Boxing Day Sports.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1480, 29 December 1881, Page 2

Boxing Day Sports.

Hamilton West. The attendance at Hamilton West sporta on Boxing D'iy was not numerous, still there was a very good assembly, considering the counter attraction on the opposite sideof the river, and the weather was everything that could be desired. The Hamilton Band was stationed on the balcony of the Hamilton Hotel and enlivened the proceedings during the day. Perhaps it might be as well to state, as there can be°io denying the fact, that if sports are to be maintained in Hamilton and carried on with any degree of success it must be done under the auspices of East and West ; for amalgamation is necessary in order to make any undertaking a success, and so long as a spirit of antagonism prevails no really good result can follow. It is to be sincerely hoped that in the future some better understanding will be arrived at, ior if the money subscribed by the public had been put into one fund some really good sports could have been witnessed and enjoyed. Again, it was no place to hold sports in a public thoroughfare, for people do not care to stand for hours together in doorways without shelter, watching foot and other sports. They prefer the green sward, where they can wander at their ease and allow children some amount of recreation. The stewards and judge gave every satisfaction, and some of the events were closely contested. The sports commenced shortly after noon, and were brought to a conclusion between 5 and 6 p.m. The following are the results :—: — Maiden Race— For boys under 14, born and living in Waikato. Pour entries. First prize, L 2 ; second prize, 10s. J. Hunter .. 1 F. Odium 2 MO Yards Handicap. —Four entries. First prize, L 3; second prize, 15s ; third prize, 5s — £ggers I W. Davis 2 J. Bourke ... ... ... 3 Vaulting with Pole. — Four entries. Prize, LI. a. McNeish 1 Hop, Step and Jump. — Three entries. Prize, £1. Melroso 1 One Mile Race (Handicap). — Three entries. First prize, silver cup, valued at L 5 ss ; second prize, LI ; third piize, ss. A. McFarlane 1 J. Bourke . . ... ... 2 Robt. Stokes . ... ... 3 Running High Jump. — Three entries. First prize, LI ; second pi'ize, ss. G. McNeish ] — Bishop 2 Trotting Match (Handicap). — Five entries. First prize, silver cup, valued at L 1 0; second prize, L 2 10s. Mr Chas. Shaw's Bob ... 1 Mr Graham's Fanny 2 Throwing the Hammer. — Four entries. Prize, LI. Duncan Mclntyre (71ft. 6in.) 1 H. Kerr (65ft.) 2 This prize fell to the old "Victorian champion," Duncan Mclntyre, who seems to have lost none of his prestige. Boys of Hamilton (under 14) 250 Yards (Handicap). — Four entries. Fust prize, L 2 ; second prize, 10s. J. Andrews . ... ... 1 L. McS weeny 2 Wine vlb arrow Race (backwards), 200 yards. —Four entries. First prize, LI ; second prize, 10s ; third prize, ss. G. Mayes . , . . . . 1 W. Booth 2 J. Giabam . . . . ..3 Four- Part Race, 200 yards— so yards walking, 50 yards hopping, 50 yards running, and 50 yards on all-fours. — Five entries. First prize, LI ; second prize, 10s ; thiid prize, ss. J. Graham 1 W. Graham 2 W. Davis 3 Consolation Handicap, 220 yards. — Three entries. First prize, L 2 ; second prize, LI ; third prize, 10a. H. McKinnon 1 Dcivis 2 W. Booth 3 In the evening there was a grand display of fireworks on Gwynne's lawn, which was well attended. The Hamilton Band was stationed in the centre of the croquet lawn and played some excellent selections in good time, under Bandmaster Hadfield. Duriug the evening Mr F, A. Whitaker, M.H.R., entertained the members of the baud at Gwynne's hotel, when several of the members of the Te Awamutu Band were present. The member for Waipa, in speaking of the band, complimented the members on the progress they had made, and remarked that it afforded him great pleasure in seeing some of the members of the Te Awamutu Band amongst them that evening, for nothing was more conducive to the interests of the district than to see such a good feeling existing between bandsmen. The " Health of the Visitors"' was proposed and duly honored, and three cheers were given for Captain Whitaker. At the conclusion of the fireworks a dance came off in the Public Hall, under the auspices of the Hamilton Band, which was fairly attended. Dancing was kept up till an advanced hour in the morning, when the company dispersed, highly pleased with the evening's amusement. Mr Bell presided at the piano in his usual masterly style, whilst Mr G-. Wright acquitted himself admirably as M.O.

