St. Patlick’s Day Sports

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 584, 19 March 1891, Page 3

St. Patlick’s Day Sports

annual gathering.

A close holiday was observed on Tuesday, and sports were held at the Park in commemoration of the day. The weather, though threatening at an early period of the day, was glorious for the sports, and the attendance was large. The work of organising athletic sports is at all times difficult for the officials, and when post entry events for horses are also included, the task of making things go off smoothly, as well as merrily, is one which the majority of people who attend such gatherings do not suspect. The Committee on Tuesday were so successful as to merit special commendation. Added to the other difficulties was an alleged programme that was sold for sixpence each; it was worse than useless, for it only con. tained four events, half of them without the colors, and not one of the post entry events were given. The result was that many could not, at that moment, remember the events, or as to the time when they would come off. This must have made a difference in some of the entries, and the work of the Committee (who were quite free from blame) was much increased. The Officers on the ground were : — President, Mr Carroll; Vice-President, Mr Harding; Committee — Messrs Maynard, Crawford, W. O. Skeet, P. McLoughlin, W. Parnell, W. Daly, J. A. Harding, Owen Ga'lagher, T. J. Dickson, J. Adeaue, W. Good, B. M. Skeet, Dinan, J. Thompson, Liddle, Miller, J. Quigley ; Judges, Messrs Crawford and Joyce ; Clerk of Scales, Mr Matthewson; Clerks of Course, Messrs Robinson ana J.oomb; Handicapper for Foqt racing Events, Mr Primrose; Starter for Horse racing, Mr Maynard. Mr W. Miller was the energetic Secretary. The day spent was a very pleasant one, the music of the Garrison Band adding greatly to the pleasure. Many popular national airs were played, such as “ St. Patrick’s Day” and “Killarney,” and no Irishman could listen to the strains of the band without some feelings of jubilance. The national eo’or, too, was donned by most of those present, many pinning on "the green” out of deference for their fellow-Britisherk, and the cordialty and good feeling shown was the most pleasing feature of the gathering. Sergeant Carlyon and members of the force were present, but they had nothing (o dn beyond enjoying he sport, special interest wastaken in sme of the events. The best fun began with the Old Men’s race, for which there were four hardy competitors,each one entering for the pleasure of the thing. Mr Cappin won after a hard race, io which the competitors were enthusiastically cbeeered, and the excellent time of 14 secerns (not allowing for handicap) w»* made, The race tor the lady's bracelet followed, and brought out a field of eight first-class hacks, all mounted by good riders. From the stand particular interest ■earned to be centred in a back popularly called the Argyll, but the pace was 100 fast for it, and the rider found that she could not do herself justice. Miss Mate, on Skylark, flew along gaily in the wind, and gave proof that ■he had cleared fences before that day. In the high jump Mr Colin Dunlop bad a narrow ■scape wbeo riding Wizard. The animal ■truck the stick and fell after getting over, Bud had not the rider been exceptionally ■mart he could hardly hate got free. The following are results of the various events I—Open Handicap Base, 100 yards; Ist prize £2,2nd prize 10s; entrance 2a 6d Swann, scratch, 1; O'Meara 3/ds, 2; Burns, 9yds, 8. Nearly all those entered started, b it Swann was evidently too good for the oc mpany.

2—Handicap Eace for Boys under 14 years; 150 yards; Ist prize £l, 2nd ss;

entrance Is Fred Gray 1, Johnny Dick 2, George Miller 3. This was a good race, about a dozen competing.

B—Open Handicap Hurdle Race, 220 yards* over 6 flights of hurdles, 3 feet 6 inches in height; Ist prize £2 10s, 2nd prize 10s; entrance 3s Bwann, scratch, 1; Burna, 14yds, 2; Loomb, Syds, 3. Spence, Carrington, Johnstnne, I'Bite, and Morgan also started. There waa a splendid race, the winner just ■purring to the front when close to the tape. Time, 30 2-sth seconds. 4—Half Mile Scurry, for horses that have never won a race of any description; prize £5; entrance 5s

McKenzie’s Maccaroni (McKenzie) 1, J* Atkins' Little Moral 2, Scott's Skylark 3. The other entries were: Griffin’s Wine Glass, H Watson's Z ,e. Wilkinson’s Frezo, Bresnahan's Lynn, Buchanan's Cora, Eru’s Skylark. Haac'ie’s Star Johnstone's Pepper, Kepa’sPikau. Fa mer’s QueenDiek, Dunlop’s Tai, and Reynold.' May Queen, This waa a lire race, with a splendid finish, the winner Only having the advantage of a neck; time, 54 4 sths, May Queen wai fourth. 6—Handicap Trotting Face, in harness; twice round course; prize £o, en trance 7s 6d

Albert’s Billy, scr, 1; Smoke’s Pony, 10 sees, 2, Romers' William, 15sec, 3, J. Stevenson’s Spinner, scr, 4; Ereatara’s Kerei, laseo, 5. William broke just at the start. Half way round for the first time, Pony took the lead. Billy was travelling splendidly and gm to the front at the turn, having a good 100 yards at the stand, when he lost a few yards by a break. Spinner was coming up gradually, and was on even terms with Pony, while the latter left the grey behind. Spinner made a break and allowed Bi' ly to again increase his lead. Pony was coming up beautifully, while Spinner kept giving trouble, and was caught by William, the grey being left behind. There was a grand race down the straight, but Billy could not be collar d, and was warmly applauded on coming in first by about 20 yards William was third and the other pair slackened off. Time 7.45.

