THE FEILDING SPORTS.

Manawatu Times, Volume 29, Issue 103, 29 December 1880, Page 2

THE FEILDING SPORTS.

The Feilrling Athletic Sports came off or Monday, the 27th ins!;., and proved bj fai the mosi successful gathering of the nature which has taken place on the West Coa*t. Every train which reached the ground whether, from Nor.tb ov South, came lader with its freight of humanity, and nt .mf tima—^counting men, women, and r-hillrer — there could not, have been less tluvn between three and four thousand assembled together. The Spor.ls wore not h«ld m t.lif same p^ce as on the last oce:isic>!j, but m ;i paddook adjoining, a site admirably adapted for tbe purpose, and liaTin;? all the appearance of a miniatrre Flemington — a natural hill, capable of holding two or throe thousand people, rising at the back of the course, and overlooking the running ground. The Committee are deserving of the highest commendation for the results of their labors during the past year, and can ha compli mented upon having as fine a ground for foot-racing as therfl is m the North Island, while the arrangements for the enrrvinrr out of the Sports were of the most efficient and satisfactory character. An antique, buf most convenient building has been erected, which serves the double purpose of a Secretary's office for the reception of entrances and acceptances, nnd a dressing room or the competitors. The runntnar-ground has been ploughed, levelled, sown down m grass, and on Monday was m splendid order, the fault, if any, being thnt it was just a trifle too hard, It is oval m shape, and warded m by a good strong picked fence— the only mistake which we consider has been made m the whole arrangements, as the sharp points were a decided nuisance to those who would care to make the Fence a means of support. A rail run abng the top would serve the purpose of the Committee equally as well, and be a source of comfort, not a nuisance to the public. The runningground from fence to fence is just two hundred yards lp length, and consequently races up to that extent can be run upon the straight, the longer ones being mind the Course, the laid- off frank of which is a quarter: of a mile. The paddock, which bao been presented to the Club by the Corpora, tion, is sixteen acres iv extent, nnd although the Commit' ee hnve expanded considerably over £100 m improvement, they are now without a penny's liability, so" that large as were the prizes offered this year,, it is more than possible they vyill be m a position to offer even greater inducements next. And while upon this subject, we may remark that the absence of competition, or compe* tifcors from a distance was most marked, for [considering that over £150 were given away Pze», we should hare imagined eompetU nmld have been drawn from all proi and both Islands. It. is true there Sports held at other placo.B, but th« offered were a mere bagatelle comwith those given at Feilding. In th<

