ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 704, 27 May 1879, Page 2

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

On Saturday there were prognostications that Monday would prove a "soaker," which was aa much as to say, that in consequence of bad weather, there would be no sports. Saturday morning set in with a mizzle ; Saturday afternoon with a steady rain ; Saturday night with a pelting down-pour, which/ kept on until Sunday morning, when the clouds gave in from having no more rain left to give out. About mid-day on Sunday the elements become genial. Yesterday, the weather was fine, but the rains had made lagoons, and small rivulets, and water-ways, in the streets and back thoroughfares of the town. The Recreation Ground was the very reverse of pleasant. It was comprised, in greater part of mud, slush, puddle, wet grass, with damp over, and underlying everything. The ground wastoo heavy for running. There was no spring in the turf. It was victory only for the strong, and defeat for the swift, who, under ordinary oiroumstances, would have breasted the tapes. The prizes, too, were miserable, suoh as should have made the donors heartily ashamed of themselves. Fancy the denizens of a town, where £30 a foot is being asked for a town section ;in a district) where £30 an acre is demanded for country land, where from £200 to £300 per annum is the rent for a shop and a back room, that the prize offered for a race is a razor, and — oh, so generous — - an accompanying strop. The winner of such a rich gift might not have arrived at an age whose requirements reach to a razor — to say nothing of the strop— or having reached maturity would not be so foolish as to have an inclination to denude himseif of one of nature's most beautiful adornments. We feel humiliated for the committee, and we cry shame upon the members who could allow it to be published that the prize fur one of the competitive events should be comprised in such a paltry, contemptible, donation as a razor, and a razor-strop, the joint value of which would certainly not exceed — we will say from three-and-aixpence to five shillings. But there is the prize before us on the printed programme. The Queen's birthday sports were not a success. The entries were numerous ; the competitors would bear favorable comparison with most amateurs in fast races ; but what spirit of emulation could be evoked for a prize of shaving material offered by one firm, a flower stand by another, or a pair of vases by a third. The whole of the prizes, whether in money or in gifts, were unworthy of the town and district. The Volunteer Band played good music ; the attendance was large. All would have enjoyed themselves but for the muddy, slushy, sticky ground. Most of those who went wished they had not gone, those who stayed, longed for the time when they could leave with decency. There was no comfort, no provision for women and children ; there was drink for men ; there was a grand stand from which nothing could be seen, exoepting at a distance ; for a publican's booth stood in front, just where it should not have been. The judges and starters did their business quite fairly ; the competitors tried their best ; but there Was no heart in the affair from first to last Before our recreation reserve becomes fit for athletic sports, it must be drained and levelled. Before we invite competitors we must offer prizes worth competing for. There must be no more razors and razor-strops ; no more live-and*sixpenny flower-stands ; no more pairs of vases, which would scarcely grace a kitchen mantel-shelf ; no more 20s. for a first prize in a quarter of a mile race ; no more 40s. prizes for a 200 yard Maiden Rece, open to ail comers. If Gisborne cannot do better in the future than she did yesterday, let Queen's Birthday Races he eschewed. The money prizes were simply laughable for their Bmallness. The first event was the Maiden Race, 200 yards, (open) Ist. prize £2 ; 2nd prize 10s. Two heats. For the first heat the competitors were A. Neal, H. Webb, G. Primrose, H. Sorry, J. Aggers, J. Adeane. This was a well contested race, resulting in a dead heat between Primrose and Aggers. Second Heat. Only two out of eight who entered started. These were. Te Kani (Maori) 1 E. Bloomfield 2 Consequently for the finish there were four to Btortr— Primrose and Aggers in the first heat : Te Kani and E. Bloomfield in the the second. The result was a victory to Primrose. Bloomfield did not run. • Boy's Race, under 18, \ mile, (open) over hurdles 3ft. Ist. prize, 20s. ; 2nd. prize, ss. Nothing could be worse arranged. A boy at 18 may be looked upon as a young man, capable of both speed and endurance. A boy of 12, under most circumstances, could be no match for him. In this race there were about ten competitors, who were handicapped for distances. At the start the; first hurdle was knocked down. The same with the second. Ditto with the third. There was a scrambling race, with the following result : — Mika (Maori) 1 W.Webb 2 D. Pirani 3 The rest anywhere or nowhere, Mika, the Maori, it would be hard to say what was his age. Probably it wasbetween 22 and 25. He came in first. Young Walter Webb a gallant second. The boy, and he is only a boy, run well, showing splendid pluck and spirit ; a boy that will if he goes in for running, carry off something better than a five shilling prize in a quarter mile hurdle race. 100 Yard Race (open). First prize, 50s ; second prize, 16s. There were six entries. Five started. These were Frier scratch, Sorry 9 yards, Major 4 yards, Grey 3 yards, Tarr 5 yards. The result was : — H. Sorry 1 C. E. Major 2 J. Frier 3 Sorry got away well and running hard was never caught, winning by a yard and a half. \ yard between second and third. The distance, by the winner, was done in \\\ seconds, excellent time, considering the heavy ground which had to be travelled.

