WESTPORT CHRISTMAS SPORTS

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 439, 28 December 1868, Page 2

WESTPORT CHRISTMAS SPORTS

BOXING DAY. The Christmas sports, so much spoken of during the past few weeks, commenced on Saturday (Boxing Day), and, though the programme for that day had always been looked upon as only a secondary attraction compared with the races which are to follow, there was a large attendance on the ground, including numerous visitors from Addison's Flat, the Caledonian district, and from Charleston. The ground selected for the sports and races, and upon which the Grand Stand and six otlier booths, exclusive of fruit stalls, were erected, is a paddock belonging to Mr Dewdney, midway between town and the Orawaiti bridge. Early on Saturday morning the weather looked anything but promising, very heavy showers taking place until about nine o'clock; but, shortly before the hour announced for the starting of the coaches, the sun made its welcome appearance, and, with the exception of a slight shower in the afternoon, not so serious as to interrupt any of the sports, the day remained fine throughout. The programme advertised was completed about seven o'clock, with the exception of the tilting match, which the Committee postponed until this forenoon. The tilting match would, perhaps, have proved the greatest attraction of the day, but, owing to the other sports being commenced too late, or, probably, to the fact of too elaborate a programme having been announced for the first day, it was found impossible to accomplish the whole. The Grand Stand was tolerably well filled with ladies and gentlemen, among whom were Dr and Mrs Giles, Mr and Mrs Harris, Mr and Mrs Tyler, and nearly all the members of the Sports Committee. This stand was erected by MrSheahan, of the Nelson Hotel, and, being the principal and largest booth erected on the ground, it is worthy of first mention. Erected at an expense beyond anything that has yet been undertaken in Westport, this stand offered accommodation and conveniences to the public unequalled at any former meeting of the kind

here. The upper stand is substantially constructed, and is fitted up with front and back seats sufficient to accommodate several hundred people. A small bar is erected behind, and a balcony has been placed in front, where a powerful band of instrumentalists played at intervals throughout the day. The bar and refreshment room arrangements were very complete, and to the left a Committee-Room was erected, where the Committee met, and entries were received. Next to the Grand Stand, towards town, was Mr Bongueilmi's Sportsman's Arcs booth, Mr Morey's National, and Mr Emanuel's Little Grey booths, all elaborately and tastefully fitted up, and well supplied with every descripof edible and drinkable. On the left of the Grand Stand were the booths of Mrs Myers and Mrs Mills, the Empire booth of Messrs Tonks and Hughes, and the Caledonian booth, kept by Messrs M'Parlane and Webb. In addition to these Mr Dutton had fruit stalls containing an abundant supply of fruit and pastry, apparently very extensively patronised by the juvenile visitors to the ground. Immediately adjacent tothe ground stands Mr Gibson's Hotel, and there were attached to it temporary structures in the shape of booths and a stand, which so far supplemented the otherwise extensive accommodation for the public. By all the booth-holders some trouble hud: been taken, and taste exercised, in the ornamentation of their several establishments, by the use of evergreens, rata blossoms, and bunting ; and as the surroundings of the' situation are in themselves naturally picturesque, the ground had altogether a pleasing and animated appearance. How much of the pleasing and the animated was contributed by the presence of numerous pretty faces and well-dressed figures behind the bars our reporter hesitates to state. He has a conviction that there was one pair of eyes considerably more attractive than anything to be found in the programme of sports orinthe; artificial decorations of the ground ; and, judging by the impaired recollection he has of some of the " events " of the day, we have a suspicion that they must have interfered with the discharge of his duty, and probably with his peace of mind. About twelve o'clock the entries for the first sport was received, and the

