FOXHILL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SPORTS.

Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8861, 10 May 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

FOXHILL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SPORTS.

PreEident— Mr Gaukrodger. Vice-Presidents — Messrs B Linoß, J Prioe, senr, J Thorn ab, Judge— A. Godbaz, J. Mead, D.Thomas. Handicappers — A. J. Palmer, C. D vis, J. Thompson. Starter -J. Ousack. Bellman — H. Nisbett. Treasurer— A, J. Palmer. Secretary— J. T. Veysey. Timekeeper—L. Kerr, Committee — H. Hollis, Easton, 0. Bryant, E .Kenzett, M. Hiokey, T. Tidd, D. Tanner, T. Morrison, W. L.fo e Boyce.

It would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful autuma day than was April 19th and the bright sky and warm sunshine induced a large number of country people and townsfolk to foregather in tbe pleasant paddook Bituate within about a stone's throw of the Foxhill railway Btation, on the Wai-iti

side of the line, and kindly lent for tbe occasion of the first sports meeting tjf tho Foxhiil Athletic Association by Mr J. Gaukrodger. The Bports ground presented a gay appearance with bunting flying and iho ten s and refreshment booths'. Fforn. the many trap 3 drawu up outs'ds it was evident tbat many of tbe visitors had purneyed by road, and Motupiko, Tadmo*-, Molueka Val'ey, Eighty-Eight Valley, Waimea West, and the nearer localities vtfre all welljrepresented A considerable number of people a'so went out by rail, and altogether* tbe attendance must hava numbered something like a thousand. The offioia's worked hard to make the gathering a success, but with the number of competitors and the time occupied in getting off the jumping events, some delay oocorred in reaching the end of the programme. Tbe proceedings were enlivened by the playing of the Wakefield Temparance Band, under the conduct ->rship of Mr Wallace, and considerable interest was taken in all the contests, the results of whioh wera as follows : —

Boys' Raoe, under 12: Easton 1, Hudson 2. Some half-dozen lads started.

Maiden Race, 220 yd s; for all who have not won an advertised race ; let prize 15a, 2od 7s Gi : F Jones 1, W Mead 2. Of the twelve starters for this event, Oliver was firss to breast the tape, but a protest was lodged against him on the ground of bis having won a race previously. Oliver admitted having won, but considered that as he did not draw the priza money, it was oompetent for him to rac°. The Stewards upheld tbe protest, giving the seoond man first prize, and tbe third man seoond. Time, 29socs.

Foxhill Handicap (points race) ; Ist pr ze £3, 2nd £2; first evect 100 yds: Clear 1, Richards 2, Holland 3. There were nine starters, and a oapital race took place. Time 10 2-5 sees.

Putting the Shot (handioap) ; Ist prize 10s, 2nd ss : Cusack, scr, 38ft lOin, 1 ; Wells, with handioap Oft 3in, 38fc, 2 ; Holland, with handicap Bft, 37ft 6;n, 3. Five oompeted, and tfre b>9t man won.

Htrdleßace, 440 yds, over eight hnrdhs; Ist prize 25i, 2nd 10s: Hunter 1, O Green 2, Wells 3 Eight men faoed tbe starter, and a oapital rece ensued, Hunter winning in good S'.yle.

Boys' B&ce, under 10; Ist prize 63, 2nd 3s: F N Jones, junr, 1, G Enapp 2. Six started.

Sack Race Handicap ; Ist prize ss, 2nd 2s Gd : F Mead 1, C Hargreaves 2. This jevent caused much merriment. Hargreaves '•had a good lead till approaching the post, when he and Mead both spurted, with the result that both came to grief ; but Mead, pulling himself together, got first on his feet and away, winning with little to spare. There were five starters.

Foxhill Handicap (Points Race) ; second event, 200 yards : R P Palmer, 9yds, 1 ; G Hunter, 7yds, 2 ; Wells, syds, 3. All the men went for this event, and Palmer, who ran well, maintained the advantage of his handicap, winning in 24secs.

Hop, Step, and Jump (handicap) ; Ist prize 10s, 2nd ss : Jones, with 4ft handicap, 42ft 4in ; Wells, with 2ft handicap, 41ft Sin ; Holland, scratch, 40ft Bin. There were nine competitors, and Holland proved himself the best man, but was beaten on the handicap.

Half-mile Race Handicap; Ist prize 30s, 2nd 10s : F Mead, 15yds, 1 ; F W Jones, 3Gyds, 2 ; 0 Green, 20yds, 3. With a field of twelve the race was a very open one, and the limit man, Smith, maintained his lead for half the distance, when the other men were closing up and Jones took the lead ; but in the last lap Mead managed to get to the front, and he won a good race. Time, 2mins lGsecs.

Giils |Raos: Ida Nicholl 1, Elsie Karsten There were 14 starters.

Mile Walk Handioap ; lst*prize 255, 2ad 10s: A Mead, 50yds, 1; W Emms, 15yds, 2. Emms, who breaßted thej tape first, had a peouliar way of waking that at times looked very like a trot and many of the onlookers objected to hia style, while young Mead walked well and pluckily. Afier tho finish the stewards deoided to reverse tbe position, giving the raoe as stated above. Time 7mins lGseos.

Running High Jump, handle ip; Ist priza 12a 61, 2nd 7s 6d; L Holland, with handicap 2in, sft 2in ; W Mead, with handicap 3io, sft 2in ; R Palmer, with handioap 3io, sft lio. There were eleven entriea. and a very good contest took plaoe between the men.

Old Men's Raoe (over 50), 100 yd s; Ist prize 10s, 2nd ss: H R Byrne, Byds, 1; Harrison, sor. 2 ; Mead, 3yds, 3. A good rase. Foxhill Handioap (points race) ; tbird event 300 yds: B P Palmer, 11yd?, 1; G Hunter, Byds, 2; H Clear, 3yds, 3. Seven ran, and Palmer, the limit man, held bis lead all the way. winning a good raoe in 38sec3, Thb Points. Palmer thus oarried off the event with 8 points, Hunter and dear, eaoh scoring 6 pomt 3, taking second and third plaoes respectively, Throwing the Hammer (handioap) ; let prize 10s, 2nd ss: Casack, sor, 106 ft lin, 1 ; Holland, wiih 40ft handicap, 105 ft 4in, 2. There were three cmtastants. Junenile Handicap, 440 yds, for yonths nnder 18; ls prizi 12s Gd, 2nd 7s 61 : Baigent 1, Arno'd 2, B. Clesr 3. Eleven started, and a good raoe ensaed. Time, lmin 4seo».

Potato Raoe ; Ist prize 203, 2nd 10s : Wells 1, Roihwell 2. Six entered.

Hnrdle Raoe (handicap), 120 yds. over 8 hurdles; Ist prize 15s 2nd 7s 61 j Young 1, Oliver 2, Green 3. Twelve faced the starter, and the race was an interesting one. Time, J 7 4-5s"C9.

Oonsolation Race (handicap), 220 yd s; Ist prize 153, 2nd 7s Gd : L Holland 1, F Green 2. Ihis raoe brought out a lot of starters, who sought to make up for tbeir previous ill-luok, and, after a good straggle, the result wai as stated. Time, 29 2-sth sees.