THE CALEDONIAN SPORTS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2740, 3 January 1882, Page 2

THE CALEDONIAN SPORTS.

The most important incident in connection with ‘the advent of the New Year, from a public point of view, was the holding of the annual games of the South Canterbury Caledonian Society, which took place yesterday. This gathering has for many years been most successful in attracting public patronage, and this year nearly all the holiday makers within a radius of ten miles seemed to have attended the meeting, while many came from greater distances. The morning trains brought in large loads of passengers, and along the main roads leading into town vehicles by dozens and horsemen by scores wended their way Timarn wards. So few indeed were those _ who journeyed in an opposite direction those they met glanced at them with pity or suspicion, as if they thought something wrong either in the circumstances, the heads, or the intentions of the travellers. One- might well wonder where allthe traps and horses would be bestowed for the day. As may be imagined, the • streets after the arrival of the trains, and a proportion of the visitors by road; presented a most lively appearance, and the beautiful weather that permitted so many people turn out, and itself furnished a temptation to turn out, assured their enjoyment of the holiday. About half past ten the members of the Caledonian Society were marshalled into a procession at the Grosvenor Hotel, and headed by the T.A.Y. band and three pipers, with the Scottish standard flying, marched through the streets to the trysting place, the band and and the pipes alternately supplying marching music. Arrived at the ground, the arrangements were seen to be of a very satisfactory character. A large oval was roped off on the south side of the ground, on the margin of which the running course was staked off. And in the interior a stand was placed for the dancing competitions, seats for the band, and poles for the jumping and vaulting contests. On the north side of the oval was a covered stand capable of seating about 300 people, for which an extra charge was made, and this was crowded at times. Other seats were distributed round the ring for- the use of the ladies. The ring was religiously kept clear of the public, so that there was no crowding upon the competitors, and everyone as a rule had a good view of the games. Subsidiary amusements were also to be had, and among these a rnerry-go-round did an enormous business. There were two licensed and two unlicensed booths on the ground, and all four did a good business. It is estimated that, in the afternoon when the crowd of spectators was at its greatest, there were nearly 5000 people on the ground. n nd the scene was a very animated one indeed. The weather was at times very hot, now and then oppressively so, but fortunately the sun was veiled most of the day by light clouds. The greatest source of discomfort was the hot dust raised in Elizabeth street and Sandio

Town road, which was curried over the, grounds by every breath of air. The sports themselves were scarcely so good as those of previous years, the races were in most cases indifferently? Contested, the winners having, as the event showed,been leniently dealt with by the handicappers. In the wrestling, Cumberland style, H, Slade, who won easily last year, again disposed of his opponents easily. In the collar and elbow contest there was a good number of competitors and the contest" was a protracted one, owing chiefly to the want of skill in most of the contestants. The winner of the first prize, however, is no novice at the game. Fagan, the pedestrian, entered for this event, and made a tough fight of it till he had to retire, hurt. The prizes for bagpipe music did not attract many competitors, but their playing of all was admittedly good, , The only race which attracted a large number of votaries was the Irish jig, for which' there were nine entries. One of the most interesting events of the day was a race of 200 yards for boys, in which at first running, three breasted the tape together. The deciding heat was a capital one, and the eagerness of the boys to lose no possible advantage at starting was most amusing. The following is a list of the results, following the order of. .the official programme . Quoits —Four entries. Prizes, £2, £l, 10s. W. Cunningham ... ... 1 A. Jackson... 2 . , W. .McKenzie ... . ... 3 Throwing 221 b Hammer —Eight entries. Prizes, £2, £l,los. ■S. Smith (67ft) ... ... ft H. A. Slade (57ft Bin) ... 2 W, O’Neill (57ft 6in) ... 3 Throwing 161 b Hammer—Six entries. Prizes £2, £l, 10s. • S. Smith (89ft din)... ...1 H. Slade (80ft 75n) . ... 2 A. Martin (77ft 4in)- ... 3 Patting 221 b Stone Seven entries. Prizes £2, £l, 10s. S. Smith (30ft Sin) ... I J. Mulligan (30ft 4in) ... 2 W. O’Neil (29ft 7in) ... 3 ; 100 Yards Handicap—Eight entries. Prizes £3, £2, £l. W. Moore (7yds) 1 B. Goss (scratch) ... ... 2 T. McAuliffe (scratch) ... 3 , Hi Line (2yds), A, McKinnon (syds); ,W. Lorrigan (scratch) also started. Bagpipe Music Pibrochs, marches, ■ ’ reels, and: strathspeys. Three ; entries. Prizes, £5, £3, £2. ■ D; Campbell ... 1 D. Macdonald ... ... 2 R.Calder ... ... .... ,3 Special prize medals were given for bagpipe music as follows : By Mr D. McLellan, of Strathspeffer, Scotland, for pibrochs—D. Campbell. By Mr John Davidson, for marches-r-Mr D. Campbell. By Mr A. Bower, for strathspeys and reels—D. Campbell. Highland Costume (Men)—Prizes £3,

