MATAMATA BOXING DAY SPORTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2104, 2 January 1886, Page 3

MAT AM ATA BOXING DAY SPORTS.

Ah you had predicted this piovod to be one of thn most succe-sful meetings th.it have been held in the Watkuto ui-.tnct foi some time past, nnd fully rewarded tin* counnittee for then indefatigable c\uiti<m-> in gelling it up. The weather was nnwt delightful, a light shower in the morning having cooled the air nnd ground, and laid the dust, which nude ti.v\ cling pleasant, compared to what it had previously been. The course and grounds immediately adjoining it wcip in splendid condition, and the arrangements f»i the convenience of visitors were most complete. Mr Rose, of Oxford, the caterer fur the refreshments outdid himself in his efforts to nuke his efforts to make his customers comfortable, and judging by the nuinbei who patiomVcd both hit> dining-iooin and bar, hiseffoits were appreciated. His taking-, I nndcrHtand, weio nearly 4>o. Tho committee had arranged with Mr I). Fallon, the contractor f<>r the Thames Valley and Rotorna Railway— who, 1 may say, did all he possibly could to asM^t the committee — to run special trains from Morrmsville and the Oxford end of the line, and those who availed themsehes of this convenience wore brought to the course five of charge. Considering the.distiince that most people had to come, there wa« a >cry large attendance. There were visitors from To Aroh.i, Morrinsville, Richmond, Cumbiidgo, Ham ilton, Oxford and Waotu, all of whom expressed themselves as gieatly pleased with their visit. The utmost good foding prevailed, and the sen ice*, of the constable, who was in attendance, were not once required. Two not vety senons accidentoccurred, one caused by the bolting of ono of the racehorses just at the close of a race, which knocked over a man, and the other by a person foolishly running on .to the course after his hat at the time the hoises were coming up the straight at the finish of a race, one of which struck the man and stunned him for a short time ; both men, however, recovered speedily, and beyond a severe shaking the parties came out without serious injury. The programme which I subjoin was commenced prompt!}' at the advertised time, each event being splendidly contested. Great credit is due to the haudicappers, Mr R. Kirk wood for the horse races, and Messrs D. Skelly and H. McLellan for the foot sports ; the judges, Messrs F. Dibble, D. Fallon, and J. Teague, and the clerks of the course, Mcs-is F. Senate and T. Higirins, for the manner in which they cariied out their respective duties, the fact of there being only one protest entered proving that the*e dutie* were conducted with great caie and judgment. The programme commenced with the