Hamilton East. The annual sports were held aa usual on Sydney square, and were undoubtedly a great success, the racing being good and the attendance large. The races commenced shortly after 11 a.m., at which time there were about 200 persons on the uround, but during 1 the afternoon the number was considerably augmented, and there could not have been less than 450 persons present. Mr James Coombes filled the office of secretary, and discharged his duties in an energetic and courteous manner. Mr William Gumming officiated as judge ; Messrs James Wood and S. Pascoe as starters ; and Mesrss James Coombes, John Coleman, and F. Gaudin, as handicappers. The handicaps declared were fair and impartial, and gave entire satisfaction to those concerned. The excellent band of the Te Awamutu Troop, Waikato Cavalry, under Bandmaster Sibley, was stationed on the balcony of the Royal Hotel during the day, and discoursed some excellent music, which was greatly appreciated. Two refreshment booths were erected on the grounds, the proprietors thereof apparently doing a good trade. The mile race did not come off, only two entries (J. Warr and Burke) being made, the conditions stipulating that three were to start for each event or no prize would be awarded. The following is the programme gone through and the results of the various contests :—: —

Maiden Race, 200 yards. — Fire entries. First prize, £1. W.Jones 1 W. O'Neill 2 Boys' .Race, under 16 years. — Nine entries. First prize, 15s ; second prize, ss. W. Hill v 1 — Simms ... ... ... 2

Running Hop, Step, and, Jump. —Four | entries. Prize £1. Melrose (42ft. 7in.) ... 1

Half, Mime HakdicJap. — Sevea First prize £1 103 : second prtee, 10a. G. Reid (13yds.) 1 J. Warr (15yds.) '. 2 i

The other entries frere" :-^J. Jones (scratch), G. Martin .(scratch), J. Caasidy (10yds.), J. McKenzie (20yds.), and W. O'Neill (30yds). Boy's Race under 12. — Six entries. First prize 10s ; second prize ss. J. Kenny 1 R. McKenzie 2 Running High Jump.— Five entries. Prize £1. J. McNeish, (sft. 6in.) ... 1 100 Yards Race.— Seven entries. First prize £1 : second prize 10s. J. McNeish + Roberts + This race resulted hi a tie, in running off, however, Roberts secured first prize, McNeish receiving second money. Four Part Race. — Three entries. First prize 15s ; second prize ss. John Graham 1 W. Graham 2 Old Men's Race.— Three entries. Prize £1. G. Reid 1 Handicap Hurdle Race. — 440 yards. Three entries. First prize, £2 ; second prize, 10s. J. Warr, (20yds.) 1 J. McNeish, (scratch) „. 2 J. Devitt, (20 yards) also ran. Running 100 Yards with Bucket of Water. — Four entries. First prize 15s ; second prize ss. J. Reid 1 P. Jones 2 Vaulting with Pole.— Five entries. First prize £1 ; second prize 10s. J. McNeish (9ft 2in.) ... 1 G. Pearson, (9ft.) 2 300 Yards Handicap.— Six entries. First prize £1 10s ; second prize 10s. W. Jones, (scratch) 1 — Eggers (syds.) 2 The other entries were : — P. Jones, T. Hackett, J. Cassidy, (10yds), and J. Reid, (15yds.) Three-legged Race (over hurdles). Three entries. First prize 15s : second prize ss. J, W&trc and Pe&imn ... I Dent and Devitt 2 Sack Race (over hurdles). — Five entries. First prize 10s : second prize ss. J. Reid 1 Jimmy, (Maori) 2 Trotting Race. — For horses that have never won advertised money. Heats. First prize, saddle ; second prize, bridle. FIRST HEAT. Mr Maguire's b q Bugler ... 1 Mr Primrose's b m Letty ... 2 SECOND HEAT. Mr Maguire's b q Bugler ... 1 Mr James Wood's b m Kate 2 Mr Primrose's Letty and Mr Wood's Kate having come in second in the first and second heats respectively, ran a deciding heat, when Mr Wood brought his mare in by about six lengths ahead of Letty. Mr Maguire's horse won both fust and second heats easily, the first by about 75 yards and the second by two chains. Mr C. Warr's br q Trooper also ran. In the evening a bonfire was lighted on Sydney Square, but the pyrotechnic display announced to come off at the Waikato hotel was unavoidably foregone, owing to the committee being disappointed by the non-arrival of the fireworks from Auckland. The day's amusement was wound up by a quadrille party in the Oddfellows' Hall, which was very successful, the hall being crowded. Mr James Coombes officiated as M.C., and the music, which was all that could be desired, was provided by members of the Te Awamutu Band.

Oxford Races. The first race meeting ever held in this part of the country came off on Mondaylast in a large paddock about half -a-mile from the Oxford Royal Hotel, and with the exception of one or two serious moral drawbacks were comparatively speaking a fair success. Though the horses were not professional racers being merely owned and ridden by settlers and natives, the racing was both exciting and entertaining, the various events being with very few exceptions well contested. There being no sports at Cambridge a large number of people from that district went out in buggies and on horse back, and these together with a few country settlers constituted the bulk of the European attendance, the rest being all Maoris. The natives as usual attended principally on horse-back, in some cases as much as one entire family riding a single horse. In the matter of refreshments the priveleges in fhis line were monopolised by Messrs. Montague, Granville, and Isaacs, the former having erected a substantial bar on the ground. With the exception of a few impromptu bets, there was very little betting done, aud unless we take into consideration a few individual hahas agreeably contributed by a few Maori ladies, there was an entire absence of music. Nor did any of the under-aud-over fraternity put in their appearance ; but this deficiency may to a great extent be attributed to the Auckland races being on the same day, and the remoteness of the Oxford course. Mr Geoffrey Maclean acted as judge, and Mr Ring efficiently discharged the duties of starter, Mr R. Kirkwood being handicapper. The following is a detailed account of the racing :—: — The first race on the programme was the