B—St. Patrick's Handicap, 440 yards ; first prize £5; 2nd prize £1; entrance 6s Swann, scratch, 1; Burns, 27yds, 2; Witty, 17yds. 8 Bwann ome jnei when he liked and won with ease; Witty bad passed Burns, but the latter shot forward again into second place. Only the three ran, and the lime was miserable.

7— Handicap Pony Trot (14 hands and nnder); prize £3: entrance 6s ; distance 2 miles McKay's Daisy, ssec, 1; Nutting's Jenny, ■cratch. 2; Steggall’s Black Bvss, fiseo, 3 Ober starters : Sawyer’s Bose, Svec ; Owen's Boutte, 5; Par doe’s Maud S 5; Gaskell's Poverty. 15; Arthur’s Jack, 25; Buchanan's Nora, 30. The race soon resolved into a match between Daisy and Jenny, and with a more experienced rider the little creamy would probably hive won from the scratch. The time was 8.12. Jimmy Buchanan, in bis gay colors, gave a humorous side to the race. Finding himself away to the rear, he sent his nag into a gallop, to save the disgrace (to hie mind) of being lasi, and he succeeded in giving a double interest to the race, and got Well clapped for (bis exertions to prevent his becoming ths whippir iu. 8— Old Men's Handicap Eace, 100 yards; prize £1; entrance la; 50 year* or over Coppin, 20 yards, 1; R. M. Skset, 25 yards, 2; Witty, scratch. 8. Captain Daly also made a good run fur it, with ten yards start. Th* race was a very popular one, the elderly man running with a speed that man/ of tbeir younger fellows could not excel, The time *■l l4 seconds,

9—Ladies’ Bracelet, value £5, Lady yideM only, for horses that have Sever iron public money; entrance 6b; Bracelet now on vww in Mr Good's window Sheet’s Skylark (Miss Mate), 1; Mrs W Ikiflaon’a Frezo (ifi s Anderson), 2; Miss Milone’s Duchess (Miss Malone), 3. .The Other starters were : Mrs Griffen’s Wineglass, Miss Hooper’s St. Patrick, Mre Suff’s Pani, MiM Sbeebv’s Murewai, and Miss Ryan’s Ztyßae. This was undoubtedly *he popular triut of the day. Miss Mcßoher s soon got front with Wineglass, and there waa a *•?’J. 00 *.,™ 38, was B°log well, ridden, and Duchess was going wNHiI, Md looked a likely winner, keeping

second position for some time. Skylark was generally about fourth, but nearing the turn the iron gey was brought along ata grtal pace, Mibh Mate’s dark tresses streaming, in the air, while she was doing all that she knew to make the contest a race to the finish. At the corner Duchess was done, and there was a grand race up the straight between the horses mounted by Miss Anderson and Miss Mate. There was gn at cheering from the grandstand. Skylark dashed to the front and was proclaimed winner, and on returning to smile at the judges the rider was again loudly cheered, 10—Open Handicap Mile Race; Ist prize £3; 2nd prize 10s ; entrance 4s Wilson, 20yds, 1; McFarlane, 10yds, 2 Seward, scratch, 3. O’Meara le<l for some distance, but was worn down at the turn home, and Wilson had the race with ease. Time. sua 255.

11—High Jump for Horses ; prize £3; entrance 5s McFarlane’s Pride (Ball) 1, Reynolds’ May Queen (vVyllie) 2. Wizard, Vagabond, and Tui also competed. Pride and May Queen got over the 4ft lOin, and failed at sft, and the prize was awarded by points of merit. Willie WyPie’s riding of the ticklish “propper” May Queen was a clever bit of work, though the rider did get grassed once.

12— Race for Girls under 14 years; 150 yards; first prize £l, 2nd prize ss; entrance Is Ethel Price 1, May Harris 2, Nellie Ready 3. This was an interesting race, for which there were many entries. 13— Handicap Trotting Race, 2 miles ; prize

£5; entrance 7s 61 McQuillan’s Hurricane (Primrose), 15 sec, 1; Stevenson’s Spinner (Stevenson), 10 sec, 2. The other entries were—Wineglass 10 sec; Jenny, Kerei, and Madam, 25; Billy, Clipper, and Karokaro, scratch; William, Karaitiana, Betsy, and Royalty, 10; Bess, and Maori Boy, 15. Hurricane soon had the lead, and being well ridden and going very steadily the whole way, he won witn comfort.

It being then five o’clock, it was considered too late to begin the game of hurley.

During the day an extra item was added to the programme, and proved a very interesting one, though many missed the pleasure of seeing it. Mr P. Ryan and Mr Donovan had an argument as to their respective merits in the pedestrian line, and a challenge was made and accepted. The sum of a couple of pounds were all the stakes, but the fun was in much greater proper ion, and a large crowd collected at the back of the grandstand. Ryan was allowed five yards’ start, but he won by nearly as much, though the contest was an exciting one.