CALEDONIAN SPORTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8743, 17 December 1913, Page 7

CALEDONIAN SPORTS.

THE METHVEN'S SOCIETY'S GATHERING.

UNPROPITIOUS CONDITIONS

|Officers.—Patrons, 'Messrs W. J. ( Dickie, M.P., James McLean, Wm. ". Morgan, K. Holland, A. McKay, I James Cullen, and AVilliam Campbell ; president, Mr Timothy Twomey; vice-presidents, Messrs A. Murray, and C. A. Cuff j treasurer, Mr H. Green; secretaries, Mr F. L. Buttle and "Mi* James Mauger. : • Officials.—Judges: Running, Messrs E. E. Weavers, Jas. McLean and W. J. Percy; cycling, Messrs A. Murray, K. Aitken, J. Crawford and D. McDonald, general sports, hammer, Mr P. McNeill; wrestling, Mr T. Twomey; ball throwing, Mr P. McNeill ; caber, Mr T. Clark; chainstepping and sheaf-throwing, Messrs J)enis McKendry, D. Home, R. Holland, S. J. Carleton, and H. Cooke; [ jumping events, Messrs R. Holland and W. Aitken; handicappers, cyclings and running, Mr Hasseli; district" : events, Messrs C.' Wi Doherty "and J. Mauger; judge bagpipe music, Mr D. Walker; Highland dancing, Mr R. McDonald; timej keepers, Messrs F. S. Barrett, J. F. Stone, G. Cormack, J. Crawford; referee, Mr C W. Doherty; starters, Messrs C. A. Cuff and J. T. Mangin.

The Methven Caledonian Society held its second annual gathering in the Methven Domain yesterday (Anniversary Day). The Society was very unfortunate as regards weather conditions, which were, to say the least, decidedly unpleasant and even more disagreeable than those which prevailed at the initial meeting last year. At the time of the commencement of the first event, rain -was falling more or less heavily, and it continued during the whole afternoon. The ground became very wet and slushy underfoot, and the rain brought with it a keenness that wasi the reverse of enjoyable. In spite of_ these uninviting conditions there was a very good attendance, many travelling to the Mount Hutt centre from Christchurch and Aehburton, whilst a number of those who competed came from various distant parts of the South Island.

A very attractive and well filled programme, with liberal cash prizes, was presented by the committee. Many of the Highland and other events had to be postponed until the evening, and others put off altogether, in consequence of the climatic conditions. Several of the best known and most skilful Highland dancers and bagpipe players were present' and rendered 'selections at short intervals during the afternoon. The bicycle events were run off under very great difficulties and the track was exceedingly greasy. In practically every event contestants had spills, but without personal injury. The cyclists stuck to their work with great gameness, and one of the most exciting events of the day was the open two mile cycle race. Cant, the scratch man, who had been riding particularly well all day, had a spill, but, re-mounting his machine, he made up a lot of lost ground, and eventually won with a little to spare. He received an ovation. The flat races were well contested and were mildly interesting. The dancing platform was much too wet and was against good dancing and many adjourned to the asphalte tennis courts, where several events were got off and others postponed till the evening. The various officials each and all carried out their multifarious duties satisfactorily. The catering was in r the hands of Mr A. C: Street, and" the luncheon put on gave every satisfaction. The Ashburton County Scottish Pipe Band was in attendance and played several pleasing pieces whilst the sports werei in. progress. The following were the results:—

