 Yards Handicap: First heat: W. G. Harding (20yds) 1, M. Ward I (15yds) 2, G. Monk (16yds) 3. Five started. Time 22sec. Second host; S. Spenee (20yds) 1, H. Kirkwood (22yds) 2, W. Skally (IGyds) 3. Time 21 2-5 sec. Final: W. G. Harding 1, h. Spenee 2, W. Skally 3. Time 21 2-5 see. Obstacle Race: D. Price 1, McQaay and McLean also utavled, A very amusing race. Boys' Bicycle Handicap, one mile: W. Roebuck (40yds) 1, H. Crockett (50yds) 2, S. D. George (scr) 3. i'ivc starters. Won easily. Time 3min 7see.

Bicycle Eaee, tUrep miles: B. A. Wan (200 yds) 1, 0. Manley (230 yds) 2, W. Whitaker (300 yds) 3. Six starters. MePhail (30yds) and Lambert (120 yds) fell out after lialf .a dozen laps, leaving the scratch, man—who had them beaten—alone and about 200 yards behind his field. Kext lap saw the placed men pedalling "on their own.' Wan and Manley fought the finish, but Whitakor was away behind. lime !)min 27 2-5 sec.

Caledonian Handicap, 110 yards: W. G. Harding (10yds) 1, C. W. Kyan ;iOyds) 2, H. Kirkwood (10yds) 3. Nine starteri. Won easily. Time 50 sec.

Forced Handicap. 220 yards: G. Monk (12yds) 1, Malone (20yds) 2, Cole 20yds) S. Time 22 2-5 sec. Place-Kicking: K. Pike 1. This event attracted about twenty entries. The winning kick was a good one, and several somewhat amusing attempts made up for lack of form amongst the other competitors.