LABOUR DAY GALA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 14, 29 October 1935, Page 8

LABOUR DAY GALA

A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION.

MARRED SOMEWHAT BY RAIN.

AXEMEN’S DISPLAYS LAST NIGHT

What was one of the most successful of the Advance Ashburton’s Labour Day Galas for some years was marred to some extent by the steady rain which commenced about 7 o’clock last evening. Nevertheless, there was a fair attendance of the public and the day was brought to a successful conclusion.

In the late afternoon, the bright sunshine which prevailed about midday gave place to a cold wind and an overcast sky. There was an attendance of between 2000 and 3000 people during the afternoon, and as a result' of the effort the Association is assured of the necessary finance to carry out its work for another year. All helpers worked strenuously throughout the day, and their labours were rewarded with a generous public support. The proceeds are estimated ac £415, which is about £75 less than last year. This is considered a satisfactory result in view of the smaller attendance last evening. In 1933 the gross takings amounted to approximately £630. The programme for the evening in' eluded axemen’s exhibitions, and dancing . on the green, but the latter had to be abandoned on account of the rain. The wood-chopping events were held and created considerable interest among the spectators. R. W. Plunkett and R. Gallagher gave an exhibition of the Australian jigger tree-cut, 'anjd this attraction, new to Ashburton,. was watched with close attention.

An attempt on the world’s record for the 18in. single cut double-handed saw was made by Gallagher and R Lovett. The record is 11 2-ssec, and these two men did the cut in 12 l-ssec. They had both been performing well during the day, and had conditions been more favourable in the evening their time would no doubt have been faster. This event also created great iIItOTGSt The Oval u r as brilliantly lit, and the stalls and side-shows continued to do good business after • darkness fell. The competition for the best-turned-out trooper in B Squadron, 0.Y.C., was won by Trooper G. Branch with Trooper W. White second and Corporal A. Begg third. - Results announced after the Guardian” ■ went to press yesterday alteinoon are as follow: —

Athletics. 880 Yards Cash Handicap (B)—N. T. Palmer (40vds) 1, W. Pike (4oyds) 2," S. J- Martin (25yds) 3. Time, 2mm. 0 l-ssecs. , _ T j. 100 Yards Women’s Handicap (op— Miss I. Donald (51yds) 1, Miss L. lutz;Simmons (Sjyds) 2. Miss M. Bowden (71yds) 3. Time, 11 4-ssecs. 880 Yards Amateur Handicap (10) L. A. Watson (30yds) 1, J. C. Simpson (50yds) 2, L. McEwin (50yds) 3. lime, lmin -58 4-ssecs. ~ uHigh Jump Handicap (6)—P. Roomson (4in.) sft. 6in. 1, H Wilkins (scr) sft. sin. 2, J. Mclntosh (4m.) oft. 41in., 3. „ /r*\ t t\ 440 Yards Cash Handicap (v)—l. DScott (15yds) 1, N. T. Palmer (24yds) 2, E. C. Samuels (17yds) 3. Time, 52 3“ssccs, 440 Yards Amateur Handicap (6) K, Lovell (25yds) 1, L. A. Watson (22yds) 2, E. P. Newburgh (20vds) 3. Time, 51 3-ssecs. Cycling. Two Miles Cash Wheel Race —Final : A. J. Howison (160yds) 1, W. Good (scr) and G. Johnson (215yds) equal, 2. (Time, 4m|n. 31 3-ssecs. A good finish. Two Miles Amateur Handicap (9)— I. J. Taylor (130yds) 1, J. Hogarth (250yds) 2, H. Craw (130yds) 3. Time, 4min. 24 4-ssecs. TWO MILE CASH SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. W. Good (New Brighton) ... 1 J. Ci-emin (Timaru) ... 2 H. J. Smither (Christchurch) 3 Won by four yards. Time, 4mins.

4»ssgcs*Seven riders faced the starter, and got away well. They remained bunched, for the early laps, with A. J. Howison (Christchurch) in the lead, hut the pace was increased when there were three laps to go, and the cyclists changed positions rapidly as the held strung out. With one lap to go, Campbell was leading from Good Entering the straight, Campbell fell back. Good coming through to lead the field to the finishing mark. 'Smithers occupied second place, but was placed third because of boring at the finish, thereby enabling him to beat C'remin by a wheel. Axemen’s Events.

14in. Underhand Cliop Handicap.— First heat (6): F. oTßrien0 T Brien (13sees) 1, C. Fabletiheque (scr) 2, A. Young (17sees) 3. Time, 43secs. Second heat (5): R. Gallagher (3secs) 1, R. W. Plunkett (16secs) 2, J. A. Bates (ISsecs) 3. Time, 38secs. Final: Bates 1, O’Brien 2, Pablecheque 3. Time, 39sees. National Ddricing. Highland reel, 14 and under (open)—Joan Russell 1, Shirley Janies and Jean Skilling (equal) 2. Irish Jig (open).—Billie Addle 1, Melba Melville and Orma Ford (equal) 2.

Irish Reel (open).—Billie Addis and Orma Ford (equal) 1, Joan Russell and Melba Melville (equal) 2. Sailor’s Hornpipe (open).—Billie Addis 1, Melba Melville and Betty Irvine (equal) 2.