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Early sport in Doyleston
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TitleEarly sport in Doyleston
DescriptionThe earliest newspaper-recorded sport in Doyleston was a ploughing competition in September 1867 on J.H. Taylor’s land near the Creek store, Boggy Creek.
Approximately 400 people attended but because the meeting was hastily arranged the number of competitors was below potential.
The competition was followed by an excellent dinner in the Creek Store.
The Ellesmere annual ploughing match with 47 entries returned to Doyleston and was held in August 1870 in John Rennie’s paddock. About 100 people adjourned to J.J. Loe’s in Leeston after the match where an excellent dinner was provided.
On New Year’s Day 1870, following the ball, it was advertised that “in Mr J. Rennie's paddock, adjoining the hall, where running, jumping, and all sorts of games will be practised.”
Approximately, 200 people turned up to a wide range of athletic activities including running races, high jump, sack-racing and chasing a sheep.
A similar format occurred in 1871 but the venue shifted to Lambie’s paddock in 1872.
By 1874 the sports had moved to Joseph Doyle’s paddock and there were clashes with the Southbridge sports day.
In 1877 the Doyleston sports was held in a paddock next to the railway station. In this year there was an Ellesmere Amalgamated Sports event at the Ellesmere racecourse.
Because Doyleston had favoured a more central location, the Ellesmere A&P grounds, which was rejected in favour of the racecourse, they decided to go it alone and New Year’s sports meetings were held during the 1890s still in a paddock by the railway station. However, by 1912 meetings were being held on Boxing Day and were in Osborne Park.
The Doyleston Athletic Club organised what became a very popular event and a special train typically bought in large numbers from Christchurch. The event was still running in 1937.
Provision was made for other sports.
In early 1873 it was reported that broods of pheasants had been raised and were ready for release. The release of the birds, in the previous year, was apparently unsuccessful. Partridges were also proving difficult to establish.
Doyleston sports clubs were formed and faded.
Prior to the establishment of Osborne Park, various paddocks belonging to locals were usually used for sports events.
On New Year’s Day, 1869, following the ball at Doyleston the night before, a group travelled to Taumutu and “a part of the gentlemen enjoyed themselves at cricket”.
The Boggy Creek Cricket Club was started in December 1880 but appeared to be having internal problems by 1883, the Doyleston Cricket Club operated during the 1930s, the Doyleston Athletics Club as early as 1909, the Doyleston Tennis Club began in 1929 and then regrouped in June 1946, Rugby from 1908 until 1914 and from 1922 for a short time and the Doyleston Swimming Club started in 1894.
The formal photo of the Waihora Ladies Hockey Club, from the Selwyn District Council, is labelled 1903 and the first record in the newspapers is in June 1903 when they won a game against Addington. In 1905 the team spent several days in Dunedin and played a series of matches.
In 1906, the team organised a picnic, dance, played Addington at Doyleston and Christchurch, played Girls High School and Dunsandel, and had a cold journey to Akaroa in two wagonettes and a car.
In 1907 the highlight was sailing to Wellington and Palmerston.
At the presentation of trophies in September 1909, Waihora, the winners of the Canterbury Ladies’ Hockey Association senior competition, were heartily congratulated on their success. They had played 12 games, winning 10 and drawing 2, and had won the competition for the second year in succession.
Newspaper accounts were absent after 1912.
In 1932 reports of the activities of the Doyleston Hockey Club started appearing in the newspapers. They won the Ellesmere Ladies Hockey Competition, Junior Grade, in 1940. The club organised social events in the Doyleston Hall through to 1942 to raise funds for the club and during WW2,for patriotic funds.
The bands hired to supply music included Eden’s Band, Redway McGibbon's Band and Lambie’s Band.
The more recent informal photo was supplied by Mary Greenan who was in the senior team in 1937. Mary played as an extra to the band on occasions, was a chief secretary at the 1940 Hockey Ball and subsequent dances, and was on the management committee of the Basketball Club when the Doyleston Hockey Club transferred its funds.
Mary’s mother, Minnie Greenan, won at euchre more times than most. A new street in Doyleston is named after the Greenan family.
It is interesting to note that another “Waihora Ladies' Hockey Club” started in Motukarara in 1936 with J. Rennie as Patron. The Rennie family had been prominent in the Doyleston Waihora Club.