Handicap Hurdle Rack Of lOsovs. ; one and a half miles ; over three flights of hurdles 3ft. 6in. high. Nomination, 10s. Acceptance, 1 soys. Goodwin's Rookwood (Mason) ... 1 Keremete's Rotorua (Graham) ... 2 Allwell's Clipper (Hitchman) 3 Creamy also started. This was a very well- contested race, though it was the opinion of all present that Rotorua was too heavily handicapped, having to carry 191bs. over weight. Clipper, who baulked at the second hurdle, ran very well, and had it not been for his misfortune, would most likely have carried off the race. As it was, however, he ran a good third. Rookwood, who kept the lead from the start until the finish, won easily by about three lengths.

Maori Race Of osovs. ; one and a half miles. Catch weight 9. Horses to be owned and ridden by natives. Entrance, 10s. Tuhekarine's Te Uaua 1 Creamy 2 Only two started for this race, which was certainly the tamest event of the day. Te Uaua, who led all the way, waited on hia opponent several times, and won as he liked.

Oxford Handicap Of ISsovs. j one and three-quarters miles. Nomination, 103. Acceptance, lsov. Ransfield's Robert the Devil 1 Goodwin's Rookwood ... 2 Toomeys Dick 3 One other started. „ The two first horses kept together until within a few yards from home, -when the Devil went to the front and won by about three lengths. Dick ran a very bad third, and the other horse was nowhere.

Pony Race Of 6sovs., one mile. Ponies not to exceed 14^ hands, 9st top weight ; 71bs allowed for each incliunder. Entrance, , 10s. W. Ewen's Hilda , ... 1 AlwiU's Clipper... v ... ... ... 2 McMMan'sitob'Koy r.,-: , „-,,' „. 3. Dyau's Vanity also rau. This \?as cer-

tamly the best contested event of the day, all four keeping well together from start to finish, Hilda winning by only one length. Hack Race. RoberttheDevil v 1 TeUaua 2 Ben Nevis 3 Wamba and Tui also started. This ■was also a well contested event. The Devil and Ben Nevis kept well together until a few yards from home, when Te Uaua who was ridden by Bach, ran for, second honors, and succeeded jn getting placed, , Consolation Handicap Of Ssovs., one mile. For beaten horses during the meeting. Entrance, 10s. Creamy ... ... , „. 1 Ben Nevis 2

The Auckland Races. [by telegraph, owk cokusspondbnt.] Auckland, Tuesday, The weather yesterday was magnificent. Five thousand people were present. The following is the order of run* ning :— Maiden Plate. Othello 1 Miss Domett 2 Envy Filly 3 Won by two lengtha. Time— 2min. 20£ sec. Othello led' all the way Free Handicap. TimWhiffler 1 Hilda 2 Lara S Won by a length. Time — lmin. 48secs. Nine started Handicap Hurdles. Rawenata 1 Lone Hand .. 2 Clarence 3 Won by a len^fcb, af ter a grand rae& Time — 4inin. 49isecs. The Auckland Cup. King Quail „ 1 Hilda 2 Kenil worth 3 Magnificent race. Maori and Hilda made the pace, and led till the top of the course, when King Quail and Kenilworth came up, the former getting com,mand at the turn home. Won by two ' lengths. Peeress colt was never in it Maori fifth. Railway Plate. Maid of Honor 1 Billingsgate 2 Tenambra 3 The Maid was never caught. Won easily

Our correspondent wires : The following are the weights for the Auckland races : A.R.C. Handicap — Randwick, Bst lOlbs ; King Quail, Bst 71bs ; Maori, Bst 21bs; Yatapa, 7st lOlbs ; Othello,. 7st 91bs ; Badsworth, 7st9lbs ; Tim Whiffler, 7st 91bs ; Kenilworth, 7st Bibs ; Peeress colt, 7st 71bs ; Hilda, 7st 5 lbs ; Lara, 7st 51bs ; Lone Hand, 7st ; Paramena, 7st ; Matau, 7st ; Vampire, 6st 121bs j Vortex, 6st 91bs ; Poet, 63t 91bs ; Rewi, 6st 91bs ; Squire, 6st 51bs ; Moonstone, sst 121bs ; Tenambra, sst 121bs ; Director, sst 131b8 ; Retriever, sst 12ibs. Grand jvtand Handicap. — Billingsgate, Ost slbs ; Randwick, Bst 51bs ; Othello, 7st lOlbs ; Hilda, 7st 81bs ; Lara, 7st ; Vampire, 6st 121bs ; Rewi, 6st 71bs ; Tenambra, 6st ; Director, 6st ; Maid of Honor, Bst 81bs ; Maori, Bst ; Badsworth, 7at lOlbs ; Peeress colt, 7st 21bs; Paramena, 7st ; Poet, 6st lOlbs ; Miss Domett, 6st 12Ibs ; Retriever, 6st.