NEW YEAR'S DAY SPORTS AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 7010, 4 January 1877, Page 2

NEW YEAR'S DAY SPORTS AT CAMBRIDGE.

Thk first day of Seventy. seven was ushered in at Cambridge with the regular Cambridge weather— viz, rain. Towards noon the sun flhome <©ut and there was a prospect of a fina day, but the *ky agaiu became overcast ana light showers con« tinued to fall for the remainder of the day. The great event which the Cambridge settlers looked forward to—The Annual off as usual in : the paddock kindly lent by M«ssrs W and J Taylor, whion is within easy distance of the township. ,The course, although in a few places, rather rough, is generally speaking, a good one, and the rain, if ic damaged the apparel of the spectators, had a contrary effect on the course, rendering the ground more fit for running than it-would have foea after a^jntinuance of dry weather. Tiitre intut have been ai onetime something like 700 or SOO people on the ground, aud with the exception of a pitch or two, and some disagreement among the votaries of the shrine of .Bacchus, there is nothing of an unpleasant nature to chronicle.

The number of entries was very large, and the competition exceedingly keen, indeed the amount of excitement notice* able curing every race was. quite refreshing. The. stewards and other officers performed their onerous duties most satisia'ctoriiy and tbe-uttnoat good feeling prevailed throughout. vVe must not forget to notice the-ar-rangements which were made for the 6atislaction of our internal wants. Juer-e were two booths on the ground j at one of which Mr Hewitt o£ the " Masonic" attended to the thirsty, while Mr Lauiance catered for the hungry, at the other, and it is but right to say, that tbero was but little druukeness observable besides the instances ab-ive alluded to. Theold familiar Jace of Aunt dally was conspicious by its absence, nor were any other ot the many games usually indulged in on race courses to be seen, &o that the whole interest of the onlookers was concentrated on the main event* themselves. The following was. the order of the several events i —

FOOT RACES. 100yds Maiden Foot RAca.— Priz3 £1 O'Brien... Ist prize 200yds Handicap Foot Race— lst prize, £2 ; 2nd pr.ze, 10s. There wore eight entries lor this ruoj which was won by J Campbell ... ... ... Istprize HCulpan... ... ... ... 2nd do 4iorj>s Handicap ¥qov Racf.— lst prizj, ±3 ; 2nd pnzp, 10$. Thera were seven entries, bub only three ran. HCulpan.ls.yils .... ... Ist prize J CampbeJ, 12yd8 2nd do McKennon, 30yds 3rd do The Half-mile Foot Race did nob come off. but there was a private spin between O'Uritjn aad Langdon which filled the gap. The distance 100 yda ; but we have nob learnt the amouub of the., stakes. Langdon was the winner. '"

HORbE RACES.

Maiden Plate of 8 sovs, weight for age, ] i miles. 1- Thompson's br g Tandem (late Dido) „. „. ..,. ... 8 4 2— Gen am' blk maae Miduighb .... 711 3— -Martyn's b m Meinento ... 7 S 11

Tandem won by a good^ length, Memento a good third. Symphony, Yorky, Lbafer and Theatre also ran.

Hanbicap Hst/bdlb Rack of 12 aovs ; 2 milts ; over 8 flights of hurdles.' I— KirkwoodVclig lioafor ... 10 5 2— Rutherford's b g Tommy Dodd 12 0

Theatre and Midnight also ran. Mid* night baulked at the 2nd hurdle, aud ooutinued to 6 e so, and soon picked up Theatre, who Quad *been going through the Bame performance alter the third hurdle. Thus, Loafer and Tommy bad it all to themselves, and a -tine race was the -result, the former ;jjust winning by a neck, Midnight and Theatre about a quarter of a mile behind. The result of this race was received with great applause. Loa'er waa well jockty'd by Mr J P Neiii, of Te Awamutu.

Handicap Flat Bacb of 20 bovb, 2 miles. 1 -All will'* cii m Clipper, 10 0 2— Thompson's br g Tandem ... 9 0 3— Marty u'a bm Memento .„. 6 7 Thompson's brg Yorky ...8 0 Kir k wood's bits g Theatre „. 7 0 ;' m Clipper took the lead at the «tart, and it was evident, that she went in to win as she steadily increased the distance between her and Tandtin, winning by several lengths. This was the race of day, and the plucky little mare and her rider, Bond, were loudly cheered when passing the Judge's box. StraßY Soubry of 5 bovbj 1 mile. Eighteen horses entered for this race, and on passing the stand the first time, they resembled, mce than anything else,---a swarm of bees. They q-niokly scattered, however, leaving the first'place to • Too Master,' Roche'* * Dick ' §00006. . • !

£4. Eour entries. W«a by Hauog» s - V, CONSOLATIOJT HaKI>IOAP of 5 BOTO • • «WW' l by Gerran'a | ?S^s Noting int-he fiwo.. JTira^Drkfl.

About 8 or 3 entered for this Wen*^ the oqmpGfcitkm bocupy«ng J QS^ w1 ..h0ar... ..'. "l.he otandar4^;being ttio^hiaSrrtte Boofßa " mail©, were very Jnsi^nifieantl ff Kerr tiiok the first jiriee, and.TttbakarifiaT the second. ■.■"■'■■ ' • '♦

Owiog Jbb^ho Tate Jbonr, at wtidCtbo '"j sports ■ended— nearly 7 : o'olook-rfchere } : w«ra very Uw. on tW gronnd whea it was \ over, and oomparahvely little' interests "• wa? taken in the latfcea 1 . part of th 3 tilting tournameßt. This is the third A-nnuai \ witnessed, »nd from .tajflrsuocesg-which Jias attende'd'Jihetp. ft A s .^bable thai.iji will' beoo'ma a peirnia* '"*". neht ldatitutioq, .Bach y'oi»t.' has feeejp »»• impiifevemenfc on fpMner.effdrita'^aiKd tb.e «e.ttlj?rt.6f tbia }pirt &t ths '''^t'^dV iriay " ; look-forwa.rd to # time v&en' MiSfjSoißß:" " Will be thought \frp.rtby of rt nl|^'rig"f'Bp>e' ; '* ■entativea from districts' duisid'e W"^h» : ~ (i Waikato;' ' . •'• . -.•:?•;•".•<;■*? r ••;■:,■ v