NORTH CANTERBURY CALEDONIAN GATHERING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11227, 26 March 1897, Page 2

NORTH CANTERBURY CALEDONIAN GATHERING.

Fine weather, a large attendance of visitors, and an exceptionally full list of competitors, were conditions which made the North Canterbury Caledonian gathering at Amberley, yesterday, successful in a high degree. The excursion train put on from Christchurch was well filled, and the southern visitors, with the townspeople of Amberley and settlers for several miles around, made up an attendance of about 2000. The day’s proceedings were opened with a procession from the town to the Amberley recreation ground, where the games were held. In the lead were Pipers A M’Kay (piper to the society), and J. and D. M’Kechnie, who, on the way played the " March of the 74th Highlanders,” ahd “ Lord Penmuir’s March.” Arrived at the ground no time was lost in starting the programme. The track events were got off promptly, and the dancing and pipe music went on right merrily throughout the afternoon. The officials all carried out their duties excellently, and Mr T. Ross, the genial and popmlar President, extended the welcome of the Society to the visitor,?. Luncheon was provided for the officials by Mr A. Franks, and Mr P. D. Hoaiv, of the-Rail-way Hotel, Amberley, bad a publican’s booth on the ground. At an interval in the afternoon the President invited the I judges and other visitors, with the officers of the Society, to his tent to partake of refreshments. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been duly proposed and honoured, Mr W. Bain proposed “ Success to the North Canterbury Caledonian gathering,” coupled with the name of Mr T. Ross, the President. He referred to the great popularity of the annual gathering and the j cordial reception visitors from other places met with. Mr Ross, in acknowledging the toast, regretted that although taking a loyal interest in the society, his business did not permit him to attend the regular meetings. He expressed his warm thanks to the officers for their able assistance, and referred to the Society’s indebtedness to its earlier presidents. Looking back over the seventeen years the Society had been in existence, they had to congratulate themselves upon a successful career, and ho believed that as years went on the membership would increase. In conclusion, he cordially welcomed all visitors to the gathering, and proposed their health, coupling the toast with the name of Mr D. M’Lean, of Ashburton, who responded. Other toasts were disposed of in the customary manner. The judges for pipe music, Scotch dancing and costumes were Messrs Struan Robinson, D. M’Lean, P. Elder and W. Bain; Irish dancing, &c„ D. O’Brien, M. Noolan and J. W. Thomas ; track events, Messrs IV. H. Rhodes, J. Smith and J. M’Nally. The duties of secretary were well carried out by Mr G . A. Wornall. About .-£4O was taken at the gates. of the events are as follow -. HANDICAP DISTRICT RACE, 200yds, boys under sixteen. First prize trophy, second 10s P. Graham syds, I; S. Frew syds, 2, Won hy two yards. Time—2sisec. DISTRICT MAIDEN RACE, 100yds. First prize trophy, second 10s—A. JBiuuie 1, W. Frew 2. Six competed. Won hy a foot, a few inches parting J. Roberts from second man. Time—lT’sec. VAULTING WITH POLS. First prize £l, second 10s—J. Power, Bft, 1 ; L. Kelcher 2. Three competed. Bagpipe MUSIC, pibroehs and marches. First prize £2, second £l, third 10s—A._ M’Kay and D. M’Kechnie divided 1 and 2, J. M’Kechnie 3. HANDICAP, lOOyda. ' First prize cup and £2. second £l, third 10s ; winner of each heat 10s (thirty-two competitors)— First heat: A. Thomas syds, 1; F, Mai ley 3yds, 2; J. W. Green tiyds. 3. Time—lOfsec. Second heat: J. Berwick 6yds and W. Frew 9yds, dead heat, 1; H, E. Oppeuheim 3yds, 3. Time—llsec. Third heat: T. Hamraou 9yds, 1, Q. Glennie Bvds, 2; John Wilson 7yds, 3. Time—lOJseo. Final heat: T. Hammou 1, John Wilson 2, W. Frew 3. Won hy over a yard; a close finish between second and third man. Time—lOJsec. STRATHSPEYS AND REELS. First prize £2, second £l, third 10s—D. M’Kechnie and J, M’Kechnie (divided) 1, A. M’Kay 2. HANDICAP HURDLE RACE, 440yds. First prize cup and £l, second 10s—J. Leggatt 25yds, 1; G. Lander 20yds, 2. 'Thirteen started. Wouhya couple of strides, T. A. M’Naught 27yds being a close third. Time—6lsec. MEMBERS’ HANDICAP RACE, 200yds. First prize trophy value £1 10s, second £l—W. Frew 7yds, 1; W, Winskill 14yds, 2; T. M’Naught scr, 3. Only three competed. Won hy four yards. Time —24s ee. EGG AND SPOON RACE. First prize £l, second 10s—C. Smith 1, T. Smith 2, A. Smith 3. The fourth man was also Smith by name. HIGHLAND REEL (in costume.) First prize trophy and £1 10s, second £l, third 10s—D. At ’Kechnie 1, J. Wade and W. Davidson (divided) 2, J. M’Kechnie 3. HANDICAP and £l, second £l. third 10s—First heat; G. Glennie 18yds, 1; H. E. Oppenheim 7yds, 2; G. Farquhar iOyda, 3. Time—26soc. Second heat: John Fitzpatrick syd». 1; T. Haramon 18yds, 2; J. Berwick I2yds, 3. Time—24-jaeo. Final: John Fitzpatrick 1, T. Haimnon 2, J. Borwick 3 Won on the tape; Borwick a good third. Time—24^sec. BOYS’ HIGHLAN D FLING (in costume). First prize £l, second 10s—J. Stewart 1, J. Wade, 2.

