Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 9 July 1904
Conisboro’ Cricket Club Sports.
A Disappointing Day.
The sports at Conisboro’ on Saturday were not attended with as much success as was expected. For the most part the racing was dull and uninteresting. The latter part of the programme, which included the horse events, was decidedly the most attractive of the afternoon.
Just before the commencement of the meeting there was a very heavy downpour, which no doubt kept down the attendance, which was considerably smaller than last year.
The field wherein the sports are held—the old football enclosure—was in anything but a good condition for foot racing. The 100 yards’ sprint was not so bad, but the 220, 440, and the mile track was very heavy going, the grass being long and tough in places.
Notwithstanding that a capital lot of entries had been secured, the management of the sports was anything but satisfactory. At times the judge’s decisions were open to doubt, whilst the members’ race resulted in a very unseemly wrangle.
None of the N.C.A.A. or A.A.A. officials turned up, and consequently there was no timekeeper. It was most essential that a properly qualified man should have been timing the races, for in the boys’ races it was stated in the programme that the first and second in the cross heats, with the fastest loser, should run in the final. Only the first and second were taken by the judges in the cross heats, and as there was no timekeeper no one could qualify as fastest loser; but notwithstanding this, one boy did run, though how in the world he was able to qualify we are at a loss to know.
The handicapping arrangements, too, were very poor, and in two successive heats in the 440 all the competitors were on one mark. Needless to say, the competitors were slow in turning out, whilst one heat was voi. In the fourth heat of the 220 four out of five competitors were on the same mark.
Again, in one of the heats of the 220 the judges made a palpable mistake. Only two competitors turned out in one heat.
Knowles, of the Rotherham Harriers, on the 11, and Nesbitt, of Conisboro’, on the 13, were about three yards off the winning post, was about half-a-yard ahead, but he fell and rolled past the post, without breaking the tape. Knowles finished, breaking the tape, and, of course, claimed the race. Nesbitt was, however, returned by the judge, though in the final both were allowed to run.
There were no less than 74 entries for the members’ race, but a disgraceful wrangle ensued over the result. The finalists were A. Moody, senr., on the 40, T. Ellis on the 14, F. Martin on the 11, and C. Moore on the 19.
The pistol fired somehow let the pistol go off accidentally, and the man in receipt of 40 yards’ start got away. “No race” was called out, but notwithstanding this he finished and claimed the race. The other competitors walked in, with the exception of Ellis. A hubbub then arose, Moody stating that he had won, in language perhaps more forcible than polite. He at first refused to run again, but after much persuasion consented, and obtained third place. Perhaps the least said the better about the rest of the events.
The mile was perhaps the best feature, and produced 19 competitors out of 20 entries. The winner, Wilcock, of Rotherham, on the 137, took up the lead early on, and keeping it, won easily by 10 yards. Directly afterwards he turned out in the 440 final, but gave up after the first lap.
There was hardly any excitement amongst the spectators, and, taking them altogether, the sports were much below the standard which has obtained in previous years.
In the horse classes there was more excitement, and a great deal of interest was taken in the events. Mr. W. Flavell’s “Kebreno” proved too good for the other competitors in the jumping competition, whilst Mr. S. Whitefield, in the best groomed horse class, won amongst the prizes, taking first and third.
Mr. F. Ogley added another first to his already long list in the class for driving in single harness (open) with his fine “Aristocrat.”
Mr. W. Revill, Conisbro’, was the first in the tradesmen’s turnout course, the donkey race provided much amusement, Mr. John Hollingsworth’s “Un-named” being first, whilst much interest was also taken in the pony race.
The prizes, which were a very choice selection, were valued at about £50, which is slightly in advance of previous years.
The following were the officials, as set out in the programme:—
President, Mr. Godfrey Walker; judge for foot races, Messrs. Purkis, C. Wood, H. Marshall, and A. Harrison; judges for horse classes, Messrs. E. Crossley, Barnboro’ Grange, and T. E. Morrell, Hellaby Hall; starter, Mr. Midwood, Mexboro’; telegraph board, Messrs. F. Nesbitt, F. Martin, J. Westby, and M. Harrison; marksmen, Messrs. R. V. Bedford, R. Harrison, S. Parkes, W. Clarkson, G. Crowcroft, T. Milnes, E. Robinson, and W. Farrar; stewards for prizes, Messrs. Dr. Craik, Dr. Foster, Rev. W. A. Strawbridge, G. W. Laughton, and M. Williamson; stewards for competitors’ tents, Messrs. J. Sellers, F. Hurton, F. Tomlinson, F. Singleton, and T. Howden; stewards for horse classes, Messrs. F. Ogley, W. Appleyard, J. Sutton, Jos. Appleyard, F. Nicholson, G. Taylor, and M. Wolstenholme; enclosure, Mr. A. Walker; handicappers for pony and donkey races, Messrs. Jos. Appleyard, W. Appleyard, R. Hawley, and F. Ogley; handicapper for scholars’ race, Mr. A. Moody; bellman, Mr. J. Gillott; treasurer, Mr. W. W. Norwood; secretary, Mr. E. Watson.
