Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards (Part 1) -

Lot 709    eSale    Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards (Part 1) - A

Estimate $140
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GRAND HANDICAP, Akaroa, 1894, stock fob medal in silver (40x28mm), English maker and hallmark, ring top suspension, reverse inscribed 'W.S.Lee'. Very fine.

The following courtesy of National Library of New Zealand - Papers Past from the 'Akaroa Mail and Banks Penninsula Advertiser' 28th March 1894:

"Akaroa Athletic Sports
These sports were held on Monday, and were from first to last a success. The weather was all that could be desired, the ground was in excellent order, and the arrangements made by the Committee were capital. Mr Penlington kindly lent his shop as a dressing room for the contestants, and here we may say, that we hope in the not very distant future to hear of steps being taken to have something in the shape of a pavillion erected on the ground itself.

That the handicappers had done their duty well, was shown by the close finishes and large fields. Mr Phillips had a booth on the ground and did good business, but we hardly think there were so many people present as usual. This is to be ascribed to the many other amusements going on in the Bays on Easter Monday and also to the fact that the milking season not being yet over, the farmers and their families cannot get away so easily as they can on the Queen's Birthday. Nevertheless, there must have been 700 or 800 people present and undoubtedly the alteration made in the holding of the Athletic gathering at Easter instead of the Queen's Birthday will be a success. The absence of a band was much to be regretted, and we wish the local players could pull themselves together and supply a real want on these occasions, and render us independant of expensive outside aid. Tbe Hon. Sec, Starter, Judges, Timekeepers, members of tbe Committee, and in fact all concerned did their work very well and heartily. The town was full of visitors, most of whom paid the ground a visit, and the Lavaud Street footpath, the seats at the tennis ground, the verandahs of the houses opposite, and every other point of vantage was crowded with spectators. A course had been roped in opposite the Lavaud street palings, so many of the events and all the finishes in the running races could be seen without obstruction by those standing on the footpath outside.........

The races were well contested, the time in the flat races being quite up to the mark considering the ground, and the jumping and vaulting being excellent. Mr Pearson, the photographer, kindly gave three cabinet photos to the winner of the Mile Walk. The cup for the Mile Run, a very nice one, was appropriated by Livingston; and Fitzpatrick was the hero of the day, making no less than 11-1/2 points and carrying off the medal for the greatest number. The result ot the Grand Handicap was as follows:- W.Lee... ... 7 points; Jas.Fitzpatrick.... 6-1/2 points; F.Leonardo... 3 points".