THE CHAMPION SPORTS.

Evening Star, Issue 4622, 21 December 1877, Page 2

THE CHAMPION SPORTS.

Great interest is fell in the Champion Sports to be held at the Caledonian Grounds, at all events, so far as the great foot-race is coacerned, for most of our best pedestrians have accepted for it, and in addition are to be found the names of more than one distinguished stranger. First on the list oomcs Prank Hewitt, one of the best runners England ever turned out, and to see whom alone will bo worth a \ isit to the grounds. He ran at the old Caledonian Grounds some years ago at the same time that J. Harris was here, but has net appeared in public in Dune in since. Hewitt is in the handicap worthily placed at scratch. Next to the " great gnn" comes Ja ues Macpherson, who on January 1 last ran second for the Caledonian Handicap and at Ihe Etster sports won the Grand Easter Monday Handicap with great ease. J. Frier has not run very successfully of late, and possibly deserved longer starts than syds, 11yds, and lSjds respectively. W. J. Burkj, so well known for his extraordinary finishes, won the Dunedin Handicap last January, as well as the Mile Handicap and Halfmile Handicap; and ran second for the Eister Monday Handicap. He is dangerous at any distance. J. Nicholas won the third prize in the Cale donian Handicap in January, but bis not since rua here. J. Murdoch is well known at these gatherings. J. Kurtzman ran very gamely at lass New Year'B meeting, but had to be content with third prize in the Consolation Handicap. J. Henderson is a Victorian runner of some little repute, and J. U. Smithson, T. Fairley, and G. Hastie are also new names. W. Henderson J. Gebbie and S. Brooks are however old runners here. All the above have been in active training for some weeks past, and a keen contest for the Chamx'ion Bace may be anticipated. There will be other sports during the day, including wrestling (for a champion belt presented by Frank Hewitt), dancing and boys' races. The following is the handicap for the Champion Race:—

Ist DisrAKCE—IOO Yaeds. j Ist Heat.—Frank Hewitt (champion), scratch; W J Burke, 6yds; JKrutzman, 7yda ; J Henderson, Byds. 2kd Heat.—J Macpherson, Byds; T Fairley, §yds: W Henderson, 7yda ; J Gebbie, Byds. Bkd Heat.-hJ Frier, syds; J Nicholas 6yds: J Murdoch, Byds: S Brooks, 9yds j J Usher Smithson, 9yds. 2nd Distance—2Eo Yabds. Ist Heat.—Frank Hewitt (champion), scratchT Fftirley, Hyde; J Frier, llyd <; J Nicholas, 13yds: W Henderson. 13yds; J Qebbie, 15yds. 2bd Heat.—J Macpherson, 6yds; W J Burke, llyda; J Murdoch, 12yds; J Kurtzman, 13yds; J Hende.son, 15yds; S Brocks, 16yds; J Usher SmithsoD, 16yds.

3bd Distance—3s6 Yabds. Ist Heat.—Frank Hewitt (champion), scratch; WJ Burke, 14yds j J Nicholas, 16yds; J Murdoch, 18yd8; J Kurtzman, 19yds; S Brooks, 20yds. 2nd Heat—J Macpherson, 9yds; r i' Fairley, 14yds; J Frier, 18yds; J Henderson, 18yds; W Henderson, 20yds; J Qebbie, 2'.yds; J Usher Smitbson 26yds. The first aud second in each heat will run in the final.