CHRISTMAS SPORTS AND RACES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 441, 30 December 1868, Page 2

CHRISTMAS SPORTS AND RACES.

THIRD DAT. The Westport Christmas sports and races were resumed yesterday under circumstances as favourable for their success as on either of the two pi'eceding days. The weather, which is necessarily an important consideration, has indeed been most propitious since the very beginning of the sports. A more fortunate selection of days could hardly have been made out of the whole year, and should a break in the weather now occur before the finish, he would be an ungrateiul and greedy man who would complain. If there is room for comparison, the weather yesterday was, if anything, more favourable than on any of the nrerious •diva. It rained hard enough, in all

conscience, during the night, but this was rather fortunate than otherwise, for it rendered the race-course more firm and fit for running, the sandy sod of which even its best parts are composed being at no time particularly solid. And although there was a slight shower or two during the day, they only had the effect of giving variety to the scene by moving the crowd to take occasional shelter, and, by that same fact, they had probably also a beneficent influence upon the receipts of the booth-holders. The rain was at no time so heavy or so frequent asto interfere with any of the sports, and there were no interruptions to the programme other than those which were under human control ; and we imagine the Committee are human, and therefore fallible. It may be said, indeed, that the committee —or rather the stewards and judges—were yesterday more innocent of losing time, and of infringing upon people's patience, than on the two first days. There is one particular, however, in which the superintendents of the sports might improve their managemanfc. In announcing a sport, their first work should be to form a ring and then bring their competitors to the ground. The advantage of this was seen in the case of the wrestling, which was visible to all, and more visible than sensitive people might care about. The disadvantage of the opposite was illustrated in the case of the flat jumping, which is always an interesting sport, and which was invisible to those who did not secure a front place in the small ring formed, or who had not an advantage of others in length of leg. The crowd attracted by the sports was not quite so numerous as on Monday, but it was very little less so, and there were many new faces—those of visitors from Charleston, Addison's Flat, and from the terraces to the North. The town itself appeared almost equally deserted as on Monday, and in the conveyance of people to and from the course, Cobb and Co's six-iu-hand and Mr Jones's three-in-hand were all day actively employed. The Grand Stand seemed to be, if anything, a more general place of resort than on the previous days, and there was a considerably larger number of ladies, exemplary by their patience in remaining in their seats, while their lords or lovers were restlessly flitting about, book in hand, and with many excellent, though not always correct, notions in their heads as to the winning horse. The interior of the Grand Stand was, in fact, by the increased number of the young and fair, a very pleasing feature in what was altogether a pretty picture. It would, indeed, be difficult to find a course with more picturesque surroundings, seen as it was yesterday, with tj»e blue-tinted hills behind, with the immediate back-ground of very variegated foliage, and with the sea in front—perhaps our readers will oblige by finishing the sentence for themselves according to their individual taste. To help them we may say that it looked very blue, but so also did those who dropped sweepstakes on Selim when, he came in light-weight; and, by some unfortunate association of ideas, the sea, and Selim, and sweepstakes are so mixed up in our recollection of the events of the day, that in referring to the sublime we might realise the ridiculous.

"WRESTLING in the Devonshire or Cornish style was the first game of the day. It is not quite such a pleasing description of sport as the Cumberland style of wrestling, and it occupies a considerable space of time before a decision can be arrived at, but it was witnessed

yesterday wnh considerable interest, especially the match between M. Byrne and Nattrass. There were altogether six entries, and the men were drawn thus : —Robert Cowen , with Braithwaite, Nattrass with Byrne, and Dunn with Simpson. " The prizes were £8 and £4. Braithwaite and Cowen, attired in duck or canvas coats, suspiciously like strait jackets, first entered the ring, and gripped. Braithwaite acted chiefly on the defensive, not attempting any particular feat in the offensive, but after three foul falls in which Cowen was uppermost, and when Cowen was making a fourth effort, Braithwaite threw him well. Byrne's style of wrestling is much superior to that of the two who preceded him, as he stands well up to it, and, by his playfulness, relieves the game of any appearance of a painful struggle in strength. He was well matched also in having Nattrass, who is a good type of a wrestler, especially in the Cumberland style. In the struggle Byrne tripped about most nimbly, his disposition being to show play, but ho was apparently able to do so without giving his opponent any advantage. Twice, during a long struggle, he threw Nattrass, and there was a good

deal of applause by the uninitiated, but they were declared to be no falls. Afterwards Byrne came to the ground, Nattrass going some distance over him from the impetus of the fall, but it was again no fall according to the prescribed rule. At this stage the game had to be interrupted to allow the races to go on, and because also of a shower of rain, and it was not resumed yesterday. It will be continued today. Towards.the end Byrne was innocently the cause of an unfortunate accident to one of the judges, Mr Emanuel. In one of the intervals of breathing he playfully wrestled with Mr Emanuel, who came to the ground pretty quickly. In the fall, unfortunately, he received Borne injury to his ankle, and had to be carried off the ground, disabled. It was at first supposed that the injury received was not more serious than a dislocation or serious sprain of the right ankle, but we believe that when by Dr. Giles, it was found that there was a fracture of the leg bone.