face of that, we wore surprised to miss from the nominations such names as Crofts, Neary, JFv^sev, and M'Gfregorin the walking matches ; and M'Pherson, Brooks, Turner, Copeland, Braithwaite, Mettavo, ? Hood, and a host of others m the running contests j while the acceptances showed a still further redyctjon m an. already small list. Thi? had CL» fc'flfecri>tii«iateMally^red ncing the. spoi't, and although it must, bo allotvecl that th« time m which mostof the evnts wete performed was surprisingly cjuick, still much more interest would have prevailed had such, men as Webber and Vaughan competed. Although as many as twenty-seven nomination* had been received for aom,e of the. events, the largest number which faced the starter Yfas m the Hundred Yards Handi* cap, when eight, oujof twenty- four toed the mark. Certainly the number of outsiders op competitors from a distance was nob so large this j ear as on former occasions, but even allowing fox that, the great majority of the events were won by men m the district, H. Johnston heading the list with the Palmerston Cup, the County Cup, and. the Mile Flat. For th» latter evept 0- W. Walker was looked upon as a certain winner, but you never can tell until the numbers are up, for although he started at 110 yards with Johnston, the latter shot ahead, and beat him by fully that distance. A most laughubJe feature m the d»y*s amusement wa3 a race between (he' numbers of the Patchwork Company, run m long coats, hell-toppers, spectacles, with pipe 3 and cignrs. Major Palliser — si* feet three — started at scratch, and Corne.t Hill — three feet six— at 150, the. trophy being a monster tin cup, into which the winner, young Hill, was bundled at the c inclusion, of the race, ami iie disappeared from, the gaze o| the .■■pev; at.Ma, PALMEESTOtf CUP* One mile. First prize, Cpb, value, £10; second, £2; entrance, 5/. Cup to be won two year.-i out of three before, becoming the properly of the winner, Johnsl on (110 yards) 1 Sexton (100 yards) ... 2 This was a very hollow affair as only three men — Johnston, Reid, and Sexton — started, and a.s the first-named had ten yards' start of tho other two he won a» he pleased. HANDICAP WALKIN* MATCH. Two miles. First prige, £7 ; second, £2 i Third, 1 y entrance 7/. France (80 vaHs) ... ... ... 1 Belfast (90 yards); ... ... ... 2 Zesch (45 yards) ... ... ... 3, Although there were eleven nominations, the acceptances dwindled^own to four. J. Knight startiag at sixty yards, with France twenty yards and Belli thirty yards m advance. The advantage was apparently too much, as although he made a gcand effort on the fourth round, he could not keep up the pace, and did not get p^aced^. Zesch was a bad third. 100 YARDS* HANDICAP. First prize* £5 ; second, £1 ; entrance 5/. FIRST HEAT. Marshall (3 yards) 1 Woods (scratch) 2 G. B. Walker (9 yards), and Snow (7 yards), also oompeted", the latter being third. Time, 10£ sees. SECOND HBAT. Warhrick (2 yards) 1 E. Davy (2 yards) ... 2 Munro and Hodges, both of whom got nine yards sfrart, also competed, but they never showed m the race. Time, eleven seconds. Davy evidently did not strive to take first place, being quite satisfied to take second, as of course- he wou'd possess the same advantage — that of competing again. The first and seconds, then, m the two heats faced the starter, each one. having the handicaps set down abore. FINAL HEAT. Woods, 1 Marshall % Warbrick 3 For some reason Davy mistook the starter and remained behind. Woods, cont.ra-y to his usual custom started badly, but soon collared Marshall, and a beautiful r-ace ensued, Woods breasting the tape a few inches m advance of his opponent, the. hoadrtd yards being covered m 10^ sees. YAULTIN& WITH TBE B0H& First prize, £3 ; second prize, £1. For this event there were, four competitors, Laing and Mason (Maoris)} Bead and Wurbrick. At seven feet Read mci with & nasty accident, the top of the pole eaterin hi* mouth, and ripping his tongue, open. Mason fell out at eight feet six, and Warbrick failed to clear nine feet, nt whigh height Laing was declared the winner. CHAMPION BACE. 200 ,vnH<?; open to all comers; first prize, £7 ; second, £2. Marshall 1 Woods j 2 This wns one of the grandest races of the day, and ¥r Pollock, the starter had the Croats! difficulty m gett'ne the men away., As Ihi? endo^'l ground wns just; 200 yards, ihe men .\ Tars hail, Warbrick, K. Davoy, and Woods -were bark close to the fence. Thela'tpp would persist m going over the line, ami were it possible woul'.l have been nu! back, 'nit of course the fence interfer--1)12, thai could not he done. .As it was, he (jot the advantage, while Warhrick was left HpViind iiltogerher. Ar the 100 yards' dis^ imvi 1 , Wood-s and Marshall werfl abreast, but when :ihout. twenty yards from home the latter nut on n, spurt and won by about n hand amidst great cheering. Time, 2ii sees. STANDING HIGH JUMP. Lama (4 ft. 1 inch) 1 E. Davev (4 feet) 2 Mason (3 ffc. 10 inches) O STANDING LONG JUMP. Marshall (9 ft. 4 inches)!' 1 E. Davey (9 ft. 2 inches) ... 2 Laing, Mason, West, and Cole also com* peted. MANCHESTER HANDICAP. One mile. First prize, £15 j second, £4 ; third, £1. Johnston (110 yai'ds) 1 W. J Davey (100 yards) ... 2 Sheerin (75 yards) 3 Snnson (100 yards) 0 C. W. Walker (110 yards) ... 0 G. B. Walker (100 yards) ... 0 Laing (00 vnrds) 0 Milner (110 yards) ... 0 This was the race of the day, but out of twenty"seven nominations, only the above accepted. The race was a gift to Johnston, who started off with a plunge, and during the four laps which constituted the mile rather incre/vsed than lessened his wpeed, winning as he liked. When he reached the tnpe he ducked under, but had plenty of time to return and breast it bpfore the second man came near him. There is no doubt that with his handicap it was a regular giFt to him, but so it was thought to be to 0. W. Walker, who had been put on equal terms with him. Time, 4 minutea 42 seconds. BOTS BACE. — 150 TABDS. Belfit 1 There was a dead hfiat between Arnitand Foster, but m the run off the latter won, although the little one ran m the gatnest manner. THROWING THE HAMMER. Hughes (68 feet 10 inches) ... 1 Cameron (68 feet 3 inches) ... 2 Roach, Booth, Warbrick, and Troy also competed. THB COTTNTT CUP. (Presented by the ladiei of ffeMing) tftd,

