BON VOYAGE

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 3078, 8 April 1927, Page 5

BON VOYAGE

I —— j A SPORTSMAN'S HOLIDAY.

After the last race had been run at the Ellesmere County Trotting Club's meeting yesterday, members of the Club and a. number of visiting owners and trainers'gathered in the secretary's tent to convey their good wishes to Mr F. Rowell, a past president of the Club, who is to leave, along with Mrs Rowell, at the end of this month on a visit to the Homeland.

j The president, Mr John Nixon, in {proposing the health of Mr Rowell, ' said that he was one of the most enjthusiastic followers of the sport of > trotting in the Ellesmere district, and * a very strong supporter of the Club, whose interests he had very much at heart. Besides being a successful owner, trainer and driver, he had been exceedingly generous in his financial supj port, and was one of those who were in the sport for sport's sake, Tather than (for any financial gain. The future of ! trotting was assured so long as men lot Mr Rowell's calibre were at the | head of affairs. On behalf of all the I members of the Club he wished Mr and | Mrs Rowell a very enjoyable holiday ! and a safe return.

Messrs H. Gardiner (vice-president), K. T. McMillan (past-president) and I. McGill (past president) added their good wishes and expressed the hope that Mr Rowell would return full of vigour and continue to give the Club his support.

« Mr J. N. Clarke, on behalf of the ' Owners', Trainers' and Breeders' Association, endorsed the sentiments of I the other speakers. Referring to the t support given the Club by the owners and trainers, Mr Clarke said it was not the fault of the Association that the Club had not received a totalisator permit. They were certainly entitled to one and he hoped they would get it be- | fore long. In Ellesmere they had some of the best sportsmen in the Dominion, J and therefore in the world, for New ' Zealand had nothing to learn from any [other country in regard to the conduct }of trotting meetings. With a totalisa- ! tor permit the district would have a j meeting second, to mine in the Domin-

j ion. « Alter adding his good wishes, Mr W. b.loir said that all the horses conipetjiug that day were genuine triers, even

I though the stakes were small. • Mr Rowell, in reply, expressed his | warm appreciation of the line feeling [that had prompted the members of the l Club and visitors to meet him for the 1 purpose of conveying their good wishles. lie declared that ho was reaching ' the age at. which he could hardly be ex

: pected to take the same active part in j the sport as he had done in the past. * (Voices: No, no). He felt that he was S approaching the age at which he should Uake up such a game as bowls. (LaughI ter). However, there were enthusiastic |. young men of the right calibre taking | office and the Club's affairs would be in safe hands. He would like to speI daily mention the splendid support the \ Club had received from Mr R. T. McI Millan, who was one of the keenest enthusiasts lie had ever been associated J with. Personally, he had to admit that ■he was exceedingly fond of trotting, 'and he trusted that the Club would

have a prosperous future

Mr Wilson, a steward of the Waikato Trotting Club, whose health was also honoured, expressed the opinion that the Ellesmere Club had nothihg to learn in regard to the control of a trotting meeting