OPUNAKE RACES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3135, 30 May 1879, Page 2

OPUNAKE RACES.

The Opunake sports came off on the Queen's Birthday as advertised, and proved a great success. The weather was all that could be desired, and encouraged a good many visitors from Hawera and Nonnauby. There was oE course a good sprinkling of Maoris, but not so many as was expected. Mrs. Bartlett had enough time of it. as she had to bunk down forty-five people on Saturday night, but which she managed to do to everybodies satisfaction. Captain Morrison acting as judge, Mr. i King, starter ; and 'Messrs. Bonor and Cunningham gave every satisfaction. The events were well contested, and close finishes were the order of the day. Losers paid their money with a good will, and everybody seemed thoroughly satisfied. Below are the several events and the results :—: — FOOT RACES. Flat Eace, 220 yards. — Ist prize, £3, Minniuix : 2nd prize, " 10s., Packer ; lieil, 3. JVliuniiiix led from start to finish, and won easily. Standing High Jump.— Prize, £1 10s., Miuninix. Only two entered for this event, Minuinix winning with a jump of 4ft. sin. Opunake Cup Hrnoicap. — Ist prize £10, 2nd prize £4, 3rd prize £1. Ist event, 100 yardsT— Reardon, 1 ; Packer, 2 ; O'Leary, 3. This race was confined to members of the A.O. Force. Six entered — Donovan, scratch ; Packer, 4yds. ; O'Leary, 4yds. ; Martelli, syds. ; Reardon, syds. ; Reil, 6yds. Mr. King effected a capital start, Reardon breasting the tape two yards in front of Packer, with O'Leary close up for third place. Hop, Step, and Jump. — Minninix, 1 ; Maori, 2. Minninix won with the splendid jump of 42ft. 10in., being closely pushed by a native of Parihaka. Flat Race, 100 yards. — Ist prize, £2, Miuninix ; 2nd prize, 10s., Donovan. This race occasioned considerable excitement, Donovan, the crack Wellington runner, and Minninix competing together for the first time. It turned out, however, to be a hollow affair : Donovan, after running about thirty yards, threw np the sponge, and allowed Minninix to win as he liked.

Vaulting with Pole. — Minninix (9ft. 3in.), 1 ; Peheira (9ft. lin.), 2. Peheira jumped pluckily and well, but could not manage to clear his opponent's jump. Opunake Cup Handicap.— 2nd event, 220 yards — Packer, 1 ; Reardon, 2 ; Reil, 3. Donovan, Packer, and Reardon, scratch ; O'Leary, lyd. ; Roil, 7yds. ; Martelli, 7yds. O'Leary maintained a good lead till within fifty yards from home, when he unfortunately mistook the course, allowing Packer, Reardon, and Reil to finish home in a cluster, in the order named.

Wrestling (Cumberland style). — Prize, £2, Maori ; Hickey, 2 ; Burns, 3. In this event a dispute arose, bystanders averring that, according to Cumberland rules of wrestling, Hickey had fairly won h's prize ; but the judge (a visitor) gave his decision in favour of the native, much to the satisfaction of our dusky brethren.

Sack Race. — Prize, los., Hodge. Opunake Cup Handicap.— 3rd event, 440 yards — Packer, 1 ; Reardon, 2 ; Reil, 3. Packer, scratch ; Reardon, 3yds. ; O'Leary, .")yds. ; Reil, syds. ; Donovan, syds. Donovan led the first round, when Packer put on a splendid spurt, collared him. and retained the lead, winning somewhat easily from Reardon, who was closely pressed by Reil. Packer thus takes first prize with a score of 11 points, Reardon second with 10 points, and Reil third with -t points.

Tilting in the Bin,:?. — Ist prize, £,2 10s., Bonner ; 2nd prize, 10s., Newsharn. Nine competitors entered for this event, Bonner securing first prize and Newsham second.