GLORY THAT DEPARTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 6

GLORY THAT DEPARTED

MAY SPORTS First Amateur Club in New Zealand SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR “THE TIMARU HERALD" By OLD SPORT In a previous article it was related that the Grand National Steeplechase was conceived in Timaru. It was hen; too that the Canterbury Rugby Union was founded. To the town and district also belongs the credit of the establishment of the first recognised amateur athletic club in New Zealand. In a very early paper there is a reference to a previous club with 11 members, but nothing can be discovered of its activities. It is surmised—only surmised—that it might have been a private affair connected with sports held at The Levels in the sixties. When the New Zealand A.A.A. celebrated its jubilee the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club was accorded the honour of being the first of its kind in the Dominion, and it can be safely assumed that its inaugural meeting was the earliest on record.

Notable Career The S.C.A.A.C. had a notable career, and in its special sphere had no rival. The Maj’ Sports, extending over two days, attained championship status, the first afternoon being reserved for scratch races which attracted competitors from far afield. The Champion | Cup was the most coveted athletic i trophy of its time, and championship | daj’ was a social event. Luncheon ; parties were a feature; there was a sports ball, a sports dinner, and the meeting brought to town many people whose only other visit was made at Show time. Sports week festivities included also the annual Town v. Country football match, coursing and hunts. First Open Meeting, 1872 The S.C.A.A.C. was formed in 1871, and held its first competitions in that year at Saltwater Creek, but these were private, only members and their friends being present. The Saltwater Creek Flat in early days was a common sports ground. South Canterbury’s first steeplechases were run there. Gallopers and trotters were trained on it, and in the eighties Hobbs brothers had both plough and turf courses. Both amateur and cash athletic bodies occupied it; rowing, cricket, and pigeon shooting contests took place there even earlier than other sports. The Club’s first public meeting took place on May 23, 1872, the programme comprising 18 items, of which almost half were jumps or “field" events.

First Winners Winners at the first sports were: — 100 yards, C. H. Perry; high jump, R. Ferguson; 440 yards, W. S. Davidson; broad jump, R. Rutherford; hurdles, F. Raine; 161 b stone, P. Tancred; walk, H. Ford; pole jump, C. G. Rees; cricket ball, R. Rutherford; mile, W. S. Davidson; 150 yards. C. G. Rees; half-mile. H. Gray; steeplechase, M. Gray; hop-step-jump, L. A. Macpherson: 221 b stone, L. A. Macpherson; standing high jump. F. Raine; consolation, M. Mitten. Of these, Melville Gray, now livingin Perthshire, is the only known survivor. Champion Loses Caste The going was rough in 1872, but the turf had been put in order for the next year's sports. At these the Champion Cup was won by 1. G. Monck, described as a stranger to Timaru, whose performances were warmly applauded. (Four years later Monck competed at a cash meeting in Christchurch, and the name of the 1873 champion was deleted from the members’ roll).

In 1875, when the Club had become fairly established, events were won by the following:—100 yards, J. Paterson; high jump, E. H. Cameron; long jump, J. Paterson; steeplechase. M. Gray; hop-step-jump, C. S. Fraser; 161 b hammer, N. McLean; cricket ball, C. S. Fraser; one mile, M. Gray; standing high jump, F. Raine; 250 yards, J. Paterson; 211 b stone. A. Turnbull; 150 yards handicap, G. F. Clulee; two miles handicap, M. Gray (scr); consolation, F. Barker. Championship points—J. Paterson 12, M. Gray 7, C. 8. Fraser 6 Old-World Code There is a quaint touch in the official records of early meetings. For example:—Long Jump: Newton 1. Macpherson 2. Mr Raine, Mr Paterson and Mr Tancred also competed. At a later date even “The Herald” reported in this style:—“The walk was won by Mr E. A. Pigeon. Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, winner of the previous day, having to give the winner 60 yards.” Election to the S.C.A.A.C. was no mere formality. All members were notified of the names of candidates, and one “black ball” was sufficient to exclude. One of the first challenge trophies was a cup to “become the property of the gentleman winning it in two consecutive years." The rigidity of the amateur code in the seventies is indicated by early reports. The hon. secretary retired, and it was proposed to present him with some token of appreciation of his services. Immediately an extraordinary general meeting was convened, at which it was resolved that members disapproved of the application of any of the club’s funds to testimonials to officials or members. Early Members The membership roll in 1875 would have little interest for most of the present generation, but to older residents it will recall the names of people prominent in pastoral and agricultural pursuits, and the business, professional and social life of South Canterbury. Here are a few:—Wright, Teschemaker. Dennistoun, Orbell, Neilson. Clulee. Mitten, Gray, McLean, Raitt, Turnbull Woollcombe, Mainwaring, Bristol. Fraser, Tosswill. Rutherford. McKellar Luxmoore, Belfield. Wakefield. Macfarlane. Rees, Ford, Moorhouse, Howley Barker, White. Martelli, Godby. Elworthy, Cooper. Parker, Richardson Buchanan, Perry, Pitman. Delamain Howell, Meason, Beswick, Rhodes Tancred. Sealy. Studholme, Hammersley. Cramond. Cardale. Ostler. Archer Hail. Miles. Meyer. All these, of course were not. active competitors or officials