£8 ; second prize, £3 ; third prize, £1. Open to persons who had been three monthi resident m the County preri&uy to the race. Di*tanee, 440 yardi. f | Johnston (9 yards) ... •♦• ••• 1 Sheerin. (6 yards) .., v . „. £ ' Sievers (12 yards) ..< ...... .•■...'*"« &' Munro (12 yards) ... 'w !^ aH '' : Snow (scratch) ... ... • „,* Q- v T. H. Davey (8 yards) ... ... O The scratch, man, Snow, jumped off afriß. splendfd pace, and quickly cut through his men taking a position, but when half the distance was coTered the. spaed told upon, him, and be fell back beaten. Johnston kept the lead all through, but when about a hundred yards from home Sheerin spurted grandly, and oame m a good second. Time, 6SJ seconds. ,= ;. : • . • HOP, STBP AND JUMP, Warbrick (37 feefc 10* inches.) „ V , Cole, (Maori) (37 feet. 2 inches) » ■Rvvmva lo3jt» jump.. . , Marshall (18 feet 9 inches) ... 1 Warbrick (18 feet 8, inehet) ... %. „• HANDICAP mmDIB. ..,,...*• 820 Yards, over ten hurdlea, 3ft. 6b. high. First prize, £10,- second* £$; third, 10s. • . J£. Davey (4yarda)..« 1 Marshall (4 yards) ... ... .... 2. Laing (15 yards) ... 3 W. J. Davey (17 yard") ... ..; 0. ■ i Woods (seratoh) ... ... .... ft ! Sievers (20 yards) .... 0. I Woods never showed m, front at all, young ; Davey being well ahead wh^n he. was oxer hauled by hjs brother* and , they both rose to the hurdles together j' however^ at the j Ijast one W. J. Dayey fell ana. Marshal^ who had also fallen, but jpecovered himself, put on a grand apurt and ha.d. a hty-d tussle for first but had to rest contented with, s^qend, Laing being third. . .Time, 34} tecs. ,-' BUNKING HIOH JUMP. Warbrick (5 feet). .......... 1 Laing (5 feet) ... ... .. v ... V They divided first and second prizes. Cameron, Shannon, and E. Payey also competed, ■ HAKDIOAP WAXKING- i^ATOH. Oaemile. First prize, £§; second, £1 ; third, 10/. ' Belflt (7O.yardj3> „. .... ... 3, France (50 yards) ... ... ".,;•' 2 Humphrey (65 yards) , 3 Coater (65 yards) ... 0 Knight (4D yards) ... 0 Zesch (30 yards) ... 0 When the pistol waa heard Zesck started of at a killing pact, which he' kept tip for about 400 yards and them fell back pumped out, never showing »jgain> Knight made game efforts to lessen the' distance between himself and thoße ahead of him, but after the first round gare m, an,d retired j Coster following his example a little while afterwardjs. Thf position* then were Belfit leading, Humphrey second, Prance coming' up, with Zesch laboring behind. . These places were not reversed until the fourth lap, and within about a hundred yards from home, when Franca collared and passed Humphrey and made a gallant dash to catch Belfit. The latter however gave a similar spurt breasting th 6 taps, about three yards m advaijce. Time, 7- mm, 38- seos. • OONSOIiATION HANDICAP. 150 yards. First prize, £5} second). £l. Hodges (16 yards) ... ... ... l" W. J; Davey (14 yai>ds>..k ... 2 Snow (10 yards) ... ... ... » Laing (18 yards) .*.., .... .... 0 \ Warbriok (scratch)... 0 } Munro (18 yards) ... ... .... 0 Times, 17 seconds. SIKCINO AT THB BIK.O.

First priz«, $10 j second, £3; third, 10/. Hodge 1 with 9 Booth ... ...i .:i..-i'\.. 2 „ 7 ' Christjie ... ' ... .*, 3 „ 7 Smith ... 0 \, 6 Bc»rrow ... 0 „ 4 Libert „, „, „, 0 „ 3 Mussen ... ... ... 0 „ 3. J>. M'Donald ... ... ft „ 3 Goodi9|on , „. 0 IJt 2 Erethartoa V ... 0 „ 2 J. M'Donald '"-.* ... 0 „ 1 . Stewart .._. 0 „ 1 Drummoad... ... „. 0 „ 1 Shteria ..,' ... i.. 0. ,i 1 ."•' W. Jackson ... ... 0 „0 ■ Callanan - ... ... ... 0 ,^ 0.