New Year's Sports.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1482, 3 January 1882, Page 2

New Year's Sports.

Hamilton West. -The above'sports were held yesterday in Mr Martin's paddock corner of Anglesea-street (kindly lent for the purpose) and passed off in a most successful Jnanner. .The first race started about 12.30 pm. and from, that time, the interest was keenly sustained throughout the day. 'By 1.30." fully 900 people were on the ground, and the shade afforded by, the umbrageous fences of the paddock were greatly appreciated by the women arid children present who were enabled to see the whole of the sports. The course was laid off in a circle .of 440 yds. for foot sports and posts with red flags were marked off at every chain, the ground had been levelled as well as circumstances would ' permit, and considering the impromptu manner in which the sports had been got up it reflects the highest credit on Mr J. S. Milne and the one or two gentlemen who so ably asaistied him,. We trust that in future our holiday sports will be held in this paddock which i& highly suitable as a recreation ground for the Borough of Hamilton, and which we have reason to believe could be obtained at an easy price by the Corporation. The following is the programme and results ; — 300 yards handicap flat bace Entrance, 2s. Ist prize, 30s ; 2nd prize, 10s. * This event brought six competitors into the field, who were handicapped as follows : Farrell, scratch ; McKinnon, syds. start ; Bourke and Geo. Reid 7yds. W. Jones, twelve, and Geo. Reid, 13 yards. The result showed that the handicapping had been very close, the race finishing after a close contest as follows :—: — Jones 1 Farrell 2 Bourke 3 The next event on theßace, l£ miles, the Maiden Trotting programme was three times rouna the square 7 entries. The raoe from the first appeared to lay j between MoCann's Robin Hood and Somers 1 Venus, and the result proved aa follows : — Robin H00d... . ... ... 1 Venus ... „, ... ... 2 A great deal of money changed hands over thia event. At this period the programme was •interrupted by some of the competitors for the mile race objecting to run while the sun was at its height, and the Stewarts decided that the high jump for horses should be the next event. There were eight entries for this contest, and it lasted over an hour and a half, eventually the money was divided between four of the competitors. In throwing the hammer there were five competitors who were handicapped, but none of them could beat the old (vbampvovvoi Hamilton., Dviucan.Mcln.tiy re. In tii& entries £<»> thfe milfe foot-tsitta, there were four competitors who were placed as follows :— Bourke, scratch ; Whitehouse, 15 yards ; Reid, 40 yards : and Jones, 55 yards. Thia race showed the experience of the haadicapper, as the winner only won by about two yards, and the race was closely contested throughout. Boys' Race for a suit of clothes presented by Mr J. Moses, of Hamilton, after a keen contest, in which seven boys entered, was won by young Kingsley by a length from McSweeney. The Girls Race afforded considerable sport, and was won by Jessie Wright, Ellen Bourke being second. There was great excitement amongst the young ladies present. The Married Men's Raca afforded considerable sport. There were five competitors, who were evenly handicapped, and after a close contest the race resulted as follows :—: — Wright 1 H. P. Macpherson 2

