CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S SPORTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7994, 27 January 1887, Page 6 (Supplement)

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S SPORTS.

President—Mr John Duthie ; Viee-Presi- ■ dents—Messrs J. Maokay and T. K, i Macdonald; Superintendent of Sports— Captain Hume; Starter—Mr A. Young; Timekeeper—MrS. Kobn; Handicappera —Mes-rs H. M. Lyon and J.. Pollock ; Director of Music—Mr John Jack; Judges: Qnoiting—Messrs J. Barry, Scoular, Russell and Lookie ; Running—Dr Gillen, Messrs Lyon, Sloan, Clarke, Gardner, Wilson, Gordon and Stewart ; Pipe Music and Dancing—Messrs W. McLean, W. N. Blair, Cowan, Jack and J. Reid; Vaulting, Jumping, and Tug-of-War—Messrs T, K. Macdonald, Murdoch, D. T. Stuart, . 1 ookie, A. McKay and Irons'; Tossing the Caber, Hammer, and Weight-throwing— Messrs MoTavish, Wighton, McLean, Cameron, Dunlop and MoAlpine -. Wrestling—Messrs W. N. Blair, Lookie, G. Wilson and Reid. Tho success which has attended the return to on annual Caledonian sports gathering as an institution in Wellington must be highly gratifying to those gentlemen who a year or two ago resuscitated the Caledonian Society and re-established the gatherings which used to be so ‘ popular in Wellington, Last year, it will doubtless be remembered, these sports were attended by a very large number of people, bat on Saturday the attendance was larger than it ever has been before. Favored by the best of good weather, the Society : was able to hold an athletic sports meeting which was perhaps the most snocessfnl over held in Wellington. Of the attendance, • it may be said that 5200 odd people paid for admission, wherefore it may be assumed that the number on the Basin Reserve was about 7000 at tho lowest estimate. As to the sports, the events were many in. number-, aud good prizes were given, and the competition in every case was keen. In snob a gathering as that of a Caledonian Society bagpipes, kilts and tartans, music and dancing are indispensable and inevitable, and in these particular branches the gathering was very strong indeed. There were six or.seven piper< present; several of .whom came from the South, and their music was so good that the judges had the greatest difficulty in awarding the prizes. Honors were about equally divided between Messrs McKay, of Ashburton, and Muoro, of Nelson. In dancing, too, there was excellent competition, Mr A. Jack being very successful. In the running races, the “ pinto ” of tho programme was the Caledonian Handicap, in which the first prize resulted in a tie be- ; tween Barker and Scott, with Mod. ■

noch third. The latter started from, scratch in every event, and ran very Will all ■ through. Kilner, last yeqr’k 'iyiimer, was | among the Gompetit t dr&, but was over* S trained, and did 'tdl jjet a place. The heats e£ the Kkhdlcap were well contested, and ft Mtiiber of, men faced tfye starts# each time. The Mile Habdiokp fell tb E. C. Saunders, and the Hhrdla Handicap to F. Faicbrother. The more laborious competitions, such as throwing the heavy hammer, putting the stone, tossing the caber, &e., were afi well contested. Two byoicle rates were won by Newton, who rode & “ special club,” 52in, and showed a rare speed, winning easily each time. Every provision that could have been made for the oomfort and convenience of visitors was made. There were various booths where refreshments, both liquid and solid, could be obtained. A number of games of chance were carried; on, and were well patronised, while in 6n«‘ corner of the Reserve ft mcrry-^aN-ouud, at* ■■ tracted a large crowd hi eh'ildleu, and was surrounded and bhsily 'engaged all through the day. In htfier corners rounders, etc;, were played. It only remains to add that tho secretary (Mr T. J. McDonald], the ’ judges, ahd the odicers generally deserve great oredit for the manned in which they performed their sirk. The music supplied by Gray’i Band during the day was a treat in itself, and was about the best of its sort that has been heard in Wellington for some time. Following are the results of the various events : Maiden Flat Race, 100yds; optfi only to members and their sons.—J. E. Hume, 1, £3 ; K. Hnme, 2, £2 ; A. M. Stuart, 3, £l. Won easily. 'Caledonian Handicap. Aggregate prize Ist, President's cup, value 10 guiueas ; 2nd, Mr James Stewart's oup, value 5 guineas ; 3rd, guaranteed by Mr H, M. Lyon, 2 guineas.—First heat, 100yds: This had to be run off in heats. In the final, a splendid race resulted in a lie between Monnoch (scratch). Batter (10yds), and Daunt (syds). The tiin off resulted as follows ;—Barker, 1, £3; Monnoch, 2, £1 10a; Daunt, 3,15 s, Barker had a little the best of the start, but only beat Monnoch by about a foot, Second Heat, 220yds. W. Copeland (12yds), 1, £3; Scott (17yds), 2, £1 10s; Bishop (17yds), 3,15 s. Won rather 'eittily. Third Heat, 440yds.—Scott (28yds), 1-, £3 j Monnoch (Scratch), 2, £1 ids ; Mahohey (25yds), 3,15 s. This was won rather easily, though Monnoch ran vefry plUCldly. Scott, having a long start, ivaß hot to be caught, howftvor,