RESULTS
Scholars’ Race, 100 Yards’ Flat Handicap.—The following qualified for the final: C. E. Haldenby, Mexboro’, 12; W. H. Spencer, Conisboro’, 22; C. Clark, Mexboro’, 12; Alfie Wells, Mexboro’, 22; W. Hewitt, Mexboro’, 11; F. Goddard, Mexboro’, 15; John Fox, Conisboro’, 14; Fred Davies, Denaby, 19; Fred Leverton, Mexboro’, 22; Sam Burns, Denaby, 20. Cross heats: Wells, Clark, Burns, and Spencer.
Final: 1 Burns; 2 Spencer; 3 Wells; 4 Hewitt; 5 Clark. A good race, the winner coming strongly towards the finish.
Members’ Race.—Qualified for the final: A. Moody, senr., 40; J. Hall, 28; C. Moore, 19; A. Cusworth, 19; W. Norwood, 18; W. Farrar, 20; T. Ellis, 14; J. Mitchell, 7, w.o.; F. Martin, 11; and C. Walker, 7. Cross heats: Moody, Moore, T. Ellis, and F. Martin.
When the competitors were on their marks the starter accidentally fired the pistol, which set Moody off. “No race” was called, but he finished and claimed the prize. The judges ruled that the race had to be run over again, and after much persuasion he consented to run, and the real final saw a capital race, with only inches between all of them.
Final: 1 Ellis; 2 Moore; 3 Moody; 4 Martin.
100 Yards’ Flat Handicap (Open).—The following won their heats: Chas. Ainley, Sheffield, 7; R. A. Hewitt, Doncaster, 3½; W. T. Goodhind, Doncaster, 8½; J. W. Dunk, Mexboro’, 9.
Final: 1 Hewitt; 2 Ainley; 3 Goodhind. A good race, the winner claiming the race by a yard, with inches dividing the second and third.
220 Yards’ Flat Handicap (Open).—The following qualified for the final: C. Ainley, Sheffield, 11; R. A. Hewitt, 5; F. Nesbitt, Conisbro’, 13; G. Holmes, Denaby, 14; P. Shelton, Sheffield, 15.
Final: 1 Shelton; 2 Hewitt; 3 Ainley. Won by a yard, with inches dividing second and third.
440 Yards’ Flat Handicap (Open).—There was poor competition in the heats.
Finalists: J. T. Clayton, Swinton, 19; J. J. Kite, Thrybergh, 29; W. J. Slack, Sheffield, J.M.C.A., 30; H. Wilcock, Rotherham, 33.
Result: 1 Kite; 2 Clayton; 3 Slack. Won easily by about 20 yards; a bad third.
One Mile Flat Handicap (Open).—There were about twenty entries for this interesting event, and 19 turned out, but soon began to tail off, only seven finishing.
Early on Wilcock, of Rotherham, on the 137, took the lead, and keeping it won as he liked by ten yards.
Second, inches in front of Wm. Levers, Denaby, 96.
Horse Jumping Competition (Open).—1, W. Flavell’s “Kebreno”; 2, Dr. J. Miller’s “Pighurst”; 3, Mr. G. P. Pashley’s “Pirsby Gem.”
Best Groomed Cart Horse.—1, Mr. S. Whitefield’s “Short”; 2, Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company’s “Flower”; 3, Mr. S. Whitefield’s “Jim”; 4, Mr. S. Whitefield’s “Fan.”
Driving in Single Harness.—Mr. Frank Ogles’ “Aristocrat,” the winner of many first prizes for trotting, including the Royal Show at Carlisle, naturally pulled along way ahead of the rest. Mr. W. Revill was second, and Mr. W. A. Spencer, Braithwell, third.
Tradesmen’s Turnouts.—1, W. Revill, Conisboro’; 2, Ward and Sons, Swinton; 3, W. Oxley, Parkgate.
Donkey Race.—1, John Hollingsworth’s “Un-named”; 2, John Whittington’s “Neddy”; 3, W. Ibbotson’s “Watershead.”
One Mile Pony Race (Open).—1, J. Asher’s “Violet”; 2, A. Crossland’s (Tickhill) “Jess”; 3, Mrs. Cope’s “Ginger.”
The Conisboro’ Brass Band played selections during the afternoon.