£2 £l. , D. McDonald (McDonald tartan) 1t D. Buchanan (Grant tartan) ... 2 D. Gallie (Forbes tartan) J. s 3; Highland Costume (Boys)—Prisie £l. J. Gallic (Forbes tartan) ... 1 Mile Handicap Race —Seven entries. . Prizes, £s,'and medal given by Mr Partridge, £3* £l. D. Shine (40yds) ... 1 T. Ferguson (55yds) ... 2, ; W. S. Fagan (scratch) ... 3 y N. Line (70yds) and J. Mnlcahy (80yds) also started. A good race took place between the placed men towards tbe end of the mile, about a dozen yards separating them at the finish. Time—4min. 42secs; Highland Reel (in costume). Four entries. Prizes, £3, £2, and £1 D. Buchanan ... ... 1 H. Pelvin ... ... ... 2 D. Gallie 3 200 Yards Handicap.—Eight entries. Prizes, £3, £2, £l, W. Moore (12yds)... ... 1 C. Peters (10yds) ... . ... 2 A. McKinnon (12yds) ... 3 R. Goss (scratch), W. Lorrigan, (scratch), J. McLaren (7yds), also ran. Reel of Tulloch (in costume)—Three entries. Prizes £2, £l*loß. • D. Buchanan 1 H. Pelvin ... ... 2 D. Gallie 3 Sack Race. Five entries. Prizes, £2, £l, and 10s, N. Austin ... ... ... 1 J.Lanrie ... ,i. ... „,2 W. Miller ... ... 3 , Two Mile Walking Handicap. Six entries—Prizes £5, and Medal presented by Mr W. L. Edwards, £3, £l. . . ' I. J. Bradley (scratch) ... 1 H. Lambert (25yds) ... 2 W. Scarf (130yds) ... 3

Bradley made his,way to the front in the third lap, a little more than half.a mile from the start, and was never touched again. G. Gloeson (45yds), and J. Leenoy (95yds), also started, but foil out before completing the race. . Lambert entered a . protest against Bradley’s walking, but this was disallowed. The time given for the winner was 14min secs., an extraordinary record for the distance; Miller’s “Sporting Pamphlet” gives 7 min ISsecs., as the best record in the world for one mile. Seanntreuss.—Prizes, £2, £l. D. Buchanan 1 H.Pelvin ... 2 Hop. Step, and Jump.—Six entries. Prizes, £2, £l,los. M. Tangney (39ft 2;n) ... 1 N. Austin (38ft lOin) 7 , S. Smith (38ft 3in) ... 3 i

Highland Fling (in costume). Four entries. Prizes, £3, and Medal presented by Mr T. Richmond, £2, £l. H. Pelvin - 1 D. Gallie ... 2 D. Buchanan ’ 3 440 Yards Handicap Hurdle Race.—Six entries. Prizes, £4, £2, £l. T. McAuliffe (Byds) ... 1 J. Mulcahy (18yds) ... 2 W. S. Fagan (scratch) ... 3 R. Waugh (20yds) also started.: : Waugh, with the best start, held the lead for the first_ round whjen McAuliffe displaced him. Fagan who took this event last year looked well for winning, but at the second hurdle from home he took the jump with Waugh, who fell and threw Fagan out of it. Sword Dance.—Prizes £3, £2, £l. D. Buchanan ... ... 1 . R. Calder ... ... 2 Two others competed but their performances were not considered good enough to merit the tUird prize. Wrestling (Cumberland style)— Seven entries. Prizes, £5 and gold medal £3, £l. H. A. Slade 1 W. Robinson ... 2 T. Nelson Iff •**

„ Vaulting with Poln. VrizQs, £3 £2, £l. ■ ; :,G. Ran, (9ft jin).-' 1 , T. McAuliffe2 A. Mckinnon tv; r ... 3 Sailors’ Hornpipe (in costume)—rThree entries. Prizes, £3, and medal given by Mr Flaherty, £2. D. Buchanan ’ ... f ‘ Gv Qleeson ... ... f ~.v . 2 The third man 'appeared on the stage, but,did,not. dance. . ... D. Buchanan won Mr Sinclair's special prize lor most points in dancing. 880yds Handicap Race.— Seven entries. ■ Prizes £4, £3, £l. ; j D. Shine (18yds) ... ,f. ' 1 T. Fergusson (25yda) , ... 2 C. Peters (50yds) ... 3 This race was a gift to Shine, who won ns he liked. Singlesticks—Prize, a Medal presented by Mr D, McGuinness. A. Forbes ... ... ... 1 There were four competitors, most of whom showed more temper than skill. Horizontal Bar—Prizes: £2, £l, 10s. C. Wagstaff 1 0; Hallam*... : 1 ... ... 2 R. Morris ... 3 Irish Jig. Nino entries—Prizes £3 and Medal'giveh by Mr O’Driscoll, £2, and £l. ' J.,Nagle , ... ... . .l s G. O’Langhlan , . ; ... T. Tpomey ... , ... , Wrestling (Cornish : style). Seven’ entries. Prizes £4, £2, £l. ■T. Mulligan ... ... 1 W. Hellyer ... ... 2 J. Hellyer ... ... ... 3 Running Elat Jump.—Six entries. Prizes, £2, £l, 10s. M. Tangney (18ft4-Jin) .... 1 W. Moore (18ft lin) ... 2 G. Rae (17ft l£in)... ; ... 3 Running High Leap.—Prizes £2, £l, 10s. G. Rae (sft Gin) 1 rN. Austin... ..v,; .;,.. 2 R. Chute ... ... ... 3 200 Yards Race for boys under 14, — entries. Prizes, £1,155, 10s, • J. Hay ... 1 G. Double ... 2 O.lnwood ... 3 Tossing the Caber—Five entries. Prizes ■■ , 1 . '-£2, 01; 10s.' | 1 ; ; 8. Smith too -' L.„ k«l ,1- .. : w.;Taibot... .a ;■ : H. A. Slade,,, m 3