GREAT WAS THE FALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 88, 23 February 1907, Page 7

GREAT WAS THE FALL.

Sydney "Sportsman."

Many of the counties m England have their sporting clubs, formed more on social principals than for betting purposes. Every year a ball is held . and sports meetisngs arranged, which include a big spread that would even gladden the heart of our champion "istoker-artist" "IZif." Last year one of the clubs, which boasted of no less than 400 members,- held its annual sports meeting, the committee not leaving, a stone unturned to make the gathering a huge success. -A splendid programme was arranged, such items as chasing the greasy porkie, married women's, old buflers'; youths' and girls' races, skipping rope, step^dancing, throwing the hammer, and many other contests being set down for decision, for which visitors as well as members Could compete. As most of the visitors were sports, they could not refrain from indulging m a little speculation, ahd no matter whether the competitors' abilities were known or not, rarely a contest was decided without coin changing hands, and, strange to say, the married women's flutter was responsibfe for fat more speculation than any other event on the programme. The respective "hubbies" supported their wives solidly when they thought Kit or Liz had a winning show, and . at this Sports picnic referred "to a lady could... fei,.. backed for the married w6men's race to win £100. It was m early May, when fully 600 people assembled at the picnic grounds, and for half an hour prior to this event taking .place competitors were being freely backed. A traveller's wife, Minnie Chapman, whose husband had , been out of work for some months through illness, journeyed over 20 miles to try and win this race. The prize was a silk dress, valued at £5, which -could be ordered at any dressmaker's establishment', that the winner fancied ; but Mrs Chapman, who was only a young woman of 27 summers, did not take much count of the dress, f o r shejiad iii her mind's eye a £30 to £3 wager about herself, which, if a winning one, would be ciuite sufficient to settle tradesmens' bills, back rent etc.,' and, moreover, it: would be„.a pleasant surprise if or her invalid hubby, whoni she did not apprise Of her intentions to compete m the race. In obtaining £30 to' 3 (a friend getting it on for her>. Mrs C. was indeed lucky, as she held an unbeaten record m girls' races when living many miles from her present abode, afad as she considered herself ,- after a few trials, as good as m the days of yore, the event appeared to be a cert for her. Leaving Mrs C. preparing for the sprint, I will drop on to another competitor, who was going to rake the-; boodle m without an effort. This "married lydy," 'however, was *MoreyKron, a Jew, of medium height, who, prior to becoming a bookmaker travelled the different counties with a theatrical company as a lightning change artist, and this same jokfer could sprint some, too. He arrived on the scene dressed a bit bulky, ihis skirt Being somewhat lorig m front, so as to hide his trilbies, which were not oi the Cipdetella pattern by any mfeans. "Veil twendy. ter von Mrs Ophenheime'r," (Morey Kron) called out a venturesome Yi'd, who little dreamt that any one would come at the port-* ly competitor ; but it was Snapped up, not only from this fielder, but others, and m. all _abo,ut £120 .was laid against' the obese "Jewess." When the field ranged up at the start, Mrs Ophehheimer appeared- on the limit, while, owing to the athletic build of Mrs Chapman (this was mostly the principal on which competitors were handicapped), she was only given a couple of. yardsi ftom the previous year's winner ; yet she felt confident that she would overall those then m front of . her long before the 50yds had been traversed. Fifteen spliced 'uns got away beautifully when the pistol was fired, and before half the trip was completed Mrs Chapman, was nearly upsides with Mother Opthehheiimer; but despite the vigorous efforts of Mrs C. she could not quite catch. the "Haybag." Only another 15yds ahead of the pair was the tapef and the crowd, whose sympathy appeared to be with Mrs G._ yelled themselves hoarse urging her to do better, but those any way observant knew that Mrs Openheimer had - the measure of her lithe : opponent. However, the race is not always to the swift, and the slip between cup and lip came ,five yards from the tape, where Mris O. came kerflop, which left Mrs C. an easy task to score over the final "few yards. Now, what caused Morey to fall was only known to himself and a couple of his backers at the time; but as there's no secret when more than one. is m the know, it has since transpired that Morey's pants, which he had tucked up, came down near where he fell, and to save them being seen by the crowd he let go his skirt, which tangled round his trilbies, and the fall followed.