Ngaruawahia. Tub regatta and sports at the above place was largely attended, there were between 300 and 400 persons present. The steamer Delta left Cambridge early in the morning, bringing about 50 passengers. This number was largely augmented at Hamilton, where the Hamilton Band joined the pleasure-seekers. The weather was everything that could be desired, and the visitors who patronised the steamer appear to have enjoyed themselves in the up and down trip, which was in every sense of the word a pleasant one. The Committee did everything in their power to make the sports a success. Mr Dickeson filled the responsible position of judge, and gave the utmost satisfaction. A word of praise is also due to the indefatigable secretary, (Mr G. L. Scott), and the starters, Captain Lindsay and Mr Davies, who took great pains in despatching the competitors on equal terms. The boat-racing was rather onesided, but the foot and hurdle races were closely contested. The Hamilton Band, under Bandmaster Hadfield, discoursed some excellent music between the different events under the shady willows which surround this picturesque township. The music was greatly enjoyed, especially by the native visitors. The Waikato Steam Navigation Company laid on two steamers, arid there was a third one brought into lequisition to convey passengers from the adjacent places on the river to the sports. The following are the results of the various events up to the time of the Delta's departure for Hamilton :—: — Pair-Oabed Race. Prize £3. Five entries, viz : Nellie Gray, Spider, Nut, Fly and the Dart. The crew of the Nellie Gray were Maoris, and upon, the signal being given were the first to catch the Water. They immediately" drew away from the other boats, and from the - start to the finish were never overhauled, winning easily by six lengths; Fly, second. Hckdlb -Race— First prize, £1 10; ,"■ second, 10s." , Four Entries. 'This was a well contested race, which was won by Brennan, iMcNeish coming in a sgood second. ' Sctousrs'-Race*-— Prize £2. Four entries, ;viz.,:><Htmt, 'Flanighan, Douglas,' and , Purdy. -'" , ' < ■> ' - ' I UPurdyi.-t-. ...'- '..: ... 1 , jflunt ... .'..- "-.. i" ' ... 2100 ■ Yards l Flat^ Rice. —First' prize, (jßl'jj second; 7s 6d.< SiVentries— Asheiy I ; Rawhiri,-T.< Hogg,* Tutawa,' Brennan,; land Williamson. ' ' - s Brennan -'/..'«; ~.V. f ... ;1; 1 " i I i'Asher'... i.\ >>>■..: ' - .."* 2 • < • Foub-oared Race.— Prize £4. ■'• Three crews 7 - erifierett for' this 'race, 1 "which was won.sby^Erogsraap^ Ryan, Gait and DerinisT A Tne second -"crew were, ?t%Jg^&ffid&om#m crew? jw <, RTON^^HiSi/Jifiip^Firstf rize, 15s ; „'1 .'3'>B^jf-,(tsgec^ nd-.5« n d-.5« ::<! s ■>,

the return dancing on the deck of the steamer was freely indulged in, and the only drawback which appeared to mar a pleasant day's outing was the want of provisions aboard the steamer. Refreshments could not be procured at any price, and complaints were numerous. It is to be hoped that on future occasions there will be no cause of complaint in this matter.

WhataWhata. The weather proved very unfavorable for the sports at WhataWhata on Tuesday last, consequently very few visitors attended. The programme reflects much credit upon the committee, and the stakeswere good, bringing a fair number of competitors to the post for each event. The following is a list of the events and winners :—: — Maiden Plate.— 2so yards, (all comers). Ist prize £1 10s ; second 10s. J. Angus 1 Tutawa' 2 Boy's Race.— Under 16. 150 yards. Ist prize 15s ; second 7s. Pehama 1 TeMata 2 Vaulting with Pole.— lst prize £1 ; second 10s. J. S. McNeish 1 Geo. McNeish 2 One Mile Handicap.— lst prize £2; seoond £1 ; third 10s. Stokes 1 Reid ..., - 2 „ Trim .!. -...* ■ .... .>. 3 Three-legged Race.— loo ysds. Ist - prize, 15s ; 2nd 7s Gd. Reid and Warr 1 Tutawa and Kaimona ... 2 Handicap Hurdle Race.— 2so yards Ist prize 30s ; 2nd prize, 15s. Jas. MeNeish 1 George McNeish 2 Standing High Jump— lst prize, 15s; 2nd prize 55., Jas. McNeish 1 Hankins 2 WhataWhata Settlers Handicap Race.— 3ooyds. Ist prize 308; second piize, 10s. G. Day 1 E. Shepherd 2 Running Hop, Step, and Jump. —First prize, 15s ; 2nd, ss. Tutawa ... ... ••• 1 J. McNeish 2 Sack Race.— lst prize, 15s; 2nd, protested. Reid 1 Consolation.— lst prize, 15s j 2nd, 7s 6d. i Patterson ... 1 Cassidy 2 Quoits.— lst prize, 10s ; 2nd, ss. Alexander Calder ... ... 1 D. Scott 2 Tilting at the Ring. — Ist prize, 15s; ; 2nd, 7s 6d. Hackett ... ... ... 1 C. liiiHiner 2