WESTERN DISTRICT CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Western Star, Issue 805, 29 December 1883, Page 2

WESTERN DISTRICT CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL GATHERING

First Day. This popular annual gathering commenced on Wednesday last, in the grounds of the W.D.A. and P. Association. Unfortunately the weather was. not so favorable as could be desired. Although only a few drops

of rain fell, the wind was disagreeably strong at times, and heavy clouds betokened a fall of rain. This doubtless was in a great measure the cause of the comparatively small attendance of spectators, there not being many more than half the number that were present last year. The various events, however, were numerously and keenly contested, the exception as usual being the Highland dancing and pipe music. Mr J. Campbell (of the Great Western Hotel) had a couple of booths ou the ground and a luncheon marquee, where bo provided most excellent refreshment; Mrs Clode had also a booth where the lighter “ munitions of war” were dispensed. The Riverton Brass Band was in attendance, and performed at intervals, in a creditable manner, a selection of popular music. Mr R. Campbell, the Society’s piper, supplied that music so dear to the heart of the Gael. , The officers of the Society carried out the various events punctually and smoothly, and by six o’clock the day’s programme was exhausted. Shortly before noon the first event was got off —Boy’s 200yds. Race (under 14 years), for which there were seven entries, D. Calder (scratch) taking first money easily. There were no less than 12 competitors for the . 200 yards Race. A bad start was effected. The three prizes fell to local men, the scratch men never showing in front. Ths race was a gift to Stirling, who increased his 15 yards handicap. Sarum took the Standing High Leap prize with a jump of 4ft 4in., being two inches less than the height cleared by the winner last year. Virtually there were only two competitiors for the Highland dances, the others entering merely to make up a “ quorum,” so that McGregor and Simpson made a “ neat little thing of it,” to quote a remark made regarding these events. A false start was made with the Quarter-mile Race, but some of the competitors, of whom there were 12, nearly went the distance before they pulled up. After allowing them a short spell to recover their breath, the competitors were sent away again, this time on equal terms, but the scratch men were again over-handicapped and the two local “ peds ” onco more took first and second honors. Vaulting with the Pole was the best contested event of the day, although the height cleared (Oft. 2in.) was less by several inches than that which took the prize on soma former occasions. The Half Mile Race was also well contested, but the winner (Ward) was let off too easily in the handicapping. As is frequently the case in walking matches, a dispute arose as to the winner’s (Aston’s) style of walking, and immediately after the race was over a protest was lodged by Smith (second man) against Aston on the ground of unfair walking. The stewards having considered the matter, upheld tho protest, and disqualified Aston. Smith therefore took first prize, Sarum second, and Eade third. The manner in which Aston walked was a surprise to many, and had the handicappers been acquainted with his performances, he would doubtless have been placed at scratch instead of receiving 100 yards handicap. He certainly did not walk fair in the first round, and there was abundaqfc evj.

deuce to Biat effect. Eado paid the penalty of a champion walker by being; placed at scratch, although from his performances at the last tw 0 gatherings, it is quite evident h e is now unable to maintain that position. The Standing Hop, Step and Le a p was the last item on the day’s proor aTnrne , but before this event came off lie arlv all the people had left the grou nr i 8j an d its conclusion was the signal fora general stampede. Below is tdie prize list .

Boys 200 yards Race (tinder 14 years) Ist. prize, 11s ; 2nd, 10s : 3 V ,1, ss. 1, D. Cabler ; 2, D Clark ; 3, F. Stevenson. Seven entries.

200 yards hoot Race.—lst prize, £1 ; 2nd. 10s; 3rd, os; 1, R. Sterling, 15 yards. 2. Sarum, 10 yards; 3, W. F. Strack, 15 yards. Twelve ent-ies. Stan ing High Leap.—lst priz’. £1 10s ; 2nd, £1 ; 3rd, 10s. ], Sarum, 4ft 4in ; Price and Rlnckie divided 2nd and 3rd at 4ft 2in. Five entries.

Grand Highland Reel——lst prize, £1 10s ; 2nd, £1 ; 3rd, 10s 1, Simpson ; 2, P. McGregor; 3, W. Baird. Four entries. Youths’ 200 yards Foot Race (under 16 years)—lst priz->, 15s ; 2nd, 10s; 3rd, ss. 1, J. Cablet*; 2, J. Pattison ; 3, F. Stevenson Sis entries.

Quarter Mile Race—-!st prize, £2; 2nd. £1 10a ; 3rd, £l. 1, Sarum. 25 rards ; 2. W. F. Strack, 50 yards; 3, J. Wilson, 30 yards. Twelve entries. Cossinsrthe Caber — lst prize, £l. 10s ; 2nd. £l. 1. F Stone ; 2, F Eraser. Four entries Quoiting—lst prize. £1 ; 2nd, 10s. 1, W Shields ; 2, Brackenridge. Four entries. Throwing the Light. Hammer—lst priz*, £1 10s ; 2nd, 15s ; 3rd, ss. 1. D Smith ; 2, G Harrington ; 3, J Brown, Nine entries Sword Dance—lst. prize £2; 2nd, £1; 3rd, 10s. 1, J McGregor. Two entries. Vaulting with Po'e—lst urize, £3; 2nd. £1 10s ; 3rd, 15s. 1. W Blakie. 9ft. 2in : 2, R Stirling, Oft; 3, J Wilson, Bft lOin Five entries. Putting Heavv Stone —lot prize, £1 10s ; 2nd, £1 ; 3rd. 10s. 1, F Bisset, 31ft sin ; 2, P Culbert, 26ft Bin ; 3, G Howel 1 ,26 ft 4in* Four entries. Half-Mile Race—lst prize, £2 10s ; '2nd* £llos ; 3rd, £l. 1, B Ward, 75 yards ; 2, C Cuff, scratch ; 3, J Wilson, 75 yards. Four entries. Highland Fling—lst prize, £1 ; 2nd, 10s; Brd, ss, 1; J. McGregor; 2, A Simpson ; 3, T Baird. Four entries. Reel and March Music (pines)—lst prize, £3 ; 2nd, £2. D McGregor, 1 ; R Campbell.

