SOUTHBRIDGE ANNUAL RURAL SPORTS.

Press, Volume XXV, Issue 3228, 5 January 1876, Page 3

SOUTHBRIDGE ANNUAL RURAL SPORTS.

Committee—Messrs M. S. Campbell, C. J. Bridge, John Smith, William Graham, Wi Bishop, C. Bourne, R. B. Willis, H. H. Chapman, A. T>. Loe, B. Winthrop, H. Paddy, A. Webster, D. Petrie, T. A. Winter, F. G. Cradock, W. Little ; hon treasurer, J. Lewis; hon secretary, J. H. Herd man. These annual sports were held as usual on New Year's day, io Mr John Smith's pad- ! dock, kindly lent for the occasion. The ground is, from its position and siae, in every respect adapted for the purpose, and the shelter afforded by?Mr Smith's plantation adds considerably to the effect. Fully seven hundred persons were present during the day, and thanks to the weather, which was everything that could be desired, seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselve9. The committee, to whom the arrangements of the programme had been entrusted, could not be too highly lauded for the energy they displayed in laying off; the course, and successfully carrying out the different events. The presence of the Southbridge Braes Band added considerably to the liveliness of the scene, and the progress made by the different members of this band, which has only been in existence about three months, reflect*

grCftt credit o» all its -members, and is particularly attributable to their painstaking bandmsJter, Mr BriganariaW. Mr Spring's publican's , booth seemed, to be very _well patronised, end from the appearance towards the close of the day of Messrs Paddj's and Hamilton's stalls, they also mas'; have had no lack of customer*. The duties of there* presentative of the police were, as neaal, very light, no single case of rowdyism or disorder 61 any kind requiring bis notice. The various events were all got on* promptly, and on the whole were rsry well contested. The hack races in particular produced large numbers of entries, and although in each case the winner singled himself out at the start, yet most of the horses were considered by their respective owners and particular friends to have very good chances of success. Kiss-in-the-ring and dancing were Indulged to the strains'of the band towards tfre close of the day, and everyone seemed to gc away thoroughly satisfied with the day's aansemente,£all interested having worked with a will, and no single bitch having occurred to mar the day's enjoyment. Appended are , the results of the various events on the programme. BPo , official recordwae kept of the time in which the different races- were run, birt it is only fair to state that,-as far as could , be judged, had the time been taken it would reflect no , disgrace on the local runners.

Quoit match—lst prize,2Bs; Zad , , I4s; four entries;

Janes-Riven and Gray, equal, j Bace for boys under twelve years, 100 yards —let priae, 14s ; 2nd, 7b ; five entries. W. Bridge 1 H. McCormack 2 Ai Paddy „ k > ... 3 Baca for men,. 100 yards, confined to the district—let prize, 28s; 2nd, 14s ; four entries. Tf: T. Littfle ... ... ... 1 T.Willie 4rr 2 A bad start was made, only the winner got away at' the fall of the flag. The second man reduced the- distance considerably, and when pacing the post not more than three feet intervened between the first and last men. Tiaore, lOJeecr. Putting the Stone-—lst prize, 21s;- 2nd, 8s ; five entries.TomWfllis 1 H.Clark- 2 Wheelbarrow race, 60 yards, blindfolded— Ist prize, 21s ; : 2nd, 10s 6d ; four entries. B. Lockhead ... 1 Aynsley Moore ..„ 2-' This race woe; as usual, the cause of con siderable fun, one of the competitors turned completely round; and would persist in facing the starting point.Bace for Men, 220 yards—let prize, 355; 2nd,14s ; five entries. Tom Willis ... 1 Bob Willis ... 2 W. T. Little ... 3 Throwing the Hammer—lst prize, 14s ; 2nd, 7s; six entries. F. Scott (79ft 6in) 1 J. McCormack (771b 3in) ... 2 Running Long Jump—lst prize, 28s ; 2nd, lte; five entries. Tom Willis (17ft 3tn> ... ... 1 R. Willis (16ft 4in) .„ ... 2 Girls' race, 100 yards—let prize, 10s ; 2nd, Sβ-, eight entries. B.lnnes ... 1 C. Petrie 2 A. Bright ... 3 Running High Jump—let prize, 28s; 2nd, 10s 6d ; five entries. T. Willis (4ft 10in) .„ ... 1 C; Frankish ... ... ... 2 Bunning in Sacks—lst prize, 14s; 2nd, 7s ; four entries. B. Woodard „ ... 1 B. Lockhead 2 Boys' race, under fourteen yeare, 220 yards— Ist prise, 14s ; 2nd, 7s ; five entries. B. Woodard ... 1 8. Bridge 2 Vaulting with Pole—lst prize, 28s; 2nd, 14s;. three entries. C. Frankieh 1 0. Boorne ... 2 Three-legged race—lst prize,. 21b ; 2nd,. 10s 6d ; five entries. Willie and Little... ... ... 1 Smith Brothers 2 Bace for Men, 440 yards—lst prize, 56s ;. 2nd, 21s. W. Little 1 B. Willis . 2 Horizontal Bar (confined to the district)-r— Ist prize, 28s; 2nd, 14s;. special prize, 10s; five entries. Lawler 1 H.Clark ... ... 2 Fred Paddy ... Special Hurdle race for mea, 440 ■ yards> over seven flights of hurdles, 3ft 3in—lst prize, 565; 2nd, 21s; four entries. Tom Willis 1 Eobert Willis ... 2 Bace for Men, one mile, open to all comers, entries added —Ist prize, 595;. 2nd, 20s;. four entries. J. B. Smith 1 Geo. Smart ... **** 2 Haok Bace, one and a half miles, horses to be in the district three aaonths previous to the race, and to be the bvnafide property of residents in the district; no horse having previously won. public money qualified; half entries added—lst prize, £7; 2nd, 40s. W. Mcllraith's Waterhenfilly ... ... 1 B.Frankieh's Silvertail 2 W. Hawkin's Biddy ... 3 Consolation Hack race—lst prize, 645; 2nd, 28s. Six Entries. B. Frankish's Silvertail ... 1 W. flankin's Biddy 2 Trotting race, three miles—lst prize (whip) and entries, 70s;.2nd, 20s; nine entries. A. Story's Peggie ... .... 1 J. H. Doyle's Queen ... 2 L. White's Johnnie ... ... 3 The race from the commencement lay between Peggie and Queen. The winning horse, although a bit lame, trotted well from the first, and was only once collared. When passing the winning post the second time the rider of Queeo, who was a trifle ahead, pulled up inadvertently, and was never able to recover the lost ground. The mare also broke two or three times, probably owing to the turf and frequent curves in the course. With this event was concluded the day's programme.