KAIAPOI RURAL SPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1636, 14 March 1866, Page 2 (Supplement)

KAIAPOI RURAL SPORTS.

The dull monotony of every day life in Kaiapoi received a pleasant variation on Feb. 13, in the form of the Annual llural Sports, which were held in a large paddock of Mr. Feldwick, in Charles street. The sports were got up-by public subscription, which were so liberally given, that after paying all expenses we find that the committee o£ management will have a handsome balance left in hand, either to be reserved for next year s games, or to form portion of a fund which it is intended to raise for the purpose of holding a Regatta in the river, during the ensuing Easter or Whitsuntide holidays. The weather on Tuesday was everything that could be desired for out-door amusements ; the sky being bright and beautifully clear, with a light easterly breeze. The ground was very level and well adapted for the purpose. The arrangements of the committee for the comfort of visitors were in every way perfect, and reflected great credit on their exertions. A roped ring was provided for dancing, which, together with a roped alley, formed an excellent run in for the races, and served admirably in keeping the crowd back, aud preventing the scramble at the finish of the races. The course was also distinctly marked out by flags of various colours. A plentiful supply of plum cake, provided by the committee, together with new milk given by Mr. Feldwick, were gratuitously distributed to all children under fourteen years of age. The wants of the adults were also provided for; refreshment, including a substantial dinner, being supplied on the ground by Mr. W.Burnip, of the Ferryman's Arms Hotel. The Kaiapoi brass band was also present, and besides playing dance music during the intervals between the sports, otherwise considerably enlivened the day's proceedings. The programme, as usual, comprised boys', girls , and men's races, together with a series of jumping matches, tilting at the ring, baby show, and a sailing match on the river. The last named was, however, totally out of place in connection with the field sports, as, in the first place, the starting point was so far down the river that not one-third of the pleasure seekers would go the distance to see the race, and, secondly, most of the committee were either competitors in the match or acting as judges or starters. The consequence was, that for about an hour the ladies and children wandered about in a listless manner, blaming the committee, and not knowing what to do to pass the time. The sports opened at 11.30 a.m., with a series of boys' and girls' races, after which came the 200 yards' race, which was well contested, and run at a very smart pace, rivalling, in fact, some of the races in the old country in point of time. The sailing match started from the Florence ketch, which was decorated with holiday bunting, and acted as flagship. The course laid out was about eight miles in all, being from the flagship down to and aroHnd the Maid of the Mill, (anchored near the bar); then up the river and winning opp isite the sports ground. A strong easterly wind was blowing just at the start, which being a head wind on the downward course but a fair wind home, called into requisition at the start all the knowledge of tacking possessed by the competitors. This was a very pretty sight, and most of the boats seemed to be managed and brought about with considerable skill. The race was a handicap, the crafts entered being so different in size and build as to forbid a match on equal terms. Taking this into consideration, apart from the sports, it was a decided success, and must have convinced all of the possibility of a good regatta being held on the river. The 500 yards race brought six entries, and was well contested. The winner ran very strong throughout. The Baby show, the second held in Kaiapoi, was not .30 successful as last year, the entries not being so numerous. The competition however was very keen, the specimens of the rising generation being well matched. In the twelve months' class, the rival claims of twc babies wtre so nearly equal that an extra prize was given to the second best. The 800 yards flat race, for which special prizes to the amount of £5 were given by Mr Travers, was a good spin, well contested and run in good time. The Beauty Stakes, a novel invention of a Dorsetshire bazaar committee, consisted ir the payment of one shilling, which entitlec each contributor to vote by ballot for th< lady whom he considered the handsomesl on the ground. The proceeds of these entries were devoted to the purchase of a ring oi brooch as a prize for the fair lady who shoulc be at the head of the poll. On the