THE DRUID’S GALA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9274, 21 April 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DRUID’S GALA.

The principal attraction in town on Monday 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 inWellingtonforsomotime. The weather was fine, and as a consequence there was a very large attendance. When the first race was started there wore about 2000 spectators present, but this number increased during the afternoon nutl) ffiere was quite 4000 people on the ground. A programme of sixteen avents was carried out. All the races weie splendidly contested, and close finishes were the order of the day. The principal event of the meeting, the Easter Handicap, four distances, was won by K, Jarrett, of Wanganui, who scared 13 points (two wins and a third), S. H. Coward and T. Delaney coming next with 0 points. The latter had a good chance of winning the Handicap,but he was 4 ‘spiked” during one of the beats, and was unable to ran afterwards. A protest has been entered against the winner by W, R. Maokay, one of the competitors, on the ground that ho 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 ecored 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 doe regard to punctuality. All the officials carried out their duties satisfactorily, and the starter and bandicapper especially are entitled to a word of praise. It is expected that a substantial surplus will bo 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, nnder Bandmaster Dean, performed a programme of popular selections during the da}'. The names of the members of the Committee and the various officials are as follow Judges, E, Jones, C. Haelam, G. Snaddon, H. Mills; referee, W. Walker; starter, B. R, Gardner; bandicapper, T. L. Barker j timekeepers, F. M. Leckio and M, F. Kennedy : Committee, Messrs W. Lepper, J, Maokay, J. Abel, C, Jansen, S. Stockbridge, fl. Mills, A. George, J. Grant, W. Evenson, T. Elliott, W. Jones, J. T. Lepper, B. R. 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. Tho details of the various events are as follow ;

Maiden Race, 120yds ; prizes, £2, £l, 10s. —J. McGuire, I; D. Mowton, 2; A. McGillivray, 3. Fifteen started. Boys’ Race, under 14, 100yds ; prizes, 7s 6d, ss, and 2a Gd.—B. Wayburn, 1 ; H. Card, 2; D. Kelly, 3. Tho first two ran a dead heat, and in the run off Wayburn won by a yard, Easter Handicap; total value, £SO. Four events—looyds, 220yds, 440yds, 880yds. Prizes for each 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. Brannigcn (4yde), 2; E. J. Mulhern, (Sydo), 3. Time, 10 3-10thscc. Second beat —T. Delaney (10yds), 1: W. Williams (7yds); 2; S. H. Coward (Byds), 3. Time, lOaec. Third heat—L Watts (3yds), 1 ; W, H. Arnotb (2yds), 2; S. Thacker (2yds), 3. Time, XOsec. Fourth heat— A. W. Watts (3yds), 1; W, R. Mackay (syds), 2; R. Jarrott (syds). 3. Final heat —T. Delaney, I; I. Watts, 2;A. W. Watts, 3. Won by half a yard, a few inches separating the second and third men. Time, 10seo.

Druids’ Handicap (open only to financial members of the Order), 100yds, 200yds, 300yds, Prizes—First, cup value £5 ss; 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. F, Lester (7yds), 3. Seven started. Won easily by a couple of yards. Time, 10 2.stbaec.

Easter Handicap (second event), 440yds ; prizes, £7, £3, and £l—R. Jarrett (12yds), I ; W, K. Mackay (10yds), 2; J. J. O*Dwyer (fcratch), 3. Fifteen started. McGuinness (22yds) had the lead after going about 200yds. He was, however, soon passed by Jarrett and Mackay. The former kept at tbe head of affairs until the finish, although Mackay made a great effort to catch him in the last thirty yards. Jarrett passed the post a good three yards in front of Maokay, O’Dwyer two yards away third. The other starters did not finish. Time, 52 7-10th sec.

Druids Handicap (second event), 200yds— S. Thacker (scratch), 1 j B. R. Gardner (7yds), 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; X. Watts (11yds), 3. Time, ISseo. Second Heat—VV. Williams (9yds), 1 ; H. E. Williams (7yds). 2; J. H. O’Neill (11yds), 3. Time. 16 2 sth sec. Third Heat—S. H. Coward (12yds). 1; R. D. Thompson (6yds), 2; E. J. Mnlhern 10yds), 3. Time, 16 2.5 th sec. Final Heat—T. Da 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 much 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 pood race. Arnott, the scratch mao, stumbled after clearing the first hurdle, and this no doubt considerably affected his chance of winning. Time. 30 3-3 th sec. One Mile Handicap ; prizes, £lO, £4, and £l.—E. E. Woon (50yds), 1 ; D. Galloway (15yds), 2; D. Moreton (70yds), 3. Fourteen started. A fine race. George (SOyds) and Whiteman (90yds) were in front the first time round, Burton (60yda), 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 mils 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 with a great rnsb, 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 he 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), 5220yds) ; prizes, £7, £3, and £l. First heat—-J. H. O’Neill (14yds), 1; J. MoOninnesss (12yds), 2 ; A. W. Watts (syds), 3. Time, 23Jseo. Second beat—R. J&rrett (Byds), 1 ; J. Watts (15yds), 2 ; A. MoGillivray (16yds), 3, Time, 24 l-6tb see. Third beat—T, De-

laney (16yds), I ; S. H. Coward (10yds), 2; J. J. O’Dwyer (scr), 3. Time, 24 l-10lU sec. Final heat—S. H. Coward, 1 ; J. McGuiuness, 2 ; R. Jarrett, 3. Won by a yard. Tima, 23 4 sth sec. Delaney, who was running well, ami looked like getciug a place, waa ** 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 spiking him, bat subsequently withdrew it. Sack Race, 100yds ; prizes, £1 and 10s J. C. Whiteman, 1 ; VV, L. Whiteman, 2. Five started.

Easter Handicap (fourth event), SSOyds ; £7, £3, and £I~R. Jarrett (15yda). I ; 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 9&seo. btoue and Basket Race (10 atones to be placed 10yds apart) ; prizes, £4, £2, 1 D. Galloway, 1 ; J. C Whiteman, 2; G. Welch, 3, Six competed. Tho distance run was 1100yds, and the winner accom* plishod it in 3mio 26 2.sthaeo. Consolation Handicap, 250yda ; prizes, £3, £2, and £l—J, MoGuinness (12yds), 1 j \V. K. Mackay (6yds), 2; J. N earth (3yda). 3. Time, 27 2-sth3ec.

The Tug*of-*War fell through, as there ware not sufficient entries.