The Caledonian Sports.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 11356, 22 January 1889, Page 3

The Caledonian Sports.

P" (By Phoenix) \ It ia now four years since the Wanga- - r nui Oaledonian Society was inaugurated, and although its maiden, effort was a big success, -the gatherings have, year after year, kept on improving, whilst the meeting whioh ia to take place this ■■ f cernoou promises to fairly eclipse its predeco jaora. I do not know the reason why Caledonian Societies appear to flourish better than any other societies on We .same lines, but itia a fact, nevertheless,'. tbat onrlooal C»ledo-, nian Society, is an- exception to the rule. The management of the- Wanganui body have certainly left '.noj stone unturned to make to-diy's gathering a sucoeas, and all that can be deairod by the public Taking Itfrbm an athletic point of view, the programme is ;a. very.' fair yohe, and has attracted the. largest^number of' entries yet received for any one rneeting ; in fact, I believe the nominations for to-day's sports will compare favourably (barring, of courfe, Sir Joseph Bank's Handicap and one or two Other meetings) with any held in the Außtralagiah Colonies. Although rather late in the field, and at the risk of being dubbed -a plagiarist; I will endeavour, to the best of my.ability.to " spot'' the moft likßlyv winners , of the various handicap events.- ' To b«gin with', the handioappers have; taking all. things into consideration, done well,' especially, when the number and class of competitors are borne in mind-. Of course there is '-the, usual grumbling, moßt of which, at far as I can hear, emanates from, the local men, and I have heard one very much "ill-used" youth exolaim that "he did not believe the,' Wanganui .b'oya would. win a '.blooming stiver 1' ". Truly a handiaapper'a lot is not a happy one 1 The first'eyenti on the programme ia the 10d yards^'for'' Whioh Surman and Clarke coonpy the-favonrltes' : place. '■■ The. litter irfsaidto beas'good a'nian as Monnook, and if this is ep.'l will not be. surprised to : see him win the .threet sprint races, ns Mounock gave fhe'same" start. as..he, and won' easily ■•" Sqrman is also reputed afnst man, having' wfbn 'a', bip, '.handicap, on the "West Goaato£>the South Island. However, Without particularising the; whole of the oandidateß^-a task I am not equal to— l wil{ :— Surman; l l ; Clarke; 2 Pjr and'Moßeath ■ or Oliver, 3. • The'22o yards is a very open race, and a most diffioult one to spot the winner of. If Clarkei can get through his : men 1 would not go" furthflirthan hiih'for the winner, as his champion win at Feilding,- though the corbpray was notjfirst -class, stamps him as a goer for 200 V»rd». 'Pnrnell will run a good race.'buV I would' advise him not to be 'ho, impatient '.op , the mark, ,as some starters will not stand it. ' Murray should also run into a place; 'and I will place them tfiua :-^Clarke< 1; Purnell,. 2;, Murray, 3, with Mcßoath or Surman to " boil the pot over." Bythe bye'.'Mbßeathlwas nominated last year, bntdid, not run ! How was that*. . .',.".',.', .'..-'l i- '■.. • . The 440 yards 'comes next, and ehonld fall -to H6bbs,.,with ; Minninix, 2j Clarko, If anyone up3eta the order" 'it.wiliribe.Snrman. For theHuVdle?,lfaucyMcßeatb, Knox, and Bayly; and in that order. . . . ', Comingntoithe Mile,. for the big money, i>. .MoGifford ' and Wi'^Whiteraan" are 1 leniently ' . f reatpicL ''• liayne, . the " eoratch manjii reßOtte'd io.be. '! off oolour<" and unlikely, to. start; ' bdt '>veVif ; he does 1 start he will have to bVvejy- fit to" be in 'the hnnt^'VO'Shannassyand Kelly are not ;to':. be/despised);. Crowell Is' jnat; a lit'.lo' 'bit. »•• sat : on',"- so r will 1 probably not accept. Taininlupj th^e'. finish 1 ' should ..be i in ■ the following order,! 'viz., '~D. McGifford, li W. Whiteman,' : 2 ; ©"gjiannpfjsy, 3, with - 'H:' Johnson, for a'surprise.' '.' .'■'•, ,' ; .. The Two Mile Walking .Raoa is, on ttaper, a gift to MpNiven, and Jarrot and Wikkleson.shonld |fill,the Other places, the latter' for. 'choice.','.'