CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 21, 20 December 1890, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH.

(FROM our own correspondent.) Saturday, December 13. At the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club’s Sports to-day, at Lancaster Park, there was a really pleasant meeting, held in capital weather, and good time was recorded in most of the events; the ’cycling being especially good, A. C. Wilmot winning the Half-mile Handicap and Three Miles Handicap from scratch, the half mile being done in imin. 18 2-sth secs., which, I believe, is the record. The 100 yards scratch race resulted in L. R. Cuff winning the first heat in 10 2-sth secs., E. R. Webb, at one time a first-class man, being second. Winter won the second heat in 10 3-sth secs., Robinson being close up. The final of all handicaps takes place on Tuesday. Cocks won the Mile Walk in ridiculous fashion by half a lap in 7min. 22secs. The High Jump was won by Cuff, sft. 4 3~sths ins., Postlethwaite being second. The latter the week previously won the Hurdles and High Jump at Dunedin. Cuff also beat Postlethwaite in the Long Jump, doing 19ft. to 19ft. gin. of his opponent. W. J. Moir, Broughton, Watson, J. Moir, H. Matson and Searell each won a heat of the 120 yards handicap, the four men left in at the close of the day being W. Moir, W. F. Watson, Searell and W. Watt, the latter having run second in the first heat. In the Half-mile Flat, D. Wood ran home in 2min. 2 i-sth secs., C. G. Rees and J. F. Grierson filling the other places. This is better than the standard by 7 4~sth secs. H. Matson won his heat in the Maiden; Broughton won the second. The 120 yards Hurdles W. J. Moir won easily. Quarter-mile Flat scratch, Winter 1, P. Worr 2. One Mile Flat, Worr won easily, Leversedge 2. The people here are not half so enthusiastic about their athletic sports as they are in Auckland, but the athletes themselves are not behind hand, and they go in for training with a will. The week past has been a busy one with them, in view of the Spring meeting of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club taking place this afternoon and on Tuesday next (Anniversary Day). The number of entries this year total 415, being an increase of some 35 on last year, and it is expected that nearly 100 competitors will be present. Mr. A. L. Cuff, the well-known secretary of the N.Z. Amateur Athletic Association, is as active and enthusiastic as ever for the success of the approaching Championship Meeting in Auckland, and he anticipates a good time, but there is some regret that Queensland will not be represented there. One of our local writers does not appear to “ cotton ” to the idea of your people carrying into effect their proposals with regard to having events for the men-of-war’s-men expected to be in port about the time, nor does he think the introduction of handicap events should be permitted. Of course there are arguments for and against. The public want as much fun for their money as they can get, and the Aucklanders would probably succeed in drawing a larger crowd if they could give a more varied programme. The Canterbury Club might take a leaf from the book of the Auckland Club in the 1 matter of “booming” a show. People who do not know one ped. from another perhaps find things monotonous at these gatherings at times, and a race for “ bell-bottomed” navals would at least create some fun, especially if a greasy porker of the Captain Cook breed should be allowed a hand in the game. “Bell-bottomed” navals and a greasy pig would materially assist in increasing the attendances at Lancaster Park, I fancy.

The C.A.A. Club have received from Mr. Peter Cunningham a handsome trophy, in the shape of what is know as an Elkington Shield. It has thus been described in the local paper, the Referee'. — “It is a miniature of the one presented by Messrs. Elkington and Co. to be shot for at Wimbledon, with the exception of the interchangeable medallions (representing athletes), of which there are twenty-six, all different subjects, representing sports of all kinds. In the centre is a figure of Cupid supporting the medallions in his arms, the feet resting on a convex plate (intended for engraving), surmounted by carved leaves. Above the head of Cupid is a gilt oblong plate, also for

engraving, and immediately above this plate is a splendid figure of the British lion in majestic posture. On each side is a beautiful figure of Venus, and the shape of the shield is delineated on a black ground with gilt stars. All the figures are in bass relief of oxidised metal, and the whole is mounted in a frame of crimson plush.” Elkington and Co., College Green, Dublin, are the makers, and Mr. A. Gunderson, jeweller, of Christchurch, imported it, and the committee of the Club will decide upon the disposal of this handsome gift. W. R. Sneddon, the crack 100 yards’ amateur swimmer, has been ordered by his medical adviser to give up training for the present, owing to a weakness in one of his legs. Watson has also retired. For the Peoples’ Sports, to be held on Tuesday next, Anniversary Day (one of the most closely observed holidays of the year), and which take place at Hagley Park, splendid entries have been received, and as a most attractive programme, apart from the running events, has been prepared, a monster attendance is anticipated. Greasy pigs and all that sort of thing will there add to the fun of the lair. No tea and cake parties.