2. One Mile Walking Race—lst nrize, £2 10s ; 2nd, £1 10s; 3rd, £l. 1, D Smith; 2, Sarum; 3, J Eado. Fire enG-i ■=.

Standing Hop. S'ep an Leap—l. Sarum. 27ft. 2jin ; 2, F Reyling, 27ft l£in ; 3, C Cuff, 26ft Gin. Five entries. Best Drcs»ed Boy in Highland costume — Prize, 10s. J Brackenridge. A number of boys’ races were also got off at intervals during the day. Mr C. A. Straek (Sarum), having scored the highest aggregate number of points in the 200 yards, Quarter Mile and Half-Mile Races, was awarded the medal, value £3.

Second Dat. The weather early on the second clay was very unpropitious, heavy showers falling during the forenoon, [ and had the engagements with the booth-holders not compelled the comI mittee to go on with the sports, it would have been determined to postpone them till the following day. A start was made about half-past 12, and shortly after -1 o’clock the rain cleared off and the afternoon proved fine and far more pleasant than the preceding day. The attendance, although small, considerably exceeded that anticipated at the start of the day. The first event of the day was the boys 200yds’ race, which, after a well contested spin, was won by P. Mills D. Cody, b'- a capital throw of 39ft 3in, took the honors for throwing the light stone. Pour competitors faced the starter for the hurdle race —Sarum, J. Hunter, Campbell, and Hickey ; the two latter at scratch. At the first jump Campbell slipped and got foul of the timber and was seen to assist himself over with his hands ; and his companion (Hickey) vaulted in a similar way over nearly all the jumps. Sarum, who had 50yds, cleared the timber in fine style and won the race easily ; Hunter ran a good second, but disqualified himself by vaulting over one of the hurdles; Sarum thus carrying off the only prize awarded. The Mile Race brought out seven competitors, the handicappers placing them as follows : —Campbell, Hickey and Cuff at scratch ; D. Smith and T. O’Brien, 50yds; Wood and; Garden, 100yds. The result showed' that Campbell and Hickey were let off easily. Smith and O’Brien were overtaken at the third lap by the scratch men, and soon after Wood and Garden were passed, Campbell leaning by about 100yds. At the last lap Hickey put on a. capital spurt, and gained about 25 yards on Campbell, and bis “ form ” showed that had he “ let out ” sooner he would have given his opponent a hot tussle for first place. Cuff, who ran gamely came hi a good, third. The Sack Race was as usual an amusing event, and was won by T. o‘Brien; J. Pattison second. The distance cleared in the Running Hop, Step and Leap was a eligh': improvement on last year —40ftlin,as against 39ft then. The second and third jumps were not measured, but were about loin and ISiu behind. The Potato Race caused a good deal of amusement, but on account of some of the competitors running off with their neighbors’ “ murphies,” the affair got a little mixed, the course being rather too confined to give seven competitors sufficient room to work in. Cuff was the first to finish the “ tattie lifting”; Campbell second; but Hickey foolishly lost second place by running to tho end of the course to see whether he had picked up his compliment of painted vegetables, and was awarded a third. Tilting at tho ring was the event of the day, no loss than 2S competitors coming to the scratch, amongst several of whom there was a keen contest. W. Stirling secured the largest number of rings (8) ; J. Roger, 0. A. and W. Allison each took five, and in the run off for third place, the former won. On account of tho unfavorable weather, tho receipts at the gates were considerably short of what was reckoned on, and it is feared that unless the public come forward promptly with tlu-ir subscriptions, the Society’s balance will be on the debtor side or the ledger. Appended is the prize list: Boys’ 200vds race (under 11 yen's)—lst prize, 15s ; 2nd, 10s ; 3rd, ss. 1, F. Mills; 2, D. Clarke; 3, F. Clapp. Nine entries. Throwing Light Stouo (lb lbs)-—lst prize, >,

£1; 2nd, JOs; 3rd. ss. 1. D. Cody, (39ft 3in) 2, D. Smith (34ft lin). Four entries. One Mile Race—lst prize, £3 ; 2nd, £2. 3rd, £l. 1, C'.tnnhell (scratch); 2, Hickey (scratch) ; 3, Cuff (scratch). Seven entries Hurdle Race, 500yds, over 8 flight of hurdles—lst pn'ze, £3 ; 2nd, £1 10s ; 3rd, £l. 1, Sarum (50yds). Four entries. Stick Race —Ist prize, £1; 2nd, 10s ; 3rd, ss. 1, T. O’Brien; 2, J. Battison ;3, Bullman.

Running Hop, Step and Leap—lst prize, £1 10s; 2nd, £1 ; 3rd, 10s. 1, Serum (40ft sin) ; 2, R. Stirling; 3, J. Hunter. Five entries.

Potato Rice.—lst prize, £2 ; 2nd, £1 ; 3rd, 10s. 1, Guff; 2, Campbell; 3, Hickey. Seven entries.

Three Standing Leaps.—lst prize, £1; 2nd, 10s ; 3rd, ss. 1, Sarum, (29ft 2in) ;2, Campbell (28ft Sin); 3, Reyling (28ft Sin). Five entries.

Tilting in Ring—’lst prize, £5; 2nd, £3 ; 3rd, £2. 1, W. Stirling ;2, J. Rogers ; 3, A. Allison.