THE DRUID’S GALA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 996, 3 April 1891, Page 32

THE DRUID’S GALA.

The principal attraction in town on Mon. [ day was the Druid’s sports, which were held on the Basin Reserve. The gathering was a great success in every respect; in fact a more successful sports meeting has not been held in Wellingtonforsometime. The weather was fine, and as a oonsequehce there was a very large attendance. When the first race was started there were about 2000 spectators present, but this number increased during the afternoon until there was quite 4000 people on the ground. A programme of sixteen events was carried out. All the races were splendidly contested, and close finishes were the order of the day. The principal event of tho meeting, tha Easter Handicap, four distances, was won by R. Jarrett, of Wanganui, who scored 13 points (two wins and a third), S. H. Coward and T. Delaney coming next with 6 points. The latter had a good chanoe of wincing the Handicap,but he was ‘ ‘spiked” during one of the heats, and was unable to run afterwards. A protest has been entered against the winner by W. R. Mackay, one of the competitors, on the ground that he did not furnish the committee with a true record of his previous performances. The protest will be dealt with at the first meeting of the committee. The Druids’ Handicap of three events was carried off by B. R. Gardner, who scored 10 points, E. P. Lester being next with 6 points. The management of the sports was really excellent, and all the events were got off with due regard to punctuality. All the officials carried out their duties satisfactorily, and tho starter and handiaapper especially are entitled to a word of praise. It is expected that a substantial surplus will be realised from the gathering, and, encouraged by the success which has attended the gathering this year, the committee will probably increase the amount of prize money for next year’s meeting. The Foresters’ Band, under Bandmaster Dean, performed a programme of popular selections during the day. The names of the members of the Committee and the various officials are as follow : Judges, E. Jones, C. Haslam, G. Snaddon, H. Mills ; referee, W. Walker ; starter, B. R. Gardner; haudicapper, T. L. Barker ; timekeepers, F. M. Leckie and M. 1), Kennedy : Committee, Messr3 W. Lepper, J. Mackay, J. Abel, C. Jansen, S. Stock* bridge, H. Mills, A. George, J. Grant. W. Evenson, T. Elliott, W. Jones, J. T. Lepper, B. JEt. Gardner, T. G. Boon, W, Walker, T. L. Barker, G. Snaddon, E. Jones, C. Haslem, J. Stewart, F. Jackson, C. Lawson. A. Forsyth; secretary, T. G. Boon ; assistant secretary, J. T. Lepper. The details of tha various events are aa follow : Maiden Race, 120yds ; prizes, £2, £l, 10s. —J. McGuire, 1 ; D. Mowton, 2; A. McGillivray, 3. Fifteen started. Boys’ Race, under 14, 100yds ; prizes, 7s 6d, ss, and 2s 6d. —B. Wayburn, 1 ; H. Card, 2 ; D. Kelly, 3. The first two ran a dead heat, and in tha run off Wayburn won by a yard. Eaßter Handioap; total value, £SO. Four events—looyds, 220yds, 440yds, 880yds. Prizes for eaoh event, £7, £3, and £1; an extra prize of £5 for competitor scoring highest number of points. First event, 100yds; prizes £7, £3, and £1 (10s for winners of heats, prizetakers excepted. —First heat —J. McGuinness, (7yds), 1; W. Brannigan (4yds), 2; E. J. Mulhern, (Byds), 3. Time, 10 3-10thsec. Second heat —T. Delaney (10yds), 1 : W. Williams (7yds), 2 ; S. H. Coward (Byds), 3. Time, lOsec. Third heat—l. Watts (3yds), 1 ; W. H. Arnott (2yds), 2; S. Thacker I (2yds), 3. Time, lOsec. Fourth heat— j A. W. Watts (3yds), 1; W. R. Mackay

