Waimate’s First Sportsman

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19861, 26 July 1934, Page 10

Waimate’s First Sportsman

Waimate’s first white settler, Mr Michael Studholme, whose arrival eighty years ago this month is to be commemorated by the Borough, was also the district’s pioneer sportsman. The earliest race in South Canterbury of which there is any record was a match between horses owned by Mr Studholme and Mr W. K. Macdonald, of Orari. With the Scud horse Knottingly. Mr Studholme won the Canterbury Cup In 1868 and again In 1870. In another Canterbury Cup Knottingly deadheated with Peeress, but was defeated in a run-off. In 1870 Knottingley twice won the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, the race which is now known as the New Zealand Cup. The double win in one season is explained by the fact that the meeting fell twice in one calendar year—at the beginning of January and at the end of December. Among other races won by this horse was the Dunedin Cup. Mr Studholme was a steward of the club which was responsible for the Inauguration of the Grand national. In 1873 an all-steeplechase meeting was held on his property at Willowbridge, the principal event being styled the Interprovincial Steeplechase. In 1874, the big race of the afternoon was the Grand Interprovincial Steeplechase, and following this the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Club was formed, with Mr Studholme as president. The first New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase was run on the Willowbridge course In 1875, being won by Medora. Mr Studholme was first president of the Walmate Racing Club, and was one of the earnest breeders of thoroughbreds in the district. He was judge at the Timaru races for some years, and was a keen supporter of other sports in addition to racing.