close o: the voting Miss M. Dudley was declarec winner. Jilting at the ring was a new venture or the part of Kaiapoi, and therefore could nol be expected to be got through with tin freedom from mistakes which should havi been expected from those ihore acquaintei with the game. Two or three spills occurred but none of them were of a serious nature the rider in every case escaping with a severe shaking. Most of the aspirants to tilting honours being novices at the game, the sport was not particularly good, but Mr. Kerr, I who took the first prize,, carried off his rings in good style; some, however, were very wide, and, instead jot detaching the rings, succeeded in bringing down the cross-bars. The high leaping, for both men and boys, was well contested, some very clean jumping being made by several of the men. At the long leap the contest was very keen between the two first prizemen, some difficulty being experienced in deciding their respective merits. The distance cleared was 16 feet. The Hurdle Race was one of the best events in the day's programme, and was most keenly contested to the finish. Keilly, however, again showed his superior running, by beating his opponents. At one time, Keilly was twenty yards a-head, but falling at the last hurdle, he barely recovered himself in time to come in first. Harvey was running a good second, but fell at the last hurdle but one, and lost place entirely, Charles taking his place. The prizes for this race were specially given by Mr. Lance. Two Hundred Yards Flax Race. — First prize, 20s; second, 10s ; third, entrance money. W. Charles, 1; J. Andrews. 2; R. Jeffs, 3. Charles led off, and kept lead throughout, with Andrews a yard or two in rear. Jeffs came third, about 5 yards behind Andrews, when Joe, a Maori, challenged him for the lead. It was a tight run, Jeffs finally gaining third place by half a-yard. Sailing Match —First prize, £3 ; second, £2 ; third, entrance fees. Craig and Greening's Storm Cloud, first; Tanner's Arrow, second ; B. Peterson's Flying Fish, third ; J. Beswick's Wild Wave; C. Dudley's Pet. Storm Cloud tookthelead, and kept it throughout, Arrow and Flying Fish coming in second, six minutes behind. Jitart and finish of race only visible. Five Hundred Yards Flat Race.— First prize, £2 ; second, £1 ; third, entrance money. J. Keilly, 1 ; W. Charles, 2; R. Jeffs, 3. Charles led off, but Keilly ran up to him, and took the lead at the first turn, increasing it to 30 yards in a short time. At the turn to the straight run in Keilly was 30 yards ahead, looking back and waiting ; Charles, second ; Jeffs and Horrell together for third ; Horrell fell, and Jeffs took his place, coming in third. Baby Show.—Six months and under, prize, £1 : Mrs. Joseph Clark's infant. From 6to 12 months : Mrs. Thompson's infant, first prize, £1; Mrs. Wm. Burgess's infant, second, 10s. . 800 Yards Race—Mr. Travers's Prize: First. £3; second, £2; third, entrance money. J Keilly, 1; j> Andrews, 2; W. Charles, 3. Keilly led off and kept ahead throughout. .Having however won one first prize of £2, according to the rules he could not take this, therefore Andrews took first and Keilly second. A good race for second and third places. „ Tilting at the Ring.—First prize, £3; second, £2; third, entrance money. K Kerr, 1; J. H. Wood, 2; C, Fair weather. - Men's High Leap'. ;J - r First -prize, £1second, 10s.; third, entrance money. J Moderate, 1; —McNeil, 2; C. Dudley, 3, Height cleared, sft lOin, by the first man. Hordle Race, 500 yards, over 10 hurdles (Mr. Lance's prize). First prize, £3; second £2; third, entrance money. J. Keiliy, 1; W. Charles, 2; McNeil, 3. Well contested Keilly fall at the last hurdle, but got up in

I time; Harvey was second, but fell at the last hurdle but one and lost place altogether. Keilly again had to give up first prize in consequence of having won two others. Men's Long Leap.—First pi ize, £1 j second, 10s.; third, entrance money. J. Moderate, 1; McNeil, 2. Winning leap, 16 feet. The sports were brought to a conclusion at seven p.m. In the evening the day's amusements were wound \ip by a ball in the con cert-room of the Kaikainui Hotel, where 150 persons were present. Dancing was kept up till four o'clock next morning. With the exception of the boat race and tilting match somewhat clashing with the other amusements, the whole may be regarded as a perfect success. We are sorry to have to conclude this account of the day's holiday and sports by chronicling a very severe, and it is feared will prove a fatal, accident which befel a Maori named Feton. A number of Maoris were jumping their horses over a gorse hedge near the sports ground, when deceased was thrown and the horse rolled over him. He was intoxicated at the time.