NEW YEAR SPORTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 92, 3 January 1866, Page 2

NEW YEAR SPORTS.

The inhabitants of Itevcll street north, determined not be outdone by their southern neighbors, who originated and carried out the Christman amusements, got up sports of their own which came off on Monday at the Duke of York Hotel . The prizes given were neither as large nor as numerous as those given by the Christmas keepers, but neveitheless they were as liberal as could be expected, and what is more, the pro gramme of the day passed off pleasantly. The course for the running matches was, as before, the main street, but at this point it is wider than where the former races were held, and the same crowding w.is not observable. At the same time we cannot help thiuking that a main street is by no means a fitting place for amusements of the kind, aud we hope before the next festivities come round some better course may be selected. As a whole ihe sports of Monday passed off most satisfactorily, and with theexeeption of a"rough" who insisted that he had won the sack race for no other ostensible leason than (hat he was last, and wanted to make "a win, draw or wrangle," there was scarcely the shadow of a dispute during the day. As before, the old Victorian champion, Joshua, who figured iv the entries under the title of the "Welshman," carried all before him in the racing way, winning no less than three events. The raciug generally was not of a fhatc'ass character, but the course was well kept and a far better opportunity of seeing the different contests was given than at the other end of the street The management was entrusted to Mr T. Webb, who discharged his functions mo>t energetically. Mv Robinson was acting as secret'tiy, and gave every satisfaction. The great event of the day was the Rifle match, the distance sixty yaids, and to our thinking, a very short sixty yards. The shooting did not come up to what might have been expected, iv fact it was not even second rate. At a t;yget about the size of the side of a house, with a bull's-eye of goodness knows how many inches in diameter, the bullets flew comparatively harmless. Dots round in every direction were made, but the fatal spoi. was seldom touched, and worse shooting as a whole could scarcely be seen. There were twenty competitors, and the prize fell to a digger, who evidently had handled a gun before, and an oxiJOrfenoed marker, who took aooo»d $>I<W9» Mwe b§f9V* wWi taking &c spwta w §

wholo, they passed off well, but were not concluded by eight o'clock. The following are the details of the sports :—: — The first race was a foot race, from the Fire Brigade to the Duke of York ; the Ist prize L 3 ; tho 2nd LI. This was won easily by Joshua, Hughes, second, beating five others. The Htndle Race of 200 yards, over six jumps, Ist prize, L 5 ; 2nd do, L' 2, was next on the list. It was won after a good race by' Joshua, M 'Connor second. Both jumped at the last hurdle together, and both lit on tlie top, breaking down the hurdle, but not falling. Two others staited but wcio not placed. Tlio running high leap wus next on the programme. The first prize was £2, tho second 10.3: For this livo competitors put in an appcaiMuvc, but the prize fell lo J. Dale aud Cunningham, who divided the first prize, and the soeond to Robertson. How Dale, who only a fow days ago jumped 5 fjet 3 inches iv worse ground and under more diflicult circumstances, could only compass 4 feet 8i inches on this occasion, is one of the sporting mysteries that are inexplicable to tho uninitiated. The standing high leap, first prize £2, second prize 10s. There were four entries, and White was declared the winner at 3 feet ■A inches ; Nowlan. and Charles taking second Afoot race of 100 yards, first prize a livo sheep, and the second a Christinas cake, was won by J. Hughes, Sinclair second, beating three others. A blindfold foot race of 100 yards, first priso £2, second £1, was won by Jordan, Rowland second, seven competing. The rifle match for a cup valued at £15, second prize £2, tlrrco shots each. There were twenty entries for thi3. Dykes and Leslie scoring equally on the first round, tho tic was shot oil', the former winning by a bull's eye agaiust an outer, Leslie taking second honors. The sack race was won by Nowlan, heading Foster and several others. The wheelbarrow race was won by Gordon, beating Ryan and three others.

The sports at the Duke of York were >vound up yesterday by a hor&e race for a prize of LI S, for horse < th it never won an advertised prize. There were siv entries, viz., Air Robinson's Virginian, Mr Fane's Ginger, Ah 1 Bowden's Blackboy, Mr Bracken's Copenhagen, Mr nenley's Shillelagh, aud Mr Frean's Daniel O'Rourke. The only two horses that will bear comment were Copenhagen and Ginger. former gallops in goo'l form, and with training would be quite capable of holding hie own in decent company, and the latter is a g.une -looking old specimen of an equine light-of-other-days. He is too old to move as well a-i he could some years ago, but is the remains of a first-class horse. The race was in mile heats, both of which were won easily by the Majors horse — Ginger a respectsble second on each occasion. An attempt was made to get off a silver cup, but a horse of . Air Trenery's frightened away all competitors, ahd a sonny, for which there were ten entries, was substituted. This was won eas-ily by a goodlooking bay horse — Tommy — with old Ginger second, as in the fnvst race, Two others came in in a cluster, but no more were placed. J£-~ Eicke, officiated as oleikjif the course^ tfud Mr Harding as juAge. ' - -— -