Athletic Sports. DISTIUCT AND RAILWA\ (T.V. & R.) Handicap Huudles— £l ; 2nd, Th. Distance 200 yards, over four flights of hurdles. S. Johnston, (syds . . . I R. Johnston, scratch . . 2 For this, there were three entries, one falling at the Hist jump was thrown out the race. A yard between the two remaining competitors at the finish. All-Comkks' Handicap— £l ; 2nd, 3s. Distance, 100 yds. H. Hockeu, scratch .. .1 A. Forrest, oyds . . 2 Eight competitors started in this event which proved ft exciting one, all running splendidly. A yard separated the Ist. and 2nd, all the rest being close up in a clump at the finish. All Com eite' Handicap Hurdles— £2 ; 2nd, 10s. Distance, 220 yds, over si\ flights of hurdles. It. Faulkener, 9yds . . 1 A. Foire&t, syd&. . . .2 Seven started. This was one of the best contested foot race* on the programme The jumps were t^ken capitally, the pace , being very fast. One foot only divided the j first and second, the rest together pressing closely on the leaders. All Comers' Handicap— £2; 2nd, 10s. Distance, 440 yds. F. Hocken, scratch . .1 G. Fanlkener, Byds . 2 District and Railway (T.V. and R.) Flvt Handicap— Hl; 2nd, ss. Distance, 220 yds. Entrance, 2s. >■>. Johnston, Byd» . . . . 1 N. Anderson, 12yds . 2 Three started, the winner having it pretty well his own way from start t<> finish. All Comers 1 Handicap— € 3; 2nd, £1. Distance, half-a-mile. G. Faulkner, scratch 1 F. Hocken, 7yds . . 2 Three competitors faced the starter, and got away well together. Won easily. WHKELiiumow Race (blindfold)— £l ; Distance, 100 yds. Post entry, Is. H. Roue . . . .1 This was the most amusing and laughable event of the meeting. There were 10 entries, the nice being run in heats, the first one by Maoris and the second by Europeans. In both the contestants, a short distance from the start, became scattered all over the grounds, much to the discomfiture of the onlookers, who stood a risk of having their shins barked by one or othu of the barrows. Four of the European* came to giief, men and bariows being pilei alternately on top of one another, the final heat being won easily. Tug of War (Matamata v. Railway T.V. and R.)-£l. Railway . .1 This was a most evciting contest, but the utmost good feeling prevailed between th^ two pai ties. Ten men a-ide were selected, and for some time after the signal was given, the tug seemed to bo in favour of the Matamatonians, on whom odds were offered freely, but, unfortunately for themselves, through want of a little practice, their tug, after a few minute*, became \eiy unsteady, which gavo the advantage to their oppon ents, who eventually drew Matamata ove> the boundary. Three hearty cheers were given for the victors. Time, Omint. Open Handicap— £3 ; 2nd, £1. Distance, 220 yards. H. Rowe .. . . . . 1 T. Simmons 2 This event wa3 got up by subscription amongst the stewards, and was splondidlj contpsted. Thcie were five started, all being close together at the tinish, showing the good judgment of the starter. The hor»e i aces were stai ted immediatel \ after lunch, the first bell being rung at 1.30 p.m. All Comeiis' Hammcap Hlkdle, £(5; second hoi se to save stake-!. Distance, 2 miles, over eight flight* of lnudles. Kcrcmeto Hipirimi's eh q Kotorua, aged, 12st 31b . 1 Mr J. Teagup's b q Hercules, 4yrs, list 2 Mr J. Biown's b q Bric-a-Brac, aged, 12st31b . 3 The Barb also Waited for this event, but soon dropped behind. It wan a close race the whole distance between Rntonu and Hercules, the folium 1 winning by two lengths. Dwnucr \nd Railway (T.V. R.V. Handicap, £4 ; second hoi.se to save stakes. Distance, 7\ miles. Wiremu Tetuhu's Parariki aged, Ost 41b 1 N. Andersons b q Blister 4yrs 9st . 2 Malaihi's br m Phillip aged 9st 31b . 3 Zulu and Piria also went, but the race from the beginning was in Blister's passes nion till he lost about 0 chains by regaining his place after running off the course, and gave place to Parariki. AtL-CoMi:ns Matamata Handicap, £18 ; second horse to save stakes. Distance 2 miles. Mr H. McClelland's eh h. Clown, 4yis 10st41b 1 Mr F. Rhode's b ra Mistake, 6yrs 9st Gib 2 Mr Te Kawau's br q Tahi Kaore, aged 9st Gib ( 3 Heant'v's Joey also ran. Mistake got away with the lead the Clown and Joey being last. The Clown however soon overhauled the leader and took inside place and the lead which he maintained easily to the winning post. Distkict and Railway (T.V. and R.) Handicap Hurdles, £."> ; second horse to save stakes. Distance, 2 miles, over 8 flights of hurdles. Mr J. Teaguo's blk q Darkey, aged, 12st. 31bs. .. 1 Keremete Hipiiiini's eh q Rotorua, aged, 12»t. 31bs. .. 2 Mr F. Thomas's b q Tom, aged, 12st. 31bs 3 Darkey and Rotorua took the lead on the fall of the flag, Tom taking second place before reaching the first hurdle, where hi* rider came otf ; he noon mounted, but the delay had practically thrown him out of the race ; all the hurdles were taken splendidly, and it was a close race up th" straight between the first and second, the former winning by n length. All Comers' Railway Handicap— £B ; second horse to save stakes. Distance, l} miles. Mr H. McClelland's eh h Clown, 4yrs, 10st. ... . .1 Mr F. Rhodes's br in Mistake, oyrn, 9st. 2 Mr Tuwhenua's q q Hector, syrs, 9st. 31bs. 3 Tahi Kaohi and Joey were also in this

pea red when half the distance had been inn aa if it would bo a close contest between the Clown and Joey, but unfortunately fo? hia owner, the latter bolted off the cource which throw him out of the i ict\ Clow n and Mistake then had the two hi -.t pla.c<-s between thorn, coming in m the oidtu named. Mude.n SThU'hECHASK, £5. Weight for ago. See >nd horse to save stakes. Distance, 1^ miles. Mr J. TtML'uo's blk r Darkey, aged (12st 31b) 1 Mr V Dibble's br q Seienader, aped (I2st3lb) 2 Kotemete Hipirini's. eh q Itotorua, aped (12-t aib) 3 Skelly's Impi over also ran. The jumps were nil taken without a mishap, but the rac<* was D.irkcy's from st.irt to finish. M\oui R\CK, t'3; second hoise to sa\e stake-.. Catch weights. Hordes to be owned and ridden by Maoiis. Distance, I ', miles. Tewhonu.i'-. Hector, .lyis 1 To Kiw. m's Tiihi K.iori, aged li For this theie wore six entiie«, and, like all M.ioii nee-, it wan well contested, the horses being made to do their best. Co\M>LU'iox Handicap, £3 ; entrance fee added. Second horse to have s>take«. Open to all imiscs beateu during the meeting. Distance. 1 mile. Y. Rhodes'* br in Mistake, Gyrs. . . 1 X. Andersons b q Blister, 4yrs . . 2 F. Thomas' b q 'r<)in, aged . . 3 Tins was Mi-take's race from the start. Won easily. --(Own Correspondent.)