They came from a variety of places,’ including Stonyhurst, Akaroa, Manu- | herika, Rugged Ridges <Otago), Rakaia, Waitangi, Ashburton. Wellington, | Mount Royal, Hakataramea, Oamaru, i Dunedin, Christchurch. Kaiapoi and Wellington, and all parts of South Canterbury. Track Flooded In 1875 it is on record that the sports, now extending over two days, had to be postponed owing to the Saltwater Creek having flowed over part of the running ground. This led to the purchase of an , area on Otipua Road, and the first I sports took place there on Maj' 10 and 11, 1876. The entrance charge included I a fee of 1/- for horses, for which yard- | ing was provided. The course was lined with earriages. Steps were taken after I this meeting to provide a pavilion, and | this was erected at a cost of £3OO. Winners at the first Athletic Grounds meeting were R. Westenra, E. H. Cam- | eron, W. B. Craig, H. Ford. W. Newton, j F. Johnston, L. A. Macpherson. J. I Paterson. M. Gray, N. McLean. C. S. Fraser, M. Davie. T. H. Rawson, J. Cooke, P. Campbell. Championship points—W. B. Craig 8, M. Gray 5, F. Johnston 5. A three-legged race once crept into the sports programme, but was dropped as incompatible with the dignity of the Club. Default in payment of subscriptions was not tolerated, as several . members (named) were struck off the , roll.

A note of sadness was struck in 1877 when it became necessary to fill a vacancj' on the committee caused by the death of Mr E. H. Martelli, who sustained fatal injuries in the hunting , field. This noted sportsman had been I a 'competitor or official for several i years. i Cinder Track In 1883 the Club expended £340 on • the construction of a quarter-mile : cinder track, and that it was flourishing is shown by the fact that it had £260 I in hand towards the purchase of the sports ground from the lessors. Bicycle I races were introduced in 1884, but were i not successful, and it was left to the , cycling clubs to popularise this phase | of sport on the grounds. Champion Cup In 1887 it was resolved to purchase a i challenge cup, to cost not less than 50 | nor more than 80 guineas, for the championship. The winners of previous championships were to have their names engraved on the trophy, and a : gold medal was to be given to the I champion in each year. This cup is ( now in the possession of the present j club. The winners of the champion cup under the old regime were:— 1872 W. G. Rees 1873 G. Monck 1874 H. V. Anson 1875 James Paterson 1876 W. B. Craig1877 F. G. Westenra 1878— T. S. Baker 1879 H. McArdell 1880— F. N. Robinson 1881— J. S. Smith 4882 —F. N. Robinson 1883—F. N. Robinson 1834—F. N. Robinson 1885— C. H. Hamilton 1886 — J. F. Grierson 1887— C. H. Hamilton 1888 — P. Morrison 1889 — P. Morrison 1890— P. Morrison 1891— P. Morrison 1892 C. G. Rees 1893 H. W. Postlethwaite and W. J. Moir (tie) 1894 G. Strachan 1895 E. A. Robinson 1896 W. T. Johnson 1897 C. H. Gascoigne 1898— S. Pentecost 1899 M E. Lindsay 1900— H. H. Fraser 1901— S. Pentecost 1902 A. O. Keating 1903 C. S. Harper 1904 R. I. Dansey 1905 G. M. Gunn 1906 C. L. Orbell 1908—C. L. Orbell and H. A. Murray (tie) The Club’s first New Zealand champions were P. Morrison find G. B. Shaw. Morrison, four times winner of the Challenge Cup. defeated the Christchurch cra-’k Derislej' Wood in the mile; and iaw (an Englishman who did not long remain in the Colony > won the 120 hurdles. Morrison won ■ for New Zealand in Australia. He took to running comparatively late in ■ an athlete’s life. Had he commenced earlier he would undoubtedly have : attained an even higher level. The 1 next Australian and New Zealand 1 champion was P Malthus, who cap- ■ tured the three miles at Brisbane 1 Another Australian title-holder was C > L. Orbell. who annexed the high-jump ■ title at Hobart.

: Many notable performers who did > not succeed in winning Ihe Champion ; Cup were popular figures. One of : these was W. F. Simpson (Kirwee. ; later of Waimate). for long holder of the New Zealand record for three miles i A competitor who captured the imag- ■ ination was H. W. Postlctliwaitc 1 (Geraldine), who had a unique style ) in the high jump, thrusting both fee) ■ over the bar in advance of his body ’ One of the highlights of the day wa: 1 the steeplechase for the ladies' cup foi 5 the winner and a wooden spoon for the / last man to finish. It was part of the ) ritual that the trophy should be presented to the winner by a lady on behalf of the donors. The first foui contests were won by the secretary 1 Melville Gray, whose record wa: e equalled in later years bv Pat Morrison ■ New Zealand champions who wen e popular competitors were N. L. Gur 1 (Napier), and WT. Kingston. W. F 1 Trembath, destined to reach work class, ran at a S.C.A.A.C. meeting, bu ’• that was in its declining years ii -■ December. A competitor who jus [. missed the Champion Cup was J. F 1. F'alaugher. who perhaps maintains r - active official association with athletic ' more than any other Competitor. W '■ Mendelson, after returning from Cam ~ bridge, introduced to New Zealand th >. wire handle for the hammer as well a 1. a new technique in take-off in th s. broad jump. .- Decline Commences r. The S.C.A.A.C. nourished until th ?. present century was well on its way < ihnn if rnnimpiupd I rrrrilu in ixn>lll:i