HOESE-EACING was resumed, and formed the principal attraction for the rest of the day. There were four events on the card, but only three came off, the Ladies' Race not having attracted the requisite number of entries. THE BULLEE HANDICAP. Of 35 sovs. Entry, 4 sovs. Distance 2 miles. Mr D. Leslie's e.g. Cossack, aged, lOst 121b 1 Mr M'Laren's b.g. Deerfoot, aged 9st 101b 2 Mr James Murray's e.g. Tommy, aged, 9st 101b ; 3

Mi- Trimble's Gripsy, and Mr D. M'G-inley's Squatter, bad also been entered, but were scratched. At the start, Tommy "went away with the lead, but before he passed the straight running he was overhauled by Cossack, and beyond Gibson's corner Cossack led by three lengths. On the beach side of the course, they were all equally placed, Deerfoot gradually falling behind. Coming round the north end of the course, they still held the same places, Cossack being all the time hard held by his rider, Campbell. Coming in for the first round, Tommy came well up, and passed the Judge a length behind Cossack, still held. In the second round they continued to keep the same places as in the first, at an even distance of two lengths. There was some suspicion that Cossack might again stumble, as, without the martingale, he carries his head high, and was hard to hold, but he kept his legs in even the worst places, and he came in the second time several lengths a-head. There was a fine struggle between Tommy and Deerfoot in again passing the Judge's box, Deerfoot gaining on Tommy and maintaining his advantage half-way round. Atthe finish Cossack was let out more than was necessary, except to distance the others, and he came in first, the other two only saving their distance by a tussle. Deerfoot came in. second ; and Tommy third ; and if Tommy had got the whip a little sooner, he might have had a better position.

the ladies' purse. Of 10 sovs., added to a sweepstake of £2 2s each. Post entry. Selim, list 61bs, 1 Littlejohn, list lOlbs, 2 Lady Bird, 7st lOlbs, 3 Sulky, Bst lOlbs, 0

. The test for the race was the jumping of a hurdle opposite the Grand. Stand, and that preliminary offered an incident of painful excitement. Coxon's Lady Bird got over the hurdle, but, falling, threw her young Maori rider, and apparently rolled and trotted over him. He was lifted up bleeding from the forehead, and seemingly shaken, but hepicked himself up in a shorttime, and was ready for the start amidst an encouraging cheer. Littlejohn went over easily ; Selim, after two baulks, made the leap very finely ; and Sulky, after one or two shies, did the same. A good start to the race was got by all except by the young Maori. Selim led, Sulky was next, Littlejohn third, and Ladybird fourth, all held, and going steadily. They kept the same places all round, Ladybird hard held, but collaring Littlejohn. There was a good rush together in the straight running, Selim leading, but Ladybird afterwards went ahead fast to a good seond place, hard held. The other three kept close together, and close up, Sulky falling back in the second round. By the time they were on the beach side of the course Littlejohn pulled up well, and Ladybird and Sulky fell behind. Selim continued to lead, with Littlejohn as a goori second, and at the end of the second round, Selim had only the advantage of half a length. In the third round, Sulky maintained the character implied in his name, and bolted to stable. Ladybird was nowhere, evidently pumped. But there was a good race between Littlejohn and

Selim, the latter leading. At the finish, Littlejohn pushed a-head to his utmost, but Selim held the lead, and came in by four or five lengths, finishing finely a good race. A considerable amount of money in betting and sweepstakes was dependent upon this race, and there was naturally much disappointment on the part of some, and congratulations on the part of others, when it was announced that Littlejohn, not Selim, was the winner of the race. Selim, it was said, had come in five pounds light weighted, and the stakes were accordingly awarded to Littlejohn, but the circumstance are the subject of protest.

A STANDING FLAT LEAP came as an interlude to the races. There were five competitors for £3 and £l, and there was some very close leaping, but O'Mara, who shaped well from the first, took the first prize, and Hamilton the second. The greatest leap made by each was : O'Mara, 10ft llin; Hamilton, 10ft lOin ; Robert Craig, 10ft Sin ■ John Dag, 10ft sin ; and J. 11., 10ft.

HANDICAP HUEDLE EAOE Of 30 sovs. Distance, mile and a half. One event over five flight of hurdles. Entry 3 sovs. Mr Trimble's b.m. Gipsey, list 10lb ... 1 Mr W. Woolfe's Littlejohn 2 Mr Coxon's g.g. Barwon, lOst 0 There was some further commercial confusion caused in connection with this race, as Slim Jim's name appeared by some mistake upon the card, and was drawn in sweepstakes made in anticipation of the race. There was some fine running and leaps made by Gipsy, and as well by Littlejohn, but an accident at the second hurdle put Barwon out of the race. There was a fair start, and all cleared the first flight, Barwon leading, and well held. He led to the second flight, but, in going over fell. Littlejohn did the same, and Gipsy, clearing it well, got her first advantage. Littlejohn was soon remounted, but Barwon's saddle-girths, we believe, went. Oipsy took the third flight a long way a-head, and for the second round Littlejohn was a hurdle behind. In the third round he picked up his distance considerably, but Gipsy was well held in. In the straight running, Littlejohn came cleverly up, and the race finished with a smart rush, and an advantage of four or five lengths to G-ipsy, whose leaps were to the last beautifully made, although her only remaining competitor did so with equal pluck, if not in the same elegant style. THE THEEE-LEG-GED BACE.

For this foot race sixteen entries were made, and after the necessary tying of the legs a start was made, m which all joined but one couple who were not fully or. their guard at the start. A good run was tnnde, and M'Lean and jNTottman came in first, with Allison and Duncan second. The two who did not start protested against the giving of the prize on account of an unequal start, but after hearing the protest the majority of those judging the race decided that the runners narned were entitled to the prizes.

THE SIILE RACE. This race was contested by five competitors M'Kay, Allison, Duncan, M'Lean, and Bensted. They were started in front of the Grand Stand, and the distance was once round the race course. All ran well, but Duncan won without much difficulty, and Allison came in second. The first prize in this race was £8 ; the second £2. The Ladies' Eace, the Consolation Stakes, the Miners' Purse, and the Trotting Match—the last mentioned at half-past twelve—are the events for this day, exclusive of several private matches.

Thursday is appointed as settling day.