PLAT EACE. was announced. The length of the race was about 150 yards. Messrs Freeth, Franklyn, and Simpson acted as judges. There were seven entries made, viz. Duncan, Cox, M'Lean, Hughes, Bams, Wilson, and Dag. A good run was made of it after several false starts, and it resulted in the award of the first prize (£4) to D. Duncan, and the second (£1) to Pat Hughes. PUTTING THE STONE was the next match, and for this there were six competitors, viz. Hamilton, White, Irwin, Dag, M'Master, and Webb. A stone weighing about 21 lbs. was secured, and several, throws were given by each athlete, but the greatest distance made was by Irwin, who threw the stone 25 feet 6 inches, entitling him to the first prize of £4 ; and the next best distance was 23 feet, by Hamilton, who won the second prize of £l. THE WKESTIING, which is always a source of a considerable amount of interest and competition, was next announced. The style was that of Cumberland and Westmoreland. The Judges selected were Messrs Robertson, Emanuel, and Addie. The prizes awarded were £8 and £4, and thirteen entries were made : John Cummings, George Cjwen, Joseph Nattrass, Thomas Jones, Thomas Harrison, H. Braithwaite, Wm. Brown, Michael Seaton, M. Clarke, Thos. Simpson, Robert Cowen, Robt. Johnstone, and Irwin. The first prize was won by Joseph Nattrass, and the second by Geo. Cowen, but without a final trial of skill between these two, Cowen giving Nattrass the preference. Jones and Braithwaite were the two first to wrpstle. Jones has been well known at Dunedin and elsewhere, but, after a good twist with Braithwaite, he was thrown on this occasion. Nattrass, who wrestled at the Grey two years ago, was drawn with Clarke. Clarke was first thrown before he' got a grip, and there was a second foul fall, with Clarke under, but the third was a clean and fair throw, Clarke again coming to the ground. Cunningham and Seaton, after several false starts, got a fair grip, and Seaton was quickly thrown. Harrison and Brown wrestled next. Brown, though inferior to the other in size, struggled manfully, but was ultimately thrown. Robert Cowen and JohnstoDe followed, and, after a great deal of play, Cowen threw his man. The first throw was disputed, but the second was the finest throw made on the grouud. In throwing oiF, Jones, who is stoutly built, and wrestles well, was thrown by Nattrass ; Cummings was thrown by Robert Cowen ; and there was a long and exciting struggle between George Cowen and Harrison. There was warm applause of the "little fellow" (Cowen), and, as he threw his man, there were great cheering and cries of "Caledonian." THE HURDLE RACE. of about 440 yards took place immediately afterwards. Six competitors started, viz., Cox, M'Lean, Hughes, Dirncan, Irwin, and Metcalfe, and after an exciting race Pat Hughes came in first, closely followed by D. Duncan, winning respectively £5 and £2. THE RUNNING HIGH LEAP

was contested by Nottman, M'Cormick, Hamilton,-and Shannon, and the amount (£3) was awarded to Hamilton. There seemed some misunderstanding as to who had won the second, whether Nottman or Shannon, but as the amount was trifling (.£1) a division was supposdto be arrived at by the parties themselves. THE VAULTING occupied a considerable time, many of the competitors being well experienced at the exercise. The Judges were Messrs Woolfe, Milne, and Simpson, and the prizes SA and £l. ' Seven entries in all were made made: Robinson, Hamilton, Nattrass, Dickson, Simpson, Irwin, and Nottman. After repeated vaulting, and an alteration of an inch or two, made by the judges, H. W. Robinson was declared to have won, having vaulted 8 feet '2 inches, and Irwin second, his measurment being an inch or so less. THE RUNNING FLAT LEAP had also five entries-from good jumpers, and after a'hard struggle, M'Kean was declared to have won the first prize (£3;) having jumped (on level .ground) a distanoe of 18 feet 1J

inches. M Corrnack, the Becond, only lost the first prize by about half an inch. During the time tha jumping was going on, THE BOYS' BACE

took place, alongside, and nearly twenty young New Zealanders entered the field for the sum of twenty shillings to the lightest foot, and half that amount to the second. After a little handicapping of the youngsters,, a fine start was made, and all ran like fury, but little Harry Bush was too swift for the others, and caught first hold of the handerchief at the winning post, followed by Master Wm. Lumley, and John Ward, along with little " Hughie," to whom was awarded an extra five shillings for not having got " fair play."

THE PIG HUNT was the last sport announced, and though sport for the players, we fear it was no sport for the poor " Sandy Campbell." After being fallen upon, kicked, and in everyway maltreated before iny of the competitors caught their prize, he]was finally seized, and, judging by the struggle and the inharmonius notes of the animal, we should imagine he must have been nearly torn limb from limb. Who the fortunate winner was we have not heard, but, judging by the quantity of grease and blacking used in the preparation, tho winner of the pig must have lost or destroyed a suit of clothes.

This concluded the first day's sports, and they may he said to have passed off very satisfactorily. All on the ground were in thorough holiday humour, and, from first o last, there was evinced, on the part of the public as well as on the part of the Committee, a disposition to make the day one of decent and rational enjoyment.