RANGIORA SPORTS.

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2707, 3 January 1872, Page 3

RANGIORA SPORTS.

These sports were held as usual on New dear's Day, in a paddock belonging to Mr J. G. Bailey, which had been kindly lent for the occasiou, and which was admirably suited for the purpose, although in consequence of the long drought the ground was very hard for running aud jumping. The members of the committee were astir in good time on the morning of the sports, and were soon busy in getting the course marked off and the ring erected for the wrestling, &c. During the day nearly 1000 people visited the ground ; between two and four o'clock especially there was a regular crowd, the fair sex being well represented. The Fife and Drum Band of No. 4 C.H.V. was in attendance, and seemed to enliven the people, as dancing was kept up with spirit all the time they were playing. Mr Wild had a publican's booth on the ground and did a roaring trade, while in the eatables Messrs.George and Robertson supplied the wants of the people. The committee were Messrs Stephens, H. Boyd (sec.), J. Luxton, jun., Wheeler. J. Luxton, sen. Bcoone. Mr Buss acted as starter, and Mr Rickman as judge.

Hack Hurdle Race, 1 mile. Ist, £3 ; 2nd,

£1 10s :3rd. 10s. Five entries. Mr Vallance's Tally Ho 1 Mr Collius 1 Prince 2 Mr Carter's Madcap ... 3 Mr Murfitt's Scud 0 Mr Brandon's Strike-a-Light 0 The next race was Hack Sweepstakes of 10s; 1 mile. Five entries. Mr Ashley's Sugar Plnm 1 Mr Malcolm Duncan's Mickey Free ... 2 Mr Vallance's Spitfire 3 Mr Attewell's Punch 0 Mr Ruddick's Kathleen ... 0 This race resulted in a dead heat between Sugar Plum and Mickey Free, who ran it over again, when Sngar Plum won easily. Hack Flat Race. 1 mile. 14 entries. Ist prize, £3 ; 2nd, £1 10s ; 3rd, 10s. Mr Rickur's Tackatoo 1 Mr Frame's Rambler 2 Mr Vallance's Spitfire 3

Mr Collins' Prince, Mr Attewell's Punch, Mr Brandon's Strike-a-Light, Mr McGowan's Maori Girl, Mr P. Carter's Peter Flat, Mr Ruddick's Kathleen, Mr Little's Nelly, Mr Murfitt's Miller, Mr Morrison's chesnut, and Mr Kidley's grey also ran, but were distanced.

Trotting Match. IJ mile. Ist prize, £3 ; 2nd, £1 10s ; 3rd, 10s. Ten entries. Mr Palmer's Bess 1 Mr Collier's Bill 2 Mr Luxton's Bay 3 The others were Mr Boyd's Mag, Mr Free's Buckeye, Mr Robertson's Toss, Mr McNaught's Rachel, Johnny's (Maori), Maori, Mr Derritt's Norah, Mr Osborne's Moses. A protest was entered against Billy, which will be decided by the committee at their next meeting on Thursday. The Men's Hurdle Race was the next event. 440 yards. Ist prize, £1; 2nd, 10s; 3rd, ss. Six entries. G. Wornall 1 R.Smyth 2 Thos.Boyd 3 Messrs Delamain, Cunningham, and Chapman also entered. At the fall of the flag Smyth jumped away with tbe lead, closely followed by Wornall and Boyd. This order was maintained until about 150 yards from the winning post, when Wornall pnt on a splendid spnrt, and passed Smyth, winning a well-contested race by four or five yards, Boyd third. All the competitors took the hurdles in capital style. Putting the Stone. Ist prise, £2; 2nd, 10s. Twelve entries. McAdam ... l Wornall 2 McCutcheon... ... ... ... ... 3 This was very well contested, several others, Anderson, Macfarlane, and Stark throwing well and close on to the winners. High Jump with Pole—lst prize, £1 ; 2nd, mcd; 3rd, 7i6d. Five entries.

*VT. Rcobhand Collier i T. Boyd ... .;..': "..r " ... ... 3 Storey 0 Waiting ... ... ... ... ..- 0 In this class there were fewer competitors than last year, the well known abilities of Scoon and Collier no doubt deterring some from entering. Boyd, Storey, and Waiting jumped very well until Bft was reached, wheu the three went out at the same time, leaving the competition to Scoon and Collier, when both of them managed to clear the tops of the uprights, and, to save further trouble, divided the first and second prizes Iv-tween them. The height cleared was about Bft Sin. and both men seemed able to jump a fi-w inches higher, especially Collier, who did the last jump in capital style, aud with apparent ease. Running High Jump—lst prize. £1 ; 2nd, 7s fid ; 3rd, 2s Cd; Six entries. Wornall 1 Brandon and T. Boyd equal In the fiist round Wornall won first prize by jumping 4ft Sin, and Brandon. T. Boyd, and M'Cutcheon tied for the second, which was then jumped off, and ended in another tic between Brandon aud T. Boyd at sft lin. so the second and third prizes were divided between them. Standing High Jump—lst, 12s 6d ; 2nd, 7s <sd. Five Entries. Wornall, 4ft oin ]

Smyth, 4ft 4in 2 T. Boyd, W. Boyd, and Brandon, also competed.