Hop Step and Jump. First jjke, flower stand. V^ There were three competitors. Hopeta (Maori) 1 S. Oilman 2 J. Nash 3 The winner made 36 feet 9 inches for his distance. Hurdle Race, 120 yards, 5 hurdles. Ist prize, oak and silver tankards ; 2nd prize, pair vases. Ten names were on the list for entries ; but only five competed, with the following result :— J. White, 8 yds 1 F. Arthur, 10 yds 2 C. E. Major, scratch ... 3 An exciting race, in consequence of the ground being too sticky for the jumps, and too heavy for the running. Major ran up to his men at the star* but slipped at the second hurdle and fell, but immediately got up and ran into third place. 150 Yards Race, Ist. prize, Oak and silver tankards j 2nd. prize, album. Te Kani, 7 ycU 1 A. Arthur, 10 yda 2 C. E. Major, scratch ... 3 This was run around the course instead of making a straight race of it, Major, the scratch man, being at a decidod disadvantage through the course, but pußhed the leading men very closely, a yard covering the three first men. Putting the Stone, Ist. prize, pair of i vases. J. Carroll 1 G. Winter . M 2 C. E. Major 3 \ Mile Race, (open) Ist. prize, 40s. ; 2nd prize, 15s. S. Tarr, 30 yds ... ... 1 J. Frier, scratch 2 A. Gray, 20 yards 3 Tarr won rather easily, Frier about 47 yards behind. Kickng the Football H. Humpries 1 C. E. Major : 2 Boys' Race, under 14. Ist. Prize 16s ; 2nd prize, sb. A. Nash 1 P. Teat 2 100 Yabds Race. Ist. prize, oak and silver tankard. C. E. Major, scratch ... 1 J. White, 5 yds 2 Te Kani, 5 yrds ... ... 3 Regan, Brown, Henderson, and E. Bloomfield also started. Major had some difficulty in getting through his men at the start, but when through, came away, and won by a yard, not that distance separating second and third. Running High Jump. Ist prize, .riding whip. Wi Maki 1 , J. Carroll ... 2 A protest was entered aginst Wi Maki. There being no definite, arrange* ment whether it was for Club* members only. £Mile Race. Ist. prize, oak and silver tankard. C. E. Major 1 „ Henderson ... ... ... 2 A. Arthur 3 m This was decidely the best race of thP day, Arthur went away with the lead I at a strong pace, Henderson next, with Regan close, and Major not pulling any of the heap. This order was maintained till the straight home was reached, when Major came down beautifully, and ran in an easy winner by some four or five yards, much to the astonishment of the spectators. Stebplb-ohasb, 1000 yards. Ist. prize, 50s. ; 2nd prize, 20s. J. White, 1 yd 1 S. Tarr, 2 yds 2 Consolation Race, 300 yards. Ist prize, 30s ; 2nd prize, 15s. A. Gray ... 1 G. Henderson 2 Only two started. Bog and Ladle Rage, 100 yards Ist. prize razor and strop. A. Arthur 1 Cuff 2 For the Championship of the Club, Mr. Major is first with 17 points, and Mr. White next with 11 points. Altogether we have nothing upon which we can congratulate ourselves. We have good amatuer athlets ; but we offer them no encouragement. The amusements are not diversifed. For instance, there are no quoits, no running for the ring, no leaping with the pole, no throwing with the hammer, no standing jump, no high jump. We must have better arrangements next year, or not make such an attempt as was made yesterday. The people in the ground certainly conducted themselves admirably. There was no disorder, no quarrelling. The police were not called into requisition. The reserve is a fine piece of ground, and only requires the expenditure of a little money to render in deserving of the name which it is not at present entitled to be called.