THE HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 65, 18 March 1908, Page 5

THE HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

ANNUAL ATHLETIC SPORTS

1 . OFFICERS: ';\. President and Director, of Sports: A. i Smith, Esq. Vice-President: P. ! O'Sullivan. Judge: Rev. Father I Fay. Assistant Judges: F. Burton j and M. Lydon. Referee: N. C. j Perrin. Handicappers: (Foot) Ulic j Shannon, (Cycle) A. R. Thomson. i Time-keepers: R. M. Harding, C. P. Nash, and T. F. Gamble. Clerk of the Course: D. Casey Starter: A J. Curry. Assistant Starter: J. iH. MorYison. Competitors' Stewards: W. F. Morrison, J. Smith, 0. McHale, and W. F. Newport. Treasurer :T. Keating. Secretary: G. W. O'Sullivan. A-^f^iit Secretary: J. M. Morrison,. Committee: A. Smithy P. O'Sullivan, F. rßurton, M. Lydon, A. J. Curry,W. F. Newport, J. Smith, J. Falvey, D. Casey, IJ. H. Morrison, W. F. Morrison, J. M. Morrison, W- Morrison, T. Keating, P. Meehan, J. O'Meagher, E. J. Walsh, E. S. Holcroft, and 0. McHale. ~ . The spell of fine weather that has been vouchsafed for the Blenheim Hibernian Athletic Society's sports for the last five or six years still remains unbroken; 'and long may it continue so! The- hard-working, open-hearted race of colonists that hail from Erin's Isle preserve a warm, almost a superstitious, affection for the land of Saint Patrick's glorious ministry, the land of the darling shamrock whose trio of leaves served so admirably in. the hands of the great missionary to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity centuries ago. Ireland is no longer the land of broadest enlightenment: her most independent sons seek freedom of aspiration and equality of opportunity in other Anglo-Saxon countries. But, although the prosperous transplanted Irishman does not, as a class ; cling to the idea of returning to his natal country to end his days, he loves to think that, by treasuring CJeltic customs and associations and rallying around the banner of Hihernia, the same old national spirit may be kept alive wherever. Irishmen are to be found. It is, therefore' pleasing to note that the procession, 'headed by the Society's own Band, that patrolled the town this morning was fully up to the standard, in respect both to num-bers-and music. The at the sportsl' ground, Frances Street, was one of the largest ever seen at St. Patrick's fete, and, the races once started, it was quickly seen'that the quality ;of the contests was going to be better than ever. Nearly every acceptor put in an appearance, and amongst them. were, some; of the Dominion's best sprinter's and long-dis-tance runners, to say nothing of outsiders in the bicycle races. ' The Secretary (Mr G. W. O'Sullivan), who was this year comfortably installed in the pavilion; proved as energetic on the day of results as he had been'throughout the "arrangements" period, and it is largely owing to his repeated annual exertions that the> sports'have attained such a high standard. The Hibernian -Band (under Mr F. Hale) Played most pleasingly all day, and other diversions were provided in the T£ y ™music£ l. °Mirs, bucfc-jumping, f°- Jhe publican's booth •was conducted by Mr J GWm, the rJfrShment rooms by Mr A. SmitK the dining rooms .by Mrs Frith, an}.the lawful games by Mr Blackburti.' Subjoined are the available resnlts-— Maiden Foot Race, 120yds>Wf £2 ss. First ; prize 30s; second, riss.-E. Tim^traiec^^ *' 3' aSS^tt^™ :years)"tT'resiaem Handicap, 220 yds, of Morns 6yds; 2; time, 23 sees! Third Strickland,' 14yds, 1* t Nicholls, 16yds, 2; time, 23seo. F nal • ! ar2%k Br°Wn 2 ' Strickland-3; timei fhree'yaV 5 '"^ e&SUy by Half-mile..Bicycle Race, of" £3 10s -First prize, £2 10s; second, £1 First heat : A. E. Evison, 10yds 1 yds 30y? s '.2' ?• WilS' 35 yds 3; limn 14sec; E* He%er 25yds and H. S. Thomson 35yd s ! the leading men, came ' down Jiist upon the tapes, spoiling 'their chances. Second heat : A. R^Ja Co b sen 30yds 1- A. Walker, 35yds, 2-! *inal ( . prison 1, Jacobsen 2, S Porter 3,vtime, lmin 14 4-ssec. A terv close finish. A protest was lodged by Jacobsen, on the grounds that'Evison rode inside a x course peg. The nrS S3- Vi Ut^ ? e fev^nce sl^s that a technibal transgression had occurred on the winner's part y|i-^ace (under 16 years), 220 yds.-First prize, trophy; second 2 TOfeill 3^' 2& 6d-Mear« !' EwS !_'Married Men's Race, 100 yardsi" imtlSc! 5 MlUei" 2 ' M°rrisOn £B Cli^ .Handicap 150 yards, of Ju-TV, I**1** pnze' £5: second £2third £1. First heat: F. H. Somers 11yds, 1- G. Hooker, 7yds, 2; Sm|' 164 see. Second heat: M. Ward 4 T?' 1; l/.Bickerston, 13yds, 2; time 16sec Third heat: £. Brown, \sg>\ 1; J. Ferguson, 13yds, 2; time, 15 4-5 sec. Final: Ward,.^ B^own 2, Somers 3; time, W^&. Won after a io^ cjitS^l inches ' the third man Bicycle One Mile Handicap, of £4 First Pnae, £3; second, £1.-First heat: A. Walker, 65yds, 1; A R , Jacob sen , 60yds, 2; E. Lovell, 40yds' w t om^ 1 .2mi11 35* se- Second .heat •' H. S. Thomson, 65yds, 1; E. Heffer 40yds, 2: T. Williams, 60yds, 3; tiW 2min 40sec. The final was delayed owing to an official inadvertently'obstructing the course and upsetting some of the riders. • Boys' Bicycle Race, one mile- & nfv!\x n tr°Phies. —First, Archie Patchett 1; Stan. Pickering 2. Putting the Stone (161bs) Handica P> _of £2.—First prize. £1 10s; second 10s.—W. Miller (sftJ, 35ft sin, 1 • 5n a) 3.35ft4in' 2;M°rriS Bicycle Race.—Final: E. Heffer 1, Walker 2, Williams 3. The unusual accident completely spoilt a good race LotclFs bicycle was smashed, and Thomson hurt his knee. ST. PATRICK'S HANDICAP 120 yards, of £30—First prize £20 second £7, third £3. First heat: L. H. Nicholls, 12yds 1; E. Bickerston, 12yds, 2; time, 12 sec. Second heat: M. Ward, 3vds "•'tl- i ? rown > Hyds, 2; time, 12sec. Third heat: J. Strickland, Byds, 1 • J. Patterson, 10yds, 2; time, 12i S ec.' Final Heat. Nicholls ... 1 Bickerston 2 Ward ... 3 Time, lHsec. Two-mile Bicycle Race, of £6.— i *"'S V Pnze, £4; second, £1 ss; third, TTSiT~ A- R- Jacobson, 85yds, 1; E. Heffer, 45yds, 2; L. Porter, 90yds, 3. Eight started. Lovell drew out in the

second lap, and Evison> the scratch man, in the fourth. T. Williams led solidly till the 7th lap, when Heffer spurted brightly, coming to the front. He had not, however, counted the full number of Jacobson, who had been riding second all the way, and who came forward with a grand spurt, winning by two lengths, Heffer and Porter being close together.' Time, smin 30sec.