EIGHT HOURS’ DEMONSTRATION SPORTS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 333, 10 December 1896, Page 5

EIGHT HOURS’ DEMONSTRATION SPORTS.

The annual sports gala with which'the Auckland Eight Hours League commemorate the introduction of the eight hours per day labour system was held at the Domain Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon in the presence of some 4,000 spectators. The weather was perfect and the track in the very best possible condition — thanks to good old Bob Yates —the consequence being that some very readable times were knocked up in both pedestrian and wheel events. No doubt these would have been even faster had it not been for a south-easterly breeze that held sway during the whole afternoon. Before launching out into the programme I must bestow a word of praise on Messrs Creamer (general secretary), McCullough (sports secretary), and the several other officials associated with the conduct of the gathering, though I must not omit to have a growl at Mr Edmonds, in whose hands the starting was. I believe he did his best to fill the bill to the satisfaction of all, but in this effort he was unfortunately not successful, at least in several of the events. The competitors, who were never slow to “ tumble,” saw how the land lay and took advantage of his comparative inexperience. Altogether the spectators may be said to have had a very good time, or, if they did not, they should have, as the majority of the competitions were close and interesting, while two or three novelties of an amusing nature were also introduced. .

The piece de resistence of course was the Eight Hours Demonstration Handicap of three distances, viz., 100yds, 220yds, and 440yds. The big money fell to W. H. Arnott, of hurdle fame, who only recently came to Auckland, where he intends to settle down, and, while on this matter, I might say that he is expected to don a jersey for the City Football Club next season. It will be noticed above that I referred to him as of hurdle fame, and as he has also shown us that he can do lively time over 100yds and 220yds, and then pan out in the intermediate distances and hurdles, he must at once be stamped as a clinking good all-round athlete. He is certainly built for the game, and will no doubt prove an acquisition to local professional ranks and a thorn in the side of more than one of our prominent peds.

Freeney, who stands second in the above event, can muster up a lot of pace, and is never beaten until the tape is breasted. He ran a rattling good second to Arnott over the 220yds distance, and in the 440yds, which he carried off, he ran with great determination. With about thirty yards to go, I thought he was going to fall away beaten, but instead Of this he came at his opponents again in fine style, catching the judge’s eye, after a splendid battle, by about a foot or so. In winning the final in the Apprentice’s Handicap off the 6yds mark in 10 3-ssec, McLaughlin stamped himself as no duffer, and as he is possessed of a taking style of locomotion, and has plenty of stamina, I should say that he will come under notice in something still better if he sticks to the game. The 120yds Hurdles produced nothing remarkable, the time being slow—2o 4-ssec. Arnott did not appear to be quite at home in what might be termed his specialty, and nearly came down at the third hurdle. The field was some distance away when he recovered himself, but even then he caught the eye of the judge whose duty it was to place second man. The Schools and Colleges’ Handicap, of 200 yards, was won by J. Parkinson, off 4yds, in the fair time of 24 4-ssec, Ilbert, the scratch man, being very handy when the tape was reached. Farqurhar, who ran under the name of Goldsmith, was responsible for the 600yds Handicap, which distance he left behind him from the Byds mark in tbe rattling good time of Imin 15 2-ssec. McMillan and Murphy, who ran second and third

respectively, were with the winner thirty yards from home, but a splendid run on the part of the ex amateur distance man threw them out of court, and gained him a well-earned victory. In the 1000yds Handicap, McMillan (35yds), who ran second to Farquahar in the last-men-tioned event, turned up trumps, his clocking for the journey being 2min 24sec. He ran with sound judgment, and found worthy opposition at the hands of Hall, who gave him a rattling good “ go” over the last 300 yards. The Comic Costume Race needs little or no comment, other than it did what it was intended to do —created a good deal of amusement —and also provided a good finish between Pardington and Hampton, the former winning on the post by less than a yard from Hampton. McKean, who it will be remembered exhibited good judgment and form at the amateur sports a week or two back, further testified to his capability as a middle-distance man by carring off the Half-mile event from scratch in the remarkably good time of 2min 2 l-ssec. He showed sound judgment and came at the right time, his last 30 yards up the straight being very strong. Another amateur performance worthy of note was Oliphant’s 16sec off the Iyd mark in the 150yds Handicap. I should say it would be very unhealthy for the sneak thief when “ Peeler” Bobby was in pursuit.