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Early Dunsandel sports
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TitleEarly Dunsandel sports
DescriptionPloughing was one of the earliest sports around Dunsandel. One such match, restricted to Selwyn people, took place in Hefford’s paddock, near Westenra’s homestead, in September 1873. In the evening, the usual dinner was held in the Dunsandel Hotel.
A meeting to form the Dunsandel Cricket Club (DCC) was held in the Dunsandel Hotel in late September 1875 and a match with Rakaia took place in Dunsandel in late October with a win for Rakaia by 12 runs. The return match, in March 1876, was a victory for Dunsandel. Leeston won a match in 1876, and in April the Christchurch Club boarded the train for Dunsandel at 7 am and beat Dunsandel easily.
Matches were again played in Ellesmere and Christchurch in the 76-77 season.
Matches against Killinchy were recorded in 1879, but there were no further newspaper reports until 1888 when DCC again played Rakaia and Leeston.
In 1889, Dunsandel played Rakaia, Lincoln College, Springston, Lauriston, Leeston and Kirwee. The DCC appeared to have folded at the end of 1891 but reformed for the 1893-94 season when they played Albion and Ashburton. Again it folded in 1895 and the players joined other Ellesmere teams but two years later they had reformed and played a wide range of clubs. Throughout this time the DCC arranged socials to raise funds.
There was a proliferation of sports clubs in Dunsandel including quoits, tennis, rugby, cycling and hockey around 1890.
A quoits match between Leeston and Dunsandel was played at Dunsandel in 1888 and at their 1889 AGM they expected several challenges from other clubs. After 1891, the club no longer appeared in the newspaper but quoits was held at the New Year’s sports meeting in the domain and club members featured.
A Dunsandel Bicycle Club was formed in 1892. A concert and dance was held soon after. Later the words “Jubilee Cash Amateur” was added to the name. AGMs were reported through to 1895. Cycling was a major event at the New Year’s sports day.
The first meeting to form a Dunsandel Lawn Tennis Club was not well attended but in July 1891, with good attendance, a club was formed and a concert was held in November to raise money. One of their first matches was against Southbridge held on their asphalt court, which disadvantaged Dunsandel as they only had a grass court. During the 93-94 season, the club played six matches and won four.
While the Dunsandel Rugby Club celebrates 1888 as their foundation year (and the local schools were playing then), the Lyttleton Times of April 1891 reported a meeting to form a club, and to play in amber and black. While they played a good first game against Southbridge in June they lost 10-to-nil. The second game against Brookside-Irwell was won. At the AGM in March 1892 it was revealed that Dunsandel had won 3 of the 6 matches played. That year they played Ellesmere clubs as well as Ashburton.
Dunsandel joined other Ellesmere Clubs to play Hokitika and Ashburton in 1894 and a concert/dance in June attracted many visitors. Later that season Killinchy was beaten 35-to-nil.
The Club continued playing a wider range of teams until 1898 when it could not get sufficient members and decided to disband and some players joined Irwell. In June 1900 the Club reformed.
While Mackie contends that the Dunsandel Ladies’ Hockey Team started in 1900, it is more likely that it was closer to 1905. In 1906-07 they used the name Waikirikiri.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date26 May 2022SourceThe Ellesmere Echo
DescriptionPloughing was one of the earliest sports around Dunsandel. One such match, restricted to Selwyn people, took place in Hefford’s paddock, near Westenra’s homestead, in September 1873. In the evening, the usual dinner was held in the Dunsandel Hotel. A meeting to form the Dunsandel Cricket Club (DCC) was held in the Dunsandel Hotel in late September 1875 and a match with Rakaia took place in Dunsandel in late October with a win for Rakaia by 12 runs. The return match, in March 1876, was a victory for Dunsandel. Leeston won a match in 1876, and in April the Christchurch Club boarded the train for Dunsandel at 7 am and beat Dunsandel easily.
Matches were again played in Ellesmere and Christchurch in the 76-77 season.
Matches against Killinchy were recorded in 1879, but there were no further newspaper reports until 1888 when DCC again played Rakaia and Leeston.
In 1889, Dunsandel played Rakaia, Lincoln College, Springston, Lauriston, Leeston and Kirwee. The DCC appeared to have folded at the end of 1891 but reformed for the 1893-94 season when they played Albion and Ashburton. Again it folded in 1895 and the players joined other Ellesmere teams but two years later they had reformed and played a wide range of clubs. Throughout this time the DCC arranged socials to raise funds.
There was a proliferation of sports clubs in Dunsandel including quoits, tennis, rugby, cycling and hockey around 1890.
A quoits match between Leeston and Dunsandel was played at Dunsandel in 1888 and at their 1889 AGM they expected several challenges from other clubs. After 1891, the club no longer appeared in the newspaper but quoits was held at the New Year’s sports meeting in the domain and club members featured.
A Dunsandel Bicycle Club was formed in 1892. A concert and dance was held soon after. Later the words “Jubilee Cash Amateur” was added to the name. AGMs were reported through to 1895. Cycling was a major event at the New Year’s sports day.
The first meeting to form a Dunsandel Lawn Tennis Club was not well attended but in July 1891, with good attendance, a club was formed and a concert was held in November to raise money. One of their first matches was against Southbridge held on their asphalt court, which disadvantaged Dunsandel as they only had a grass court. During the 93-94 season, the club played six matches and won four.
While the Dunsandel Rugby Club celebrates 1888 as their foundation year (and the local schools were playing then), the Lyttleton Times of April 1891 reported a meeting to form a club, and to play in amber and black. While they played a good first game against Southbridge in June they lost 10-to-nil. The second game against Brookside-Irwell was won. At the AGM in March 1892 it was revealed that Dunsandel had won 3 of the 6 matches played. That year they played Ellesmere clubs as well as Ashburton.
Dunsandel joined other Ellesmere Clubs to play Hokitika and Ashburton in 1894 and a concert/dance in June attracted many visitors. Later that season Killinchy was beaten 35-to-nil.
The Club continued playing a wider range of teams until 1898 when it could not get sufficient members and decided to disband and some players joined Irwell. In June 1900 the Club reformed.
While Mackie contends that the Dunsandel Ladies’ Hockey Team started in 1900, it is more likely that it was closer to 1905. In 1906-07 they used the name Waikirikiri.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date26 May 2022SourceThe Ellesmere EchoConnections
CollectionHistory of DunsandelOrganisationDunsandel Historic Society
OrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
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Early Dunsandel sports (26 May 2022). Selwyn Stories, accessed 26/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5231