WAITAKI ATHLETIC CLUB'S SPORTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 496, 30 November 1877, Page 2

WAITAKI ATHLETIC CLUB'S SPORTS.

President—Mr. J. O'Meagher. VicePresident —Mr. J. Thornton. Hon. Secretary—Mr. G. S. Lintott. Hon. Treasurer —Mr. F. Fen wick. Judges —Messrs. J. Borton, A. M'Master, H. J. Millar, and A. H. Maude. Judges of Walking—Messrs. O'Meagher, W. Stuart, Clowes, and De Lautour. S.tarter—Mr. J. Thornton. TimeKeepers—Messrs. W. J. Steward and WheatleyV Clerks of the Course—The Committee of the Club. Assistant J. J. M'Donald and F. Fenwick.

The members of the Waitaki Athletic Club are to be congratulated upon the success which attended their inaugural sports to-day. This fact is greatly to be attributed to the untiring efforts of those entrusted with the making of the preliminary, arrangements. The whole of these had been carried out in a manner wellcalculated to command success. The weather though cloudy and rather cold, and accompanied with a few drops of rain during the earlier portion of the day, was not by any means unfavourable for outdoor- antusenients, more especially as' far as the competitors were concerned ; but about three o'clock a steady drizzling

wkm ri|dered unpS^q^rail the day wasSd'tofMerved£§do{B'< IhblidaMby the businessN&jbple inpdwn£; aome/ISf* them closed tji&t pWttAißes latter the^day. «Sfteise/was a very of-. Spectators, amongst whom w,e were pleased to notice a goodly spririttiag of the fair sex, without whose presence any class_ of outdoor amusements would be a "failure, at any rate to a very great extent. Mr. William Maitland had a booth on the ground, and appeared to do a tolerable business. Mr. Draper had also a fruitstall,'which met with a fair amount of support. The Club, very wisely wo think, determined not to give money prizes, but offered a number of useful and ornamental articles for competition. These were on exhibition in the pavilion, and a very recherche lot of articles they were, each and all of them being well worth struggling for. Amongst them were a silver cup presented by the ladies, a couple of time-pieces, each of unique appearance ; a field-glass, an opera-glass, two albums, and a number of other elegant articles. These were obtained, we believe, from Mr. Robert Lumsden, of Thames-street.

The ground was in very good order, although only lately converted into a cricket ground, and great credit is due to those who had been entrusted with the task of making the arrangements.

During the afternoon the Caledonian Band was in attendance, and enlivened the proceedings with some very good music.

THE EVENTS. Shortly after the appointed hour the bell rang for the first event of the clay, which was—--100 Yards Race.—First prize, FieldGlass ; second, Silver Matchbox.

For this event there were twelve entries, but only eight put in an appearance. Lots having been drawn for the heats, the first batch, consisting of Pickett, Ferens, Rhodes, Kidd, and Caverhill toed the line. A false start, however, was the result, Ferens being left at the post. D. K. Rhodes having completed the distance before stopping, it was decided that he should not be called upon to start again, and was allowed to compete in the final heat. On the second trial, the whole of the competitors got away to a very good start, and a close, though somewhat slow, race took place, Ferens winning by about half a yard, with Caverhill, who stumbled when near the tape, second. In the second heat only three toed the mark, namely, Walls, Pickett, and Bennett. They were sent away to a very good start, Walls winning almost as he liked, Bennett; being second. The time was not kept for either of the events. Putting the Stone (IGlbs.). —Prize, an Album.

For this event the only competitors ■were Walls, Bennett, and Kidd, three of those who had entered not competing. After a short contest, Bennett proved the winner, with a throw of 29ft. 3in., Kidd being second, with 28ft. Half-Mile Race.—Prize, Timepiece.

Eight had entered for this event, but only Tempest, Ferens, and M'Glashan competed. A very good race ensued, the whole of the competitors keeping well together until about 300 yards from home, when Tempest went to the front,lmt only for a short time, as the superior training of Ferens told. He put on a spurt, and soon passed the others, winning pretty easily in 2min. 17fscc. M'Glashan was second, Tempest having stumbled and fallen when about 150 yards from the finishing post. Running High Jump.—Prize, Barometer.

For this event only three competed, viz., Bennett, Lintott, and Gow, the other four who had entered declining to contest. The three started at four feet, which was easily cleai'ed. The jump was gradually raised until 4ft. 9in. had been reached, when Gow failed. The contest between Bennett and Lintott was a very good one, both of them taking their jumps remarkably well. Eventually, Lintott failed to clear sft., and this height having been splendidly jumped by Bennett, who seemed equal to something more, he scored a win. 200 Yards Race.—Prize, Silver Inkstand.

Eleven had entered for this event, but only four competed —Walls, Reid, Kidd, and Caverhill. A very good start was effected, the whole of the competitors keeping well together until within a short distance from home, when Walls drew slightly ahead, and won by about half a yard, Caverhill being second. Time, 22isecs.

One Mile Pace—Prize, large Album. Ferons and M'Glashaii only came to the post, and were set going to a very good start, The two men kept well together the first time round, both going at a moderate pace. When the second round was started, Ferens drew slightly ahead, and maintained his position until within about 300 yards from the finishing post oo the third time round, when M'Glashan put on a spurt, and got slightly ahead. Ferens, however, was not to be denied, and after a short distance had been got over, regained the lead, and won by some dozen yards. Time, smins. 30secs. After the race was ■completed, M'Glashan entered a protest against Furens on the ground of jostling. Ferens also entered a protest against M'Glashan on similar grounds. A considerable amount of evidence was taken on the matter, and after some consideration, the Stewards decided not to sustain either protest, errors of judgment having been committed on both sides. Final Heat of the 100 yards Rack. The final heat of this event was then run off. The whole of the five came the post, viz., Walls, Ferens, Rhodes, Bennett, l and Caverhill. A fair start was

effected, Rhodes getting slightly tho bent , of it. jW4jJ|J|cut *o«t tho running, and succeeded m* winning by about half a yard, Parens "Tieitig Second. Time—loA Prizo, Silver Toast Rack. This was a somewhat hollow affair. The only competitors were Bennett and Taylor, the former winning with, a jump of 7ft. lOin. Quarter-mile Rack.—Prizo, an Opera

Glass. For this event Ferens, M'Glashan, Caverhill, and Tempest competed, and were sent away to a very good start. For some time the whole of them kept well together, but when half the distance had been got over Caverhill drew to tho front, but he did not succeed in maintaining that position long, fur Ferens, when within about 100 yards from tho finish challenged Caverhill, and passed him * after a short struggle, winning by some ten yards. The time was not kept.

A number of other events afterwards took place, but the exigencies of the Press preclude the possibility of our noticing them this evening.