AMUSING DERBY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 243, 27 July 1935, Page 6

AMUSING DERBY

i WHEELBARROWS PROPELLED.

FIRST EVENT IN ASHBURTON.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY RACES. i ! Ashburton was treated to its first wheelbarrow derby this afternoon, when the Ashburton Women’s Hockey Association staged several races in connection with the effort to assist its touring fund. , Since the historic event in. Australia., similar races have become very popular in the Dominion, but to-day’s derby was the initial one in Ashburton. There was a large attendance of the public to witness the event, and the entertainment provided was thoroughly enjoyed. Five “pushers,” Messrs E. Davidson (president of the Association), W. CBishop (secretary), A. G. McHardy, T. Pethiek and V. Gabites, faced the starter, the Mayor (Mi: W. H. Woods) at the Borough Council Chambers, and had as passengers five small boys, whose delight at the novelty was great. , The route was from the Municipal Offices to the Domain Oval via Haverlock (Street West and Winter Street, and the final stretch was around the cycle track. The result was: —

V. Gabites (G. Leslie passenger) 1 E. Davidson (R. Purcell) ••• | T. Pethiek (M. Graham) . d

Time, 12 minutes. There was a great variety of “machines,” and some were capable of greater speeds than others. Added to this one or two “pushers” found the going difficult over hard roads in studded hockey hoots, hut did not despair, and the derby was a great success..

Although the competitors got away on a false start, the pace for tlie first 100 yards'was a merry, one.' The field was well strung out by the time Winter Street was reached, with Gabites and Pethiek in the lead. Most of the “pushers” had by this time steadied down to a walk, but Gabites kept up his trot. The turnstile at the entrance to the Domain provided some difficulty, but the field managed to negotiate this hazard and set off around the Oval. Gabites and Pethiek took the wrong track, and kept on the eastern side of the pond which encircles the Oval. However, Gabites increased his pace, and finished first in front of the pavilion. Davidson, who had crossed the rustic bridge, sprinted around the cycle track to make the race over the final stretch interesting. He could not head Gabites off, and finished in second place. Pethiek was third, well back, and the others did not complete the course.

As soon as the field got away, there was a large following on bicycles and in motor-cars, and at times the course was obstructed by cyclists. Spectators on foot made the shortest way to the Domain to see the finish, and the attendance at the hockey matches was, as a result, a very satisfactory one. A collection was taken up by the Association.

One or two similar races were staged on the Oval during the afternoon.