M'CREGOR WINS DERBY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 88, 14 April 1930, Page 18

M'CREGOR WINS DERBY

FORCED LANDING ON MUD FLAT

(By Telegraph.—Presi Association.) AUCKLAND, 13th April. The second air pageant conducted by the Auckland Acio Club was held at Mangore Aerodrome yesterday. The weather 'was-'fine, but a strong wind did not Aake.for best flying conditions. .Over 20'"machines, ' including several types not previously, seen in Auckland, 'thrilled the spectators with racing ! events, stunting, bomb-dropping, and 'landing events. „.,.■„ 1 During the afternoon the Eight Hon. J. G. Coates, with Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton, took the air in a D.H. 50 machine. Mr. IV C. Chichester received a warm welcome. He flew specially to Auckland for the pageant. The Aerial Derby was won by Captain M'Gregor. Owing1 to the high wind, Wing-Com-inander Grant-Dalton refused permis-sion-for the parachute descent. There were no accidents, but a forced landing on a mud flat was made by Captain Buckley during the New Zealand"Aerial -Derby. He-waa' flying low over mud' flats" when his motor stopped^ but. he managed to turn the machine into the wind, and make a good landing. The machine was still rolling when the wheels struck a soft spot and-the 'plane heeled" over on^to its nose. No damage was caused, and after tho blocked jet, which had caused [trouble, had been cleared, Captain Buckley flew the machine back to tho laerodrome. Results; —

Interclub Challenge Race for the "New Zealand Herald" • Trophy.— Hawkes Bay and East Coast (D. H. Newbigin), 1; Marlborough (Miss P. Bennett), 2; Canterbury (D. E. Grigg), 3; Auckland (G. M. Firth), 4. This1 event was one of the best of the day: The Canterbury maclftne wobbled badly at the start, but straightened out and got away with the others. Firth, who wns on the outside, did not get a good start, and was behind throughout the whole race. Miss Bennett was ahead after one lap of the course, but Newbigin overtook her' the 'second time round, and won by'a narrow margin. NEW ZEALAND AEEIAL DERBY. First heat: Captain. M. Buckley (Air Force), I;1 Lieutenant lan. Keith (New1 Plymouth), 2. "■ ' "' ' '-. i Second heatf Captain M. O. M'Gregoi (Hamilton), JL; Major G. A. C Cowpor i (Hamilton), 2. '■ I Third hqat:- Captain,- J. Seabrook (Auckland), 1; Mr. D. (Mill (Hobsonville), 2. Fourth heat: Captain W. S. E. Bloomfield (Auckland), 1; Captain Stedinan (Wellington), 2." Final: Captain M'Gregor, 1; Captain Bloomfield, 2; Captain Seabrook, 3. i M'Gregor took the .lead at the first j bend,' and gained 200 yards on the others. Ho won by that amount, and Seabrook finished a similar distance behind Bloomfield. Landing Competition, 1» 'Licence Pilots.—Major* Cowper, 1; Captain M'Gregor, 2; Lieutenant D. M. Allan (Auckland), 3. ' Landing Competition, A Liecnco Pilots.—Mr.:l?. B. Dix (Marlborough), 1; Mr. H. Newbigin, 2. Bombing the Baby.—Tjieutenant J). M. Allan, 1; Captain M'Gregor, 2