NEW ZEALAND NATIVES' ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6091, 31 January 1898, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NATIVES' ASSOCIATION.

FPkb Pbesa .Association.! WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. The New Zealand Natives' Association resumed their big meeting (which was interrupted last Saturday by rain) in capital weather, and the attendance was between three and four thousand. Some excellent sport was shown, but the times were not very fast owing to the rough natute of the course on the Basin Reserve. It had been rolled and all done that was possible, but it will never make a good course under present conditions. Barker, who was in much better form than on Wednesday, was facile pnnceps among the cash bicyclists ; and Lyon, of Auckland, also showed fine form. Plunkott carried off the lion's share among the amateurs. In the flat races, Patrick, Eentoul and Hales were winners, and Kentoul, by just squeezing into third place in the Quarter-mile, carried off the aggregate trophy. The leading cash cycling event was the New Zealand Natives' Association Wheel Race, of two miles, for which the first prize was .£25. Twenty-three started in three heats. Owing to their success on Wednesday Sutherland, Graham and Bennett had their handicaps reduced, and only Sutherland got into the final. In this the limit men were all up before the last round, in which Barker took the lead. Half-way Lyon spurted, and rode so well that Barker scarcely won by a length. Results:— New Zealand Natives' Association Wheel Bnco ; two miles— Barker, nor, 1; Lyons, 130yds, 2; Archer, 130yds, 3 ; Sutherland, 10yds, 4. Time— smin ssec, which was the best of the day. Mile First Class Handicap— Lyon, 50yds, 1; Archer, 70yds, 2 j Blude, 20yds, 3. Sixteen started. Time — iiniu 27£sec. Barker, scr, got up with his ineu early, hut Lyon showed such dash at the finish that he had no show with him, and fell back beaten. Five-mile Scratch— Barker, 1 ; Graham, 2 ; G. Sutherland, S. Nine started. Barker burst his tyre and changed machines twice, the field waiting for him each time. In the end he won by a wheel, Graham very neurly catching him with a fine run which was left rather late. Time— Unrin 575sec. Blade won the lnp prize, the struggle for which caused a good deal of amusement to the spectators. The Mile-and-a-half Second Class Handicap was won by Stackwood, scr, from sixteen others in 4min 2«soc. Wo fewer than three scratch men got into the final, and one of them, Bennett, was third, and Butland second. The principal event for amateurs was the Three-mile Handicap with a ilrst prize of £25. Plunkett, 150yds, 1; Watson, 250yds, 2; Juriss, 170yds, 3; Caulton, 280yds, 4. Ten started. Time — Binin 12sec. Lucy and Pollock fell 'in the fourth lap. The latter remounted, but finding the chase hopeless, gave np. Plunkett sprinted well in the last lap, and won fairly easily. The Mile Handicap fell to the same rider, who led all the way in the last lap. Twelve started. Plunkett, 50yds, 1; Grove, 20yds, 2; Lloyd; 85yds, 3. Time — 2min 242sec. Two-mile Handicap — TauHon, 205yds, 1; Cruickshank, 215yds, 2; Plunkett, 7oyds, 3. Eleven started. Won by four yardß. Time— smin 17-?sec. Five-mile Handicap— Pollock, 125yds, 1 ; Chalmers, 60yds, 2 ; Plunkett, 145yds, 3. Six started, and this was about the worst raqeof the day, lCmin lOsec being the time taken. The Mile Flat was won by Meredith, 60yds, from Reese, 15yds, 2; Henderson, 60yds, 3, and six others. Reese was about four yards behind. Time— imin 41 {sec. Hawthorne, scr, .was outrun, and did not finish. Owing to the postponement the fields were not quite so large as they would have been, as T. Clarkson and others had to return home, but they were still large, and the New Zealand Natives' first venture must be pronounced a decided success. The Association is so pleased with the result that already there is talk of making the first prize in the big event next year .£SO.