IRISH ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2714, 21 March 1906, Page 59

IRISH ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CFhom Our Own Coseespondent.) INVERCARGILL, March 14. The Irish Athletic Society of Southland was favoured with fine weather for its twentieth annual gathering and sports, although a raw wind blew occasionally and the clouds looked rainy like. The events were all well contested, and the finishes in some instances interesting. During the afternoon the public turned up in large numbers, and the crowd seemed to be almost as large as last year's, when over £200 was taken at the gates. Some spills occurred in the bicycle races, but none of them were attended with any serious results. The Bicycle Obstacle Race provided great amusement, the competitors having to ride about 100 yards, dismount, and get through suspended " barrels, ride another 100 yards and then get through sacks stretched on the ground (in which one of the competitors was stuck so long that the race was won before he got out) ; ride another 100 yards and then over a see-saw, and finish up by riding round the course. The executive worked well together to make the gathering the success it was, and was ably assisted by its courteous secretary (Mr Martin O'Brien). The following are the results: — THROWING THE STONE (Irish sty'.e). Sis entries — F. Ford (scratch), 50ft 6m, 1: iT Crow (3ft), 2; C. Purdue (2ft), 3. YOUTHS' SCRATCH RACE (120yds)— X Hanan, 1 ; W. Mayhew, 2 ; A. Strang. 3. Time llscc. WRESTLING (Collar-and-elbow). Two entries— F. Ford, 1; W. Ford, 2. 75 YARDS HANDICAP. Thiity-one entries — Kane, Henry, Robinson, Baird, M'Coll, Sherbourne, Hanley, Dodds, and Mann were left in after the fir=t ~ound, and after the second round Kane, Robinson, and Banrd, the fina! placings being— Robinson (3^yds), 1; Baird (4Ayds), 2; Kane i'4|yd3), 3. Robinson appeared to win easily, with a good race between the second and third men. Time. 7 3-ssec. 100 YARDS HANDICAP (Amateurs). Fifteen entries — Bust, Stokes, Nash. Ste^d, Guy, Lindsay. Thomson, and Donaldson qualified for the second round, and Stoke=. Stead, Lindsay, and Guy for the final, which vas won by Stokes (6yds), 1; Lindsay (Byds), 2. Time 10 3-ssec. ONE-MILE FLAT HANDICAP. Thirteen entries— T. Small (45yds) r 1, J. M'Conaclue i (40yds), 2; M. Shechy (6Oyds), 3. A very slow r?ce. Won by about 20yds in 4min 52sec. ONE-MILE BICYCLE. Twenty entries— G. Jack, Winter, M'Kenzie, Blackmann, Butler, Summers, and Allott qualified for the final, which was won by Blackman (60yds). 1 ; Jack (20yds), 2; Winter (40yds), 3. Black- | niann had the race in hamd on entering the l straight, and won by a length. Time, 2mm i 22 2-ssec. IRISH JIG. Three entries— W. Burke, I; , D. Reidie. 2. I ST. PATRICK'S SHEFFIELD HAX- ' DICAP (135 yds). Thirty-four entries— Baird. Hannai, Waiters. Sayers, M'Lachlan. A. Brown, i Sanson, Curry, Howorth, Kane. Robinson, and Hanley were left in after the first round, and after the second round Sanson, M'Lachlan, Blown, Kane, Robinson, and Hanna. After the semi-final Robinson, Brown. Hanna, and Sanson were the competitors left for the final, which was won by Sanson (9iyds), 1 ; Hanna (lljyds), 2; Robinson (9yds)T 3. A splendid finish Won by less than a foot, tho other men quite close up. Time, 13sec. SAWING MATCH. Ten entries— KilkeDy and Cook (3sec), 1 ; E. Tobin and Frisby (3sec), 2, Carson and George (scratch), 3. All the placed men seemed to finish together. Time. 17 4-ssec GIRLS' HIGHLA>rD FLIXG. Four entries — L. Stevenson,. 1 ; S Glennie, 2. CUMBERLAND WRESTLING. Three entries— F Ford. 1 . M Ford, 2 ; W. Ford, 3. SCHOOLS' RELAY RACE. One mile. Nine entries Gladstone School. 1 , Marist Brothers', 2; South School A team, 3. An interesting item, in which the winners asserted their superiority right through, and won by about 30 yards. Time. 4 mm 42sec. HALF-MILE BICYCLE DASH. Twenty entries — Halhday, Harvey, Baldwin, Summers, Blackmann, and Harris qualified for the final, which was won by Blackmann (30yds), 1 ; Harvey (35yds), 2; Harris (40yds), 3* Time, lmin lOsec. In the fir^t heat two of the competitors came down, but both were able to walk to the dressing shed, although consider- I ably bruised. HARRIERS' RELAY RACE. One mile. Six entries— Union Harriers (6Oyds). 1 ; Invercargill Club No. 3 team (50yd.<=), 2; Invercargill Club No. 1 team (scratch), 3. Won by a few yards. Time, 3min SOrec TWO-MILE BICYCLE RACE Twenty entries — Butlpr. Hams. Summers. Harvpv. Winter, and Blackmann qualified for the final. wTiich was won by Blackirwinn (120vdi). 1, Winter (80yds). 2: Summers (12Oyd*>, 3 Won by two lengths Time omir 12 4-s°ec Two riders came clown in the fina'. but were not hurt CHOPPING MATCH — S Gordon (45secV 1 D O'Connor (lOsec). 2, D. Hudson (scr), 3. Won with a few peconda to spare HALF-MILE FLAT HANDICAP. Sixteen entries— R. Watters (40yds), 1; T. Menzies 135 yds), 2; A. Milne (50yds), 3. YTatteia

! sprinted in the straight, and won nicely. Tim^ 2min_2 2-ssec. 440 YARDS FLAT HANDICAP., Sixteen' entries— W. Baird (28yds), 1; L. C. Miiachlan < (ser), 2. Won by four yards. Time. 51 4-ssec. BICYCLE AND OBSTACLE RACE. Hal! a mile. — R. Mutch, 1. THROWING THE 161b HAMMER (ScotcHi style). Five entries— F. Ford (scr), 1; B, Tobin (14ft), 2. 220 YARDS FAREWELL HANDICAP. Twenty-seven entries— W. H'Coll (12yds), 1:| R. Waiters (20yds), 2; W. Baird (17yds)," & Time, 22sec. Watters appeared to win this race by 18 inches, but the judge gave the verdict to M'Coll, stating that Watters caiight' ths tape in his hands.