Information from G Singleton (2007) and Papers Past
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
DateBetween 1st January 2020 and 31st December 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoyleston
DescriptionThe earliest newspaper-recorded sport in Doyleston was a ploughing competition in September 1867 on J.H. Taylor’s land near the Creek store, Boggy Creek. Approximately 400 people attended but because the meeting was hastily arranged the number of competitors was below potential.
The competition was followed by an excellent dinner in the Creek Store.
The Ellesmere annual ploughing match with 47 entries returned to Doyleston and was held in August 1870 in John Rennie’s paddock. About 100 people adjourned to J.J. Loe’s in Leeston after the match where an excellent dinner was provided.
On New Year’s Day 1870, following the ball, it was advertised that “in Mr J. Rennie's paddock, adjoining the hall, where running, jumping, and all sorts of games will be practised.”
Approximately, 200 people turned up to a wide range of athletic activities including running races, high jump, sack-racing and chasing a sheep.
A similar format occurred in 1871 but the venue shifted to Lambie’s paddock in 1872.
By 1874 the sports had moved to Joseph Doyle’s paddock and there were clashes with the Southbridge sports day.
In 1877 the Doyleston sports was held in a paddock next to the railway station. In this year there was an Ellesmere Amalgamated Sports event at the Ellesmere racecourse.
Because Doyleston had favoured a more central location, the Ellesmere A&P grounds, which was rejected in favour of the racecourse, they decided to go it alone and New Year’s sports meetings were held during the 1890s still in a paddock by the railway station. However, by 1912 meetings were being held on Boxing Day and were in Osborne Park.
The Doyleston Athletic Club organised what became a very popular event and a special train typically bought in large numbers from Christchurch. The event was still running in 1937.
Provision was made for other sports.
In early 1873 it was reported that broods of pheasants had been raised and were ready for release. The release of the birds, in the previous year, was apparently unsuccessful. Partridges were also proving difficult to establish.
Doyleston sports clubs were formed and faded.
Prior to the establishment of Osborne Park, various paddocks belonging to locals were usually used for sports events.
On New Year’s Day, 1869, following the ball at Doyleston the night before, a group travelled to Taumutu and “a part of the gentlemen enjoyed themselves at cricket”.
The Boggy Creek Cricket Club was started in December 1880 but appeared to be having internal problems by 1883, the Doyleston Cricket Club operated during the 1930s, the Doyleston Athletics Club as early as 1909, the Doyleston Tennis Club began in 1929 and then regrouped in June 1946, Rugby from 1908 until 1914 and from 1922 for a short time and the Doyleston Swimming Club started in 1894.
The formal photo of the Waihora Ladies Hockey Club, from the Selwyn District Council, is labelled 1903 and the first record in the newspapers is in June 1903 when they won a game against Addington. In 1905 the team spent several days in Dunedin and played a series of matches.
In 1906, the team organised a picnic, dance, played Addington at Doyleston and Christchurch, played Girls High School and Dunsandel, and had a cold journey to Akaroa in two wagonettes and a car.
In 1907 the highlight was sailing to Wellington and Palmerston.
At the presentation of trophies in September 1909, Waihora, the winners of the Canterbury Ladies’ Hockey Association senior competition, were heartily congratulated on their success. They had played 12 games, winning 10 and drawing 2, and had won the competition for the second year in succession.
Newspaper accounts were absent after 1912.
In 1932 reports of the activities of the Doyleston Hockey Club started appearing in the newspapers. They won the Ellesmere Ladies Hockey Competition, Junior Grade, in 1940. The club organised social events in the Doyleston Hall through to 1942 to raise funds for the club and during WW2,for patriotic funds.
The bands hired to supply music included Eden’s Band, Redway McGibbon's Band and Lambie’s Band.
The more recent informal photo was supplied by Mary Greenan who was in the senior team in 1937. Mary played as an extra to the band on occasions, was a chief secretary at the 1940 Hockey Ball and subsequent dances, and was on the management committee of the Basketball Club when the Doyleston Hockey Club transferred its funds.
Mary’s mother, Minnie Greenan, won at euchre more times than most. A new street in Doyleston is named after the Greenan family.
It is interesting to note that another “Waihora Ladies' Hockey Club” started in Motukarara in 1936 with J. Rennie as Patron. The Rennie family had been prominent in the Doyleston Waihora Club.
Information from G Singleton (2007) and Papers Past
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
DateBetween 1st January 2020 and 31st December 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoylestonClick on the image to add
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Early sport in Doyleston (Between 1st January 2020 and 31st December 2020). Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/12/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5296
