TUG-OF-WAR

Evening Star, Issue 15513, 8 June 1914, Page 7

TUG-OF-WAR

THE FINAL PULLS. HGRNIBROOK'S TEAM THE CHAMPIONS. The Tug-of-war Championship on Saturday eTeaing attracted a tremendous house, and excitement ran high. The championship was won by Hornibrook's Physical Ccttare team, from ChrMtchurch, the ran-n«rß-np being Hoffman Brothers, with West Coast and Waterside Workers' No. 2 third and fourth respectively. The following are the results:

—Seventh Round.— Enfold beat Telegraph No. 1. Harnibrook's Physical Culture beat West Coast. Hoffman Bros, beat Stevenson, and Cook No. L W«tarside Workers No. 2 won from Auckland Police bv default. The poll between Enfield and Telegraph was fenr close, the former winning after 3£ minutes by an inch. Hornibrook's team beat the West Coast by an inch after a hard tussle-

Before the contest between the Hoffm.ms and Stevenson and Cook No. 1, Mr T. BonrrUg, who had been made the recipient of a medal toeaented by Mt Roderick Mackenzie for Ms services aa judge, announced that he had decided to hand it over to Mrs Hoffman, the mother of the nine stalwart ions who have taken such a successful part is the tournament. Mr Sonntag then presented the medal to Mrs Hoffman, who occupied a seat- on the platform, arid the audience, after singing For she's a jolly good fellow,' gave three hearty cheers for the mother and her sons. Hoffman Bros, against proved victorious. At the end of the first minute they had the advantage by about three-quarter of an inch, which thev had increased to two inches at the end of three minutes. From then on the result was never in doubt. The Auckland Police team did not make an appearance, and the Waterside Workers' N0.2 team therefore won by default. —Eighth Round.—

Waterside Workers' No. 2 beat Enfield. Hornibrook's Physical Culture beat Hoffman Bros.

West Coast beat Waterside Workers No.

Though Enfield made a little headway at the start, they lost it, and when the pistol went neither side had the advantage. A farther two minutes' pull resulted in a win for the Watersiders by about half an inch. The Enfield team entered a protest on a question of time, but this was disallowed.

Hornibrook's Physical Culture v. Hoffman Bros, provided a very keen and exciting contest. At first neither, side gained any advantage, and the excitement became intense, but with just a minute to go the ChristcWrch men, by means of a series oil well-timed tugs, gained a very small advantage, and they succeeded in pulling off the* victory bv a fraction of an inch. The West Coast beat the Watersiders after * terrific struggle by a fraction of an inch. Several of the West Coasters bad to be helped off the stage. Before the commencement of the semifinals Mr J. Loudon announced the four teams remaining in the contest. They were as follow :—Waterside Workers No. 2, Homibrook's Physical Culture, West Coast, and Hoffman Bros. He stated that polls in the semi-finals and finals would be of five minutes' duration, and would determine the first, second, third, and fourth places. On behalf of the management, he thanked the public for their liberal patronage. While the attendances the first two nights were not so large as they might have been, the large houses on the concluding nights showed that the people of Dunedin were alwavs prepared to support my genuine and well-conducted sport. Alihongh there had been some few drawbacks in the way of organisation, these could not be helped, because it was really the first contest of the kind on such a large scale that had taken place in the Dominion. At future gatherings the management had in view certain alterations in the direction of grading the different weights, which, it was thought, would be 0 great improvement. It was evident that 5 Tight team, however strong* pitted against a heavy one was under a big disJdvantage. At future contests it might be that teams would be divided into two classes—under 13et and over 13st.

—Semi-final — Hoffman Brothers beat West Coast. Won by about two inches, amid much enthusiasm. This contest decided the third place in the championship, which ru taken by the losing team.

—FinaL— Hornibrook's Physical Culture beat Hoffman Brothers. The excitement during the "last pull rose to fever heat. At the 6tait Hornibrook's Physical Culture got the advantage, which was increased to 3in, and when four minutes had gone the Christchurch men had fully 4in to their credit. Hoffman Brothers then exerted themselves, and reduced the margin to 2in. With only a anarter of a minute to go the margin had Seen decreased to lin. This was the limit, However. Try as they might, Hoffman Brothers could not effect a further reduction, and Hornibrook's Physical Culture thus became winners of the championship, with Hoffman Brothers runners-up. Mt J. Loudon presented the prize-money to the captains of the winning teams, as follows : First.—Hornibrook's Physical Culture (C. Price 12.2, J. Fry 13.2, L. Atkinson 13.3, W. T. Johnstone 14.2, J. England 14.10, E. Borough 15.0, A. Thorpe 15.5, P. Hennessy, captain; average weistht 14.11 £225 freoond.—Hoffman Brothers (Alexander 15.0. Prank 12.7, John 14.0, Joe 12.0. Adam 12.7, Tom 12.0, Gus 14.0, George, captain; average weight, 13.1) £54 Third.—Beban'a West Coast (CO. Rourke 18.2, C. Warren 15.0, J. Ryall 15.2, R. Power 13.7, W. Mltoberts 13.3, A. Neale 18.1, J. Beeban 13.10, E. Penhailuriack; average weight, 15.3) ... £27 Fourth. Danedin Waterside Workers No. 2 (G. Miles 13.4, P. Casey 15.0, J. Smith 12.7, J. Kerr 13.9, J. Trainor 12.12, P. Casey 13.8, O. Sidal 12.7, F. Sayers captain; average weight, 13.2) £9 A gold medal was aleo presented to each of the nine members of the winning team. The Chairman thanked the audience for fcheir attendance, and the proceedings were brought to a close about 11.30 p-m. The Kaikorai Band were present throughout the evening and contributed a number of selections. Mr W. W. Crawford again delighted the audience with a number of humorous recitations and monologues, the musical accompaniments to the latter being supplied by Mr James Battensby. AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT. TO THE EDITOR. Sirj—On behalf of the West Coast Tug-af-War team, I wish to tender our sincere thanks to the citizens of Dunedin for the impartial reception which they