Fourth. Heat, 880yds.—Barker (scratch), I, £3; T. M. Copeland (23yds), 2, £1 10s; Scott (50yds) r 3,15 s. This was won rather easily. The scratch men allowed the ethers to force the pace for the first time round, where Monnooh (scratch) dropped out. Half way round the sSOOnd time Mahoney (50yds) led, a ink lioking round, beckoned to one of the Other competitors to come up. Presently Barker went up very fast, and about 50yds from home he led, with Mahoney second and Barr third. Mahoney jostled Barr, and then went on and finished second, with Copeland third, and Scott fourth. Mahoney Whs ilkqualified for jostling, and Copeland and Scott were placed second atid third. Barker and Scott tied for the President’s ettp and Mr James Stewart’s prize, and Monnooh won Mr Lyon’s prize. Best-dressed Boy in Highland GeetuiSie.— Master James Murray was ufthtdea first prize (Mr T. K. Maodofe&ld’s special of one guinea). A second prize was awarded to Malcolm Bell. Punning High Jump.—ln this event Avery and Troy tied for first place at sft 7in, Boddington being third. The prizes were £3j £2. and £l. .

Throwing 561 b-weight over hotfeontal bar. —M. Roach, 1, £3 5 MatttoVm, 2, £l. ' Long Jump, Open to members and their sons.-“-S'. Young, 17ft sin, 1, £3 ; J. E. Hume, 16ft siu, 2, £2; K. Hume, 3, £.l. Elegance in Jumping.—Mr S. Kohu of. fored a special prize for this, and Boddingtou and Hume wore declared equal, and each got a prize. Pipe Music (Pibroohs, Marches, and Laments). —Munro (Nelson), 1, £6 ; Ross, 2, £3 ; Maokay, 3, £2. Scotch Reel, in Highland costume.—A. Jack (Wellington) 1, £3 ; Munro (Nelson), 2, £2; Govern, Wellington, 3, £l. Hurdle Handicap, 440yds.—F. Fairbrother (Syds), 1, Wellington Tramway Company’s special prize of five guineas ; J. E, Hnme (12yds), 2, £2; H. M. Gore (7yds), 3, £l. This was a capital race between first and second man.

Quoits.—Murphy 1, £3 ; Burnos 2, £3. A three-legged race for a sweepstakes was won by Bike and F, Yonng. ■ Wrestling, Border or Cumberland style.— This was won by Roach, with Bresnahan second, and Shadrick third. Sword Dance.—A. Jack 1, £4; Govern 2, £2 ; Munro 3, £l. Bicycle Handicap, two miles,— A. W. Newton (300yds), 1, £3; O. Richardson (300yds), 2, £2; R. C. Renner (450yds), 3, £l. This was a capital race, won-rather easily. Tossing the Caber.—M. Roach, 1, £3. Mile Handicap.—H. C. Saunders (10yds), 1, £5; W. Smith (15yds), 2, £3 ; Mahoney (50yds), 3. Won easily, Tims, 4min 45secs.

Highland Fling (men). —A. Jack, 1, £4 Munro, 2, £2; Govern, 3, £l.

Highland Fling (boys).—J. W. £2. This was the only entry. Pipe Music, reels and strathspeys.— McKay, 1, £6; Ross, 2, £3; Munro, 3, £l.

An extra Bicycle race, a mile and a half, was won by Newtown, Copeland being a poor second.

A Boys’ Race attracted about 30 young, sters, Tringham winning, with Mahoney second, and Walters third. Throwing the Heavy Hammer. —Bcesnaban, 1, £3; Roach, 2, £2; Hickson, 3, £l.

Polo Vaulting.—Kitchen (9£t 6in), 1, £5 J. E. Hume, 2, £2 ; Copeland, 3, £l. Putting the Stone, 161 b.—M. R6nch (34t Sin), 1, £3; Avery, 2, £2 ; Moffatt, 3, £l. Sailors’ Hornpipe. —A. Jack, 1, £2 Govern, 2, £l.

Tug-o£-War.—ln this event a Permanent Artillery team easily disposed of a scratch team, the prize being £7 10s. Irish Jig in Costume,—Munro, 1, £3. Only one prize.

At a special meeting of the judges of the Caledonian Society, held on Tuesday night at the Empire Hotel, the protests in connection with the late sports were considered. With reference to the placed men in the 880yds heat of the big handicap, it was decided to act in accordance with the discretionary power conferred by rule 4, and have the event run over again next evening on the Basin Beserve at 6 o’clock. The event took place as arranged, in the presence of abont five ' hundred persons, who manifested great interest la the race. Barker, who won the event at the sports, was the favorite, and his subsequent win was very popular. .With the exception of Mahoney (who was disqualified for jostling when the race was run at the sports) the competitors were the same. A wretched ■ start was effected, the two scratch men (Monnoch and Barker) being some yards off the mark when the signal was given. Fox led the first time round, with Barr second and Scott, third, Barker, running well, fourth. After going abont 500yds Pox,; who had led from the start, dropped out. Both Barr and Scott were going well, but as they went round the back of the course Barker went up and passed them amidst applause from the spectators, Scott, however, was not done with, and made a determined effort to catch Barker, but unsuccessfully, the latter winning by about four yards, after a capital race. Barr was third and Copeland fourth. No official time was taken, but it was recorded as 2min. 14seo. by private watches. The result of this event gives Scott the President’s Cap with 11 points, having a win and two seconds, while Barker scores 10 (two wins),