St Patrick’s Day 1864
In March 1864, Geelong’s Irish community and their friends turned St Patrick’s Day into a showcase of sport and celebration. Though the banks stayed open and the day was not a public holiday, Belmont Common became the centre of excitement with horse races, hurling, and foot contests drawing crowds. Rival events sprang up at Bell Park and Gnarwarre, offering sack races, wheelbarrow challenges, and even the comic spectacle of “catching the pig”. The Geelong Chronicle reported it all with enthusiasm, noting that far from being a pity, the multiplication of sports only added to the festive spirit.
SAINT PATRICK’S DAY SPORTS
Planning for a grand, sporting festival to coincide with St Patrick’s Day, 17 March 1864, began the previous month. Interested parties had several meetings at Noonan’s Royal Exchange Hotel to finalise the arrangements. In 1864, St Patrick’s Day fell on a Thursday. It was not a public holiday and the banks were open.
The Belmont Common was the venue for horse races, a hurling match and foot racing. There was to be a Town Plate for horses which have never won an advertised race; a Belmont Plate of 15 sovereigns, weight for age, over a three mile distance; and any number of hack races. In the feature race, the Belmont Plate, Mr Kelly’s, Limerick Lass, came in a winner by some twelve lengths.
There was a hurling match for a £5 cup for the best hurler. After a hard game between two teams picked from the Geelong Cosmopolitan Hurling Club, the reporter from the Geelong Chronicle did not catch the name of the Cup’s winner. There was also a foot race over 200 yards, for a two sovereign prize, in which Mr Noonan and Mr Holden came in so close together that they shared the stakes.
If there was a dispute, the stewards’ decision would be final. Stewards appointed for the day were Messrs M. Treacey, W. McMullen, W.S. Howell, P. O’Bryan, T.A. Sidders and J.E. Thomas. W.P. Noonan was the Hon. Treasurer and Henry Gill junior was the Honorary Secretary.
Two refreshment booths were let for the day – to Robert Upston, of the Stag and Hounds Hotel, Moorabool Street, and John Thomas, of the Belmont Hotel. Afterwards, their faces were ‘wreathed in smiles’ so the Geelong Chronicle assumed the ‘spec’ had been a good one!
‘Rival’ sports were advertised at the West End hurling ground, adjoining the Bell Park estate. A hurling match, foot racing, jumping, a wheelbarrow race, sack race and ‘catching the pig’ were on the card there. There was horse racing at the Shank Hill Hotel, Gnarwarre, where provisions had also been made for a foot race, sack racing, and ‘climbing the greasy pole’.
Some people thought it a pity that the sports should be thus divided. The newspapers disagreed and, indeed, would have had ‘no objection to a further multiplication’ of sports at other venues.