' 100 Yards District Maiden,; Handicap.—J. Burdon (ecr) 1, D. J. Gordon (2yds) % A. McLean (2yds) 3. Nine started. A good finish. Time— One Mile and a-half District Maiden Cycle Handicap.—W. J. Nee (20yds) 1, G. A. Wilson (150 yds) 2,. J. Stone. (80. yds) 3. W. Toon (scr), H. Le Comte (scr), E. Hurst (20yds), E. Dillimore (20yds), F. Tapling (20yds), D. J. Gordon (80yds), L. Burrows (100 yds), A. Baldwin (100 yds), J. Quigley (130 yds), C. Quigley (130 yds), R. G. McLean (130 yds) and A. Murray (150 yds) also started. A close and even race, with an exciting finish. Time— 100 Yards Flat Handicap (amateur). _W. J. Mauneell. (2yds) 1, O. S. Thomas (scr) 2., Seven started. Won on the tape, after a good fight. Time, 10 2-ssecs. , One Mile Open Cycle Handicap.— First heat: W. Knappley (110 yds) 1, F. Tapling (120 yds) 2, H. W. Cant (scr) 3. Two others also started. The. scratch • man had a big handicap to overcome, but with two-thirds of the distance gone he had made up a lot of ground. He could not reach the leaders, however, and Knappley won by about'2o yards, with 30 yards separating second and third. Time, 2mm 47 l-ssec. Second heat: J. McTigue | (25yds) 1, H. J. Knight (95yds) 2, J. .Dobbin (105 yds) 3. Seven started. The 'limit men were in a bunch with halt the distance gone. Later. Knight went to the fore, followed by Monarty, who. however, .fell. McTigue came up with a great spurt and won by about six yards,, Time 2mm 47 3-ssec. Final? Knight 1, McTigue 2. The scratch men had gamed about one-nrtn of a lap the first time round. On going into the back t stretch Dobbin and Knight were leading, followed by the rest of the field strung out. Dobbin and Cant fell about half-way round and Knight went into first place followed by McTigue. The former won pulling up. with McTigue, second, about dO Yds away.; Time, 2min 43secs. . . ' 220 Yards Hurdles Open Handicap.— AY. Burrows («cr) 1, J. A. Burdon <16vds) 2 Six started. Burdon led over the hurdles till the last one, when he fell, just short of the tape, enabling Burrows," the scratch man, to'get in. Time, Imin 35 4-ssecs. One Mile District Cycle Handicap.— J Stone (60yds) 1, W. Knappley (25 yds) 2, H. J. Knight (scr) 3. Eleven started. On coming into the home stretch all the riders were in. a bunch. There were several good spurts and the last 30 yards was a splendid finish between Stone and Knappley. The for-' mer won by a length. Time, 2rnin 47 4-ssecs. • ' ;" 100 Yards Boys' Race.—F. McKendry (10yds) 1. L. Templeton (scr) and G. Gillespie (7yds) a dead heat. • Fifteen started. Won by half a yard. Time, 12sec. One Mile Boys' Cycle Handicap.— D. McSherry (20vds) 1, C. Stills fsor) 2, A. McCormack (50yds) 3. Nine