HANDICAP RACE; one mile. * First prize trophy and £2, second £1 10s, third £l—W. M. Livingstone scr, X; J. A. SoottoUyds, 2: Graham 150tds, 3. Fourteen started. Won hy threeyards, Livinpatone taidng the lead twenty-five yards from home. Time—4min -IGjeoc. HIGHLAND FLING fin costume). First prize £2, second £l, third 10s—D. M'Keehnie 1, W. Davidson 2, J. Wade 3. HANDICAP RACE,-llOyds. First prize trophy and .6110 s, second £l, third 10s—J, Berwick 25yds, 1; P. E. Moore 25yds, 2; A. Hinnie 30yds, 3. Won hy six yards, about a foot dividing second and third. Time—ss’sec. SAILOR'S HORNPIPE (in costume). First prize clock and £1 10s, soooud £l, third 10s— Gibbons X, D. M’Keehnie 2, A, Kilgour 3. BOYS’ HIGHLAND COSTUME. First prize £l, second 10s, third ss—J. Stewart 1, J. Wade 2. LASSES’ HIGHLAND DRESS. First prize £l, second 10s—Olive Wade 1, E. Wade 2. WOMEN’S FRANCHISE RACE (twenty-one years and over), 100yds. First prize trophy, second £1 —Miss Mary Frew 1, Mrs Brownlee 2,

MEN’S HIGHLAND COSTUME. Prize President’s trophy—H. Goddis, SWORD DANCE IN COSTUME. First prize £3; second £1 —D. M’Kechme 1, C. Bell 2, Av Kilgour 3. BEST IRISH COSTUME. Prize £l—J. O’Callaghan 1, HANDICAP HURDLE RACE, 120yds. First prize trophy and £1 10s, second £l, third 10s —J, H. Watson owes 6yds, I; J. Leggatt owes Iyd, 2; S. Gilbson owes 4yds, 3. Won by a stride. Time—20|sec. THREE-LEGGED RACE, 410yds. First prize £l, second los, third lOs—W. Livingstone and J. Berwick 1, A. and J. Smith 2, T. and C. Smith 3. HANDICAP RACE, 880yds. First prize trophy and £1 10s, second £l—John Fitzpatrick scr, 1; E. Righy 40yds, 2; W. Livingstone 10yds, 3. Won by about two yards, the distance between second and third being about the same. Time—2min SJsec. As usual, numercras trophies were included in the prize-list, the donors being Messrs Mason, Struthers and Co., E. Reece and Sons, Butler Bros., Gretrix and Co., Ashby, Berg and Co., Coates and Co,, Petersen and Co., Press Company, G. L. Beath and Co., Universal Boot Depot, Lyttelton Times Company, Rhodes and Washer, T. M’Naught, T. Ross (president), M. Sandstein, A. Weeber, P. C. Tabart, M’Morran, T. Lascelies, G. Ticknor, W, Bain, J. Wo oiler, P. D. Hore and C. B, Mason.