FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ SPORTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 2, 3 January 1901, Page 4

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ SPORTS.

The annual gathering of the United Friendly Societies was held on the Ist at the Poverty Bay Cycling Club’s track, which is situate in upper Childers road. The track has only recently been formed, and this was the first occasion on which the track had been used. The good-going order of the cycling course was the result of persevering efforts put forth by several energetic members of the Cycling Club. The weather for the gathering was all that could be desired, the sky being cloudless. The locality was an ideal spot for such a gathering, the paddock containing a large number of trees which afforded ample shade. When a running track is laid down, as is intended, we have no doubt but that it will be the site where all future sports iu this district will be held. The refreshment booth wp.s run by the Committee, ana the selling of all goods at town prices was much appreciated by the public, as was also the hot water and tea which was provided free. All the arrangements for the gathering were excellent, everything going smoothly throughout the day. The Committee worked hard to ensure the success of the gathering, and the large attendance must have been a source of pleasure to them. The racing duiing the day provided some exciting contests, the bicycle races especially being very interesting. The close finishes showed excellent work on the part of the handicappers, Bros. W. Fraser and G. Primrose and Mr F. Eure, while the starting, which was in the hands of Bco. C. F. Lewis, left nothing to be desired. The judges, Bros. D. Hepburn and T. Ellery and Mr G. F. Henderson, gave their decisions in an impartial manner. Bros. B. Seymour and W. Fraser acted as timekeepers. As secretary Bro. M. G. Nasmith (junr.) was the right man in the right place. Upon his shoulders fell the chief burden of the day, and he carried out his duties with credit to himself and to the success of .the gathering. Bro. E. File was the secretary’s right hand man, while the others who lent valuable aid were Bros. G. W. Markie, W. Cole, and J. Sampey as. gatekeepers, and Bros. T. Spiers, H. Burns, and A. W. Kirk gave assistance in the refreshment booth. Bro. P. Maher had the supervision of a number of children’s races which were run during the day. The results of the principal events were :

Boys Race, under 10, 75yds.—P. Hepburn 1, Ashdown 2, Wildish 3. Twelve started. A close finish.

. Girls’ Baee, under 10, 75yds.—Moore 1, Gregg 2, A. Hart 3. Bight started. New Year’s Day Handicap, 100yds.—B. Siddells (Byds) 1, J. Newton (Byds) 2, J. Parsons (7yds) 3. Ten entries. A good finish.

Boys’ liaee, under 10, 100yds.—Roderick 1, Broughton 2, Te Rangi 3. There were seven entries and a close finish.

Bicycle Handicap, 1-mile. —C. Crone (10 yds) 1,11. McGillivray - (40yds) 2, C. Kirk (40 yds) 3. Six started. A very good race, Crone winning by a length. Girls’ Race, under 10, 100yds.—II. File 1, M. File 2, Griffin 3. Seven started. Friendly Societies’ Handicap, 150yds.—A. Hepburn (Gyds) 1, E. File (10yds) 2, Robinson (6yds) 3. Nine started.

Men’s Handicap Race, over 40, 50yds.— Brown l,Hewson 2, W. L. File 3. The only starters. Brown showed a smart turn of speed, winning as he liked from scratch.

Half-mile Handicap.—T. Sharp (20yds) 1, W. Sharp (45yds) 2, W. Harding (10yds) 3. Eight entrants. Won by three yards. ! Bicycle Handicap, 1 mile.—C. Kirk (85yds) I, C. Crone (scr) 2, W. Andrews (scr) 3. Six started, Kirk winning by a length. Costume Race.—W. Fraser 1, F. Brown 2, J. Parsons 3. Five started. In this race the competitors had to run 50 yards, put on their coats and hats and return. New Year’s Day Handicap, 220yds.—B. Siddells (12yds) 1, J. Newton (12yds) 2, M. Craig (syds) 3. Seven entries. Won by a yard. Three-Legged Race. —Ist heat: Charles and A. Sharp 1; 4 started. 2nd heat: McKeilar Bros. 1; 3 started. Final: Charles and Sharp. Hurdles Handicap, 220yds.—J. Newton (20yds) 1, G. Ball (scr) 2, G. Holmes (10yds) 3. Eight entrants. Won by a yard.

Boys’ Bicycle Handicap, under 10, -1-mile. —J. Georgeson 1, To Rangi 2. E. CorGett 3. Five started. Georgeson proved too good for his opponents, winning as ho liked from scratch.

Women’s Handicap Race, 50yds.—Miss Gregg 1, Mrs Mason 2. Four started. Past and Present Officers’ Handicap, 100 yds.—M. Nasmith (Iyd) 1, Franklin (syds) 2, E. File (2yds) 3. Five started. Won easily by over a yard.

Bicycle Handicap, 3 miles.—C. Crone (scr) 1, V/. Andrews (50yds) 2, C. Kirk (200yds) 3. Six started. A splendid race, Crone winning by six inches, with Kirk just a length behind.

Committee Race Handicap, 100yds.—H. Burns (6yds) 1, E. File (syds) 2, M. Craig (scr) 3. Twenty entrants. A close finish. Forced Handicap, 150yds.—G. Brown (9 yds) 1, J. Newton (scr) 2, A. Hepburn (Syds) 3. Seven started. A good race.

A Word for the Old Hands.

When all Australia gathers for her festival of glee, And the wide world rocks the cradle of the Commonwealth to be, When pride and youth and beauty look down from roof and rail, And all the sunny harbor is a gleam of snowwhite sail! Before the cheering crowd goes by, before the rockets flare. Let us drink one toast in silence to “ The men who won’t be there! ’’ They are sleeping on the sandhills with the brown grass overhead; They blazed the dim tracks, living, and they mark the milestones, dead! They opened up the goldfields, and they broke the virgin soil, And they took their share of danger and a double share of toil— By wind-spent graves and shallow where their whitened bones lie bare, The men who made the nation are the men who won’t be there 1 They are sleeping in the graveyards in their silent graves apart, With empty arms and eager that would hold her to their heart, Those statesmen of the buried years, those loyal men long dead ; Are they turning in their dreaming to the dull tramp overhead ? When they pin the stars and garters, when they write the titles rare, The men who earned the honors are the men who won’t be there ! Will Ogilvie.