started. Won easily, pulling up. Time 2min 47 2-ssecs. „ „.'.'.■ 100 Yards Open Handicap.—First heat: H. Fryer (lyd) *, f- A- Tli™er (6yds) 2, A. Fergus (4yds) 3. Four others also started. Won by a y^arcL Time 10 4-ssecs. Second heat: J. -Hurdon (6|yds) 1, C. W. Turner (4yds) 2,, H. W. Wright (scr) 3. Six started. Won by a yard and a-half.' Time, 10 3-ssecs. Final: H. Fryer 1, W. A. Turner 2. A splendid race and gamely 'fought. Time, 10 4-osecs. . ■ ■ ■ . „. 135 .Yards. Sheffield Handicap.—First heat: H. W. Wright (scr) 1, J. Burdon (Byds) 2, C. W. Turner (syds) 3. J Dick (7yds), F. W. Fagan (7£yds) and J. Daily (9yds) also started. An even race; won by a foot. Time, 14 2rssecs. Second heat: H. Fryer (scr) 1, W v . A. Turner/(7yds) 2, A.' Fergus (syds) .3. T. W. Dodds lyd), D. J. De a Com(6yds), W. Ovei-end (Byds) and D. J. Gordon (9yds) also started. A magnificent race. Won on the tape.' Time, 14 3-ssecs. Final: C. W. Turner 1, H. Fryer 2, W. A. Turner 3. An exciting race. Won by a foot. Time, 14 l-ssec. Two Mile Open Cycle Handicap.—M. Moriarty (20yds) 1, J. M. Smith (105 yds) 2, J. Dobbin (190 yds) 3. Two others also started. This was a very leisurely ridden race and at the end of tlie first mile all were riding in a bunch. In the last lap, Monarty shot out and won by 10 yards, with 5 yards between second and third. Time,; 6min. Second heat: H. W. Cant (scr) 1, H. J, Knight (170 yds) 2, F. Brown (105 yds) 3. Six started. The scratch men had over half a lap to make good, but at jbhe end of the first mile' they had lessened that distance by one half. At the last lap, Cant, , the scratch man, had the others caught and he eventually won easily by several lengths. Time, smin 33 4-ssecs. Final: H. W. Cant 1, J, Dobbin 2, H. J. Knight 3. There were two spills before the end of half a mile. At the one-mile mark Dobhin and Knight were leading, with Cant handy about 50 yards in the rear. The latter rider had caught up at the entrance to the last lap, but he with Knight had a spill. With little delay Cant got astride his machine~and again caught the leaders three-quarters of a lap from home. With a magnificent spurt he secured the lead and rode into first, place, winning by half a dozen yards. The race of the day. Time, *6mi» 4 2-ssecs. One Mile Amateur Flat Race.—G. Duff (175 yds) 1, W. J. L. Smith (110 yds) 2, G. Richards (90yds) 3. Six started. Three pulled out during the race. Duff won by 4 yards with one and a half yards between second and third; Time, 4min 34sec. 440 Yards Flat' Open Handicap.—D. J. De la Oour (—) 1, H. Fryer (Byds) 2, A. Laurence (24yds) 3 f Seven started. Won by three yards, with five yards between second and third. Time, 52 2-5 sees. .880 Yards Flat Open Handicap.—W. A. Turner (60yds) 1, W. Tavener (20 yds) 2, A. Laurence (—) 3. There were -11 starters. Tavener was leading up till within 60 yards from home, when Turner spurted and won by 3 yards. Time, 2min 2 2-ssecs. . Three Mile Open Cycle Handicap.— F. Tapling (320 yds) 1, W. Knappley (285 yds) 2,' H. J. Knight (240 yds) 3. There were nine starters. The race was a procession and several riders had spills, whilst others pulled out. The winner, who was on the limit mark, led the whole way and was never troubled. He won by streets. Time, 9min 59secs. Highland Fling, McKechnie 1, J. Fraser 2, Currie 3; Highland Reel, costume, Kilgour 1, Currie 2, J. Fraser 3: sailor's hornpipe, McKechnie 1, Dickie 2, Currie 3; sheaf^tossing competition, Fechney 1, J. Dolan 2; tossing the cabery J..:-Thoinpson l,: t S. Baird 2, B. Fechney 3. Long Jump—W. Burrows 1, J. A. Burdon 2. Sack Race ■— H. Wright 1, A. Fergus 2. Pibroch —A. .'GL-Dickson 1, J. Cameron 2. Marches (open)—A. O. Dickson, l f D. McKechnie 2. Marches (local)—D. Hay 1, R. G. McLean 2. Highland Fling (local)— Misses D. Turner and McLachlan 1, A. McLachlan 2. Irish Jig—S. Dickey 1, R. Currie and A. Kilgour (dead heat) 2. , Open Wrestling—J. •Kay 1, R. Corbett 2, E. Thomas 3. Strathspeys—A..W. Dickson 1, J. Cam-. eron:2. Throwing, the Hammer (161b.) ; —S-. Baird 1, J. O'Grady 2. Putting the Ball—J. O'Grady 1, S. Baird 2. Tossing the Caber—F. Thompson 1, S. Baird 2. ' Chain Stepping J. T. Doherty, F. Fagan and F. Blackmore all equal. High Jump—D. Gordon 1,6. McAnulty 2, J. Burdon 3. Baby Show (boys)— Mrs" Weaver 1, Mrs Cooper 2; girls, Mrs T. Cleeves 1, Mrs G. Cleeves 2.