This event was very closely contested, Wornall winning by only an inch ; the same between the second and third.

Men's Mile Race—lst prize, £1; 2nd, 10s ; 3rd, ss. Six entries. Thomas l Murfitt 2 Nott 3

Ross. Smyth, and Brandon, were the other competitors.

This race was expected to go to Murfitt, but Thomas, who ran very strong, and well, was too much for him. Smyth took the lead at starting, and ran well for some time, but the distance was evidently too much for him. and iv the second lap Thomas came to the front, followed by Murfitt and Nott. At the end o' this lap BraDdon gave in, leaviugthe race to Thomas. Murfitt, and Nott. Thomas continued his lead all round the third lap, and came in a winner by twenty yards, Murfitt 2nd, wi:h Nott well up. Long Jump—lst, 15s; 2nd, 7s 6d. Four entries. Curlet ... 1 W.Boyd ... ' ... 2 Grainger ... ... ... ... ... 0 T.Boyd 0 Next came the Ladies' Race—lst, a new dress and 10s ; 2nd, ss; 3rd, 2s 6d ; for which there were nine entries. Lydia (Maori) 1 Cunydiddy (Maori) 2 Mrs Bloomfield 3 The Maori women ran a capital race, beating all the other competitors. Girls' Race—Thirteen entries. Ist, a new dres3 ; 2nd, new hat; 3rd, 2s 6d. S. Jones 1 Annie Bell 2 Maria Thompson 3 Wheelbarrow Race (blindfolded) —Ist, 12s 6d ; 2nd, 7s 6d. Tbree entries. J. Sharplin 1 T. Martin 2 Brown ... ... ... ... ... 3 This race was run twice, as the first time the winner was guided by a spectator. Old Men's Race, 100 Yards (over 45)—1st, 12s 6d ; 2nd, 7s 6d; 3rd, 2s 6d. Six entries. G.Fisher 1 P. Ponsonby 2 J. Luxton ... ... ... ... ... 3 This race caused a good deal of interest from the known racing qualities of the " old ones." Fisher was favorite, and maintained his reputation by winning a good race by about two yards, Luxton a good third. Three-Legged Race, 100 yards. Ist, 20s ; 2nd, 10s. Seven entries. Wornall and Ashley 1 T. Boyd and vV. Boyd ... 2 Attewell and Patrick 3 This was a well contested race, but Wornall and Ashley were too good for the others, having won the same race at the Woodend sports.

Half-Mile Race. Ist, 12s 6d ; 2nd, 7s 6d Eight entries.

Thomas 1 T. Boyd 2 Cunningham... ... ... ... ... 3 Patrick, Griffiths, Kite, W. Boyd, and Nott also started. Thomas ran a very good race and won easily. 200 Yards Flat Race. Ist, 15s; 2nd, ss; 3rd, 2s 6d. W. Boyd ) , Wornall J ' l T.Boyd 3 Ross ... 0 Griffiths 0 W. Boyd got a good start, and ran very well, with Wornall close on to him, when near the winning post Wornall spurted and caught up to Boyd, and ran a dead heat. As it was getting late the Ist and 2nd prizes were divided between them. T. Boyd, 3rd. Bell Hunt, 108. Nine entries.

This was a new feature in these sports, and caused a great deal of amusement. The competitors are blindfolded, and are to catch and hold the man with the bell, which is tied behind him, and so rings at every step. They are then all turned into the roped enclosure, and many were the collisions and throws they received, the bellman on this occasion being rather rough, and tripping the blindfolded men when they came too near him, which, considering the hardness of the ground, could not have been very pleasant. The bellman was eventually caught by Truman. Sack Race, 100 yards. W. Boyd 1 F. Thome 2 The next event was the. race for the cup given by Mr Nashelski and which the committee decided should be run for by the tradesmen of the town. There were eight entries, Truman, H. Boyd, W. A. Burt, Pearce, Whaler, Johnston, S. Pilly. Thorne. As Iruman was supposed to be the best, he was handicapped 5 yards. At the start Boyd got the lead, with Burt, Truman, and Thorne close up; when nearly home Truman passed the other two and challenged Boyd for the lead, bat coald not succeed in passing him, although at the finish he was not more than a yard behind. Burt, 3; Thorne, 4. Tradesmen's Cap. 200 yards. Given by Mr Nashelski. H.Boyd 1 R.Truman ... 2 W. A. Burt 3 The next race was for the cup given by Messrs G. L. Beath and Co. to be run for by residents of Rangiora, for which six entered. 300 yards. Brandon 1 T.Boyd 2 G00d... 3 Truman and T. Martin also ran. Brandon got the lead at the start and kept it .until the finish, winning easily.

Wrestling Match, Cumberland style. Ten

entries. W. Scoon 1 Watson 2 Brown ... 3 As it was so late (9 o'clock) the Devonshire style of wrestling was not tried.