GRAND MILITARY GYMKHANA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 132, 5 June 1901, Page 5

GRAND MILITARY GYMKHANA.

Preparations are proceeding1 apace for the grand military gymkhana, which is to take place on Thursday. the llth June, at Potter's Paddock. There are several hundred entries ior the different events on the programme, and the display of horsemen alone would .warrant a visit to the Paddock, it being1 estimated that between 500 and 000 mounted men will take part, including' men from the Auckland Mounted Rifles, Seddon Horse, Waiuku, Clevedon, Dargaville, YVhungurei, Puk<>kohe, Nos. 2 and 3 Waikatos, Flako, Tv Aroha, etc.. Mounted Rifles. The local cycle corps will also take part. llirt perhaps the most interesting item on the programme will bn the Victoria Cross competition for troopers who have returned from South Africa. The preparations are in the hands of the sports committee of the Auckland Mounted Rifles, whose energetic secretary, Sergt. James Browning1, is deserving- of great credit for the zealous manner in which he has taken up his arduous task. Other members of the committee, including1 Lieutenants J. Wynyard and A. A. White, are also very energetic in their desire to make the undertaking- as successful as possible, as may be elicited from the fact that some !J5 or 30 trophies and cash prizes have been promised by local tradespeople, which prizes added to the draft of substantial prizes already agreed upon by the committee, will ensure rewards for competitors which should bo worthy of competition. Not within the memory of most Aucklanders has there been an opportunity to-witness such a display of horsemanship as the gymkhana is likely to call forth. The various items on the programme will be new and novel to most townsmen, including1 as they do tcritpegging, lemon-slicing", bareback hurdle racingl, Victoria Cross and LloydLindsay competitions, leading- racing, tandem rat-ing-, tilting the ring, tug of war and wrestling1 on horseback, etc., all of which will be carried out under strictly military regulations. It is the intention of our en terprising Mounted Rifle Company to try to make this gymkhana an annual one, and we wish them every success in their undertaking^

Heather, Roberton & C 6. have given towards the canoe display fund a chest of tea, the Northern Roller Mills half a ton of flour, Mr. It. Salmon three sheep, Mr. j. Schischka half a ton of potatoes, Mr. W. Gunson half a ton of potatoes, Mr. A. Sanford fish, and Mr. R. W. Martin a sack of potatoes and a sack of flour.