(syds), 2; R. Jarrett (syds). 3. Final heat —T. Delaney, 1; I. Watts. 2; A. VV. Watts, 3. Won by half a yard, a few inches separating the second and third men. Time, lOsec. Druids’ Handioap (open only to financial members of the Order), 100yds, 200yds, 300yds. Prizes—First, cup value £5 53; second, Union Clothing Company’s prize; third, bag of sugar; and fourth, pipe. First event, 100yds.—First event—B. R. Gardner (syds), 1 ; R. Jarrett (scratch), 2 ; E. P. Lester (7yds), 3. Seven started. Won easily by a couple of yards. Time, 10 2-sthsec. Easter Handicap (second event), 440yds ; prizes, £7, £3, and £l—R. Jarrett (12yas), 1 ; W. It. Mackay (10yds), 2 ; J. J. O’Dwyer (scratch), 3. Fifteen started. McGuinness (22yds) had thelead after going about 200yds. He was, however, soon passed by Jarrett and Maokay. The former kept at the head of affairs until the finish, although Maokay made a great effort to catoh him in the last thirty yards. Jarrett passed tha post a good three yards in front of Mackay, O’Dwyer two yards away third. The other starters did nob finish. Time, 52 7-10th seo. Druids Handicap (second event), 200yds— S. Thacker (scratch), If B. R. Gardner (7ydß), 2; F. Jackson (14yds), 3. Won easily by three yards. Seven started. Time, 22 2-sth sec. One Hundred and Fifty Yards Handicap (open) ; prizes, £6, £3, £l. First Heat— T. DeLaney (12yds), 1 ; A. W. Watts (4yds), 2 ; I. Watts (llyds), 3. Time, 15sec. Second Heat—W. Williams (9yds), 1 ; H. E. Williams (7yds), 2; J. H. O’Neill (llyds), 3. Time. 16 2 sth sec. Third Heat—S. H. Coward (12yds). 1 ; R. D. Thompson (6yds), 2; E. J. Mulhern 10yds), 3. Time, 16 2-sth sec. Final Heat—T. De Laney, 1;S. H. Coward. 2 ; A. W. Watts, 3. A close finish. Time, 16sec. Druids’ Handicap (third event), 300yds— E. P. Lester (18yds), 1 ; B. R. Gardner (12yds), 2 ; F. Jackson (20yds), 3. Six started. Won by a yard after a splendid race. Thacker, the scratch man, ran well, but the handicap was a little too muoh for him. Time, 35 3-sth sec. Hurdle handicap, 220yds ; prizes, £4, £2, and £l—A. W. Watts (10yds), 1; R. D. Thompson (6yds), 2 ; W. H. Arnott (scratch), 3. Seven started. Won by three yards after a good race. Arnott, the scratch man, stumbled after clearing the first hurdle, and this no doubt considerably affected his chance of winning. Time, 30 3-sth sec. One Mile Handioap ; prizes, £lO, £4, and £l.—E. E. Woon (50yds), 1 ; D. Galloway (15yds), 2; D. Moreton (70yds), 3. Fourteen started: A fine Mice. George (90yds) and Whiteman (90yds) were in front the first time round, Barton (60yds), who had improved his position considerably, being close at their heels. Barton had the lead after going about 600 yards, and was running very strong. Before 'the half mile was reached, however, he retired, leaving Moreton with the lead, Woon and Mahoney close behind. As they went round for the last time Mahoney went to the front, but he was soon passed by Woon. About 100 yards from home Galloway, who had never been prominent in the race, and was some distance in the rear, came witbi a great rush, and succeeded in getting within a yard or two of the winner (Woon). Had he made his effort a little sooner he • would almost certainly have won, as hie had a lot in him at the finish. Moreton was a good third. Time, 4min 44 3-sth sec. Juvenile Druids Handicap, 220yds; prizes, £l,los and ss—W. Hardham (2yds), 1 ; J. Scott (3yds), 2 ; J. Williams (6yds), 3. Easter Handicap (third event), 220yds) ; prizes, £7, £3, and £l. First heat—J. H. O’Neill (14yds), 1 ; J. MoGuinnesss (12yds), 2 ; A. W. Watts (syds), 3. Time, 23jseo. Second heat—R. Jarrett (Byds), 1 ; J. Watts (15yds), 2 ; A. McGillivray (16yds), 3. Time, 24 l-stb seo. Third heat—T. Delaney (16yds), .1 ; S. H. Coward (16yds), 2; J. J. O’Dwyer (sor), 3. Time, 24 l*loth sec. Final heat—S. H. Coward, 1 ; J. McGuinness, 2 ; R. Jarrett, 3. Won by a yard. Time, 23 4-sth seo. Delaney, who was running well, and looked like getting a place, was “ spiked ” in the foot by one of the competitors about 20yds from home, and he was unable to run after this. He entered a protest against one of the competitors for spikiDg him, but subsequently withdrew it. Sack Race, 100yds ; prizes, £1 and 10s J. C. Whiteman, I* VIT. L. Whiteman, 2. Five started. Easter Handicap (fourth event), 880yds ; £7, £3, and £l—R. Jarrett (15yds), 1 ; E. J. Burton (35yds), 2; J. J. O’Dwyer (30yds), 3. Eight started. This was a gift to Jarrett, who won with great ease by about 10yds. Time, 2min 9Jsec. Stone and Basket Race (10 stones to be placed 10yds apart); prizes, £4, £2, I—D. Galloway, 1 ; J. C. Whiteman, 2; G. Welch, 3. Six competed. The distance run was 1100yds, and the winner accom* pliehed it in 3min 26 2-sthsec. Consolation Handicap, 250yds ; prizes, £3, £2, and £l—J. McGuinness (12yds), 1 ; W. K. Maokay (6vds), 2; J. Rewth (3yds), 3. Time, 27 2-sthsec. The Tug-of-War fell through, as there were not sufficient entries.