Athletics.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 360, 4 January 1879, Page 11

Athletics.

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY'S SPORTS. The Caledonian Society of Wellington held their annual sports on the Basin Reserve on New Year's Day, and they were generally regarded as a great success. The weather was splendid, and in the afternoon there were fully 3000 persons present. ' The stewards and also the directors worked very ha;d to make the affair a success, and it is pleasing to note that everything passed off very satisfactorily. There was a first-rate band in attendance, which enlivened the proceedings considerably by its music. His Excellency the Governor and suite arrived on tha ground shortly after two o'clock, and stopped for about two hours. The running as a whole wa< good, and the time was above the general Wellington average. The jumping was not so good, but the vaulting was well contested. We might mention in conclusion that the handicapper is to be congratulated, as in every instance the men were all close at the fiuiah. The first event was the—

Maiden Race, 220yds., Ist prize,'£4; 2nd prize, £2.—J, W. Leahy, 1 ; A. Menzies, 2. Nine started. Menzie3 got away with the lead, followed by Allen, and Leahy third. After 100yds. had been ran Leahy rushed to the front, and won by a yard. Youth's Race (handicap), 200yds., Ist prize, £1 ; 2nd There were ab>ut 20 boys started for this event. The winner, a very small boy, ran remarkably well. Hop, Step, and Jump, Ist prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £l.—C. Avery, 1 ; T. Avery, 2. There was very little interest taken in this. The distance jumped was 39ft. 7in. Throwing the Heavy Hammer, lstgrize, £2; 2nd pnze, £l. Rush, 1 (71ft); Jackson, 2 (60ft.) New Year's Handicap, 20Cyds., Ist prize, £5 ; 2nd prize, £2 ; 3rd prize, £1. —E. Davy (lyd.), 1; A. Sievers (12yds), 2; G.Jennings (12yds.) 3. This was one of the best races of the day. Jennings led, with Mettam second, for the first 100yds., with Davy nearly last. At 150yds. Davy ran through the ruck, put on a grand spurt, and won by a yard. Time, 22-fsec. Boys' Race, under 10 years of age, 100yds., Ist prize, 10s.—This race was won by Young, who ran splendidly. Putting the Stone, 211b5., Ist prize, £2; 2nd prize, £l.—Rush, 1 (32ft. 2in.) ; S. Avery, 2 (31ft. 2in.) Highland Fling, lnt prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £l.—Menzies, 1 ; McLachlan, 2. New Years' Handicap, 100yds., Ist prize, £5 ; second prize, £2 ; third . race was run in heats, as under :—lst heat : G. Jennings (7yds.), 1 ; B. Davy (1yd.),2; time, Usee. 2nd heat : W. Mettam (syds.), 1; R. Freeman (2yds.), 2 ; time, 11-isec. Final: Mettam, 1 ; Davy, 2 ; Freeman, 3. This was a capital race. After considerable difficulty the men were got away on pretty equal terms. Mettam kept the lead all through, with Freeman next. About 12yds. fr >xn home Davy put on an extra spurt, and just managed to throw himself against the tape before him, and was awarded second honors. Time, lOfsec. Three-Legged Race, for boys, Ist prize, £1 103.; second prize, 10s.—A. and W. Gore, 1; Kilner and Rigg, 2. Walking Handicap, two mile;*, first prize, £7 ; second prize, £3 ; third Fraser (scratch), 1 ; VV. O'Dounell (40yds.), 2; G. Kerr (50yds), 3. This race, perhaps, created more interest than all the other events. O'Donnell, for the first lap, walked in a most peculiar fashion, and looked very much like running. Fraser and Kerr walked in such a style that there could be no doubt about its fairness. TJnfortunately, however, for the latter he was altogether too slow. Fraser caught O'Donnell at the fourth lap, and then had it all his own way. For the last half he contented himself with walking a yard behind O'Dounell, and then just before the finish he showed what he really could do. O'Donnell tried to spurt, but was not equal to it. Time, 16mio. 4sec. Standing High Jump, Ist prize, £2 ; 2nd, prize, £l.—F. Avery, 1 (4ft. 3-Ain.); Jackson, 2 (4ft. 2in.). New Year's Handicap, 440yds., Ist prize, £5 ; second prize, £2 ; third prize, £l.—Da,vy (6yds.), 1 ; E. Webber (scratch), 2 ; F. Woods (scratch), 3. The two scratch men soon ran

through their men, with the exception of Davy, who ran in fine form, and was never passed. Had the distance been five yards further, Webber would have won, as he was just on Davy's heels, and running strong, while the other was only just able to stay the distance. Tossing the Caber, Ist prize, £3 ; second prize, £l.-0. Avery, 1 ; Rush, 2. Sword Dance.—Theix- was only one' competitor (Vlensues), and the first prize of £2 was given to him. Running Long Jump, Ist prize, £2 ; second prize, £l.—T. Avery (17ft. iin.), 1; C. Avery (15ft. Sin.), 2. Steeplechase Handicap, 1000yds., Ist prize, i £5 ; 2nd prize, £2.—E. Webber (scratch), 1 ; Hastings (Usee). 2. These wei'e the only competitors. Webber cleared all his jumps in capital style. Both men the second time were running pretty well together. Hastings in the second round fell, and then shortly afterwards lost one of his shoes, allowing Webber to win easily. Vaulting with Pole, Ist prize, £3 ; 2nd prize, £1 ; Webber (9ft. sin.), 1 ; Haile, 2. Hurdle Handicap, 440 yards, Ist prize, £5 ; 2nd prize, £2 ; 3rd prize, £l.—E. Webber (scratch), 1 ; R. Freemau (15yds), 2 ; F. VVoods (scratch), 3. Webber, the winner, won easily, taking all the hurdles well. ' Running High Jump, Ist prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £l.—T. Avery, 1 (sft.) ; O. Avery, 2. H ghland Fling, Ist prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £l.—McLachlan, 1 ; Menzies, 2. Scotch Keel, Ist prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £l. —Smith, 1 ; AlcLachlan, 2. Stone and Bucket Race, Ist prize, £3 ; 2nd prize, £l. —Bennett, 1 ; Moras, 2. Fireman's Race (in uniform), 220yds, Ist prize, £2; 2nd £l.—Rivers, 1; Carson, 2. This race caused considerable interest., as there was great rivalry between the two brigades. This was unmistakeably shown, as in running round one of the competitors jostled the other, and there was very nearly being a row. Irish Jig, Ist prize, £2 ; 2nd prize, £l. Crjnin, 1 ; Dnscoll, 2. There was almost an unlimited number of competitors for this, and it was with difficulty the judges managed to decide the best dancer. Consolation R<ce, Ist prize, £3 ; 2nd prize, £l.—Freeman and VVoods, tie. They both ran a dead heat twice, and then decided to divide the stakes. This brought the day's amusement to a close. After the tilting at the ring a single-stick competition took place, in which there was a fine display of attack and defence, ultimately resulting in Mr. J. B. Robertson being the victor. Mr. A. Young acted as starter, and Mr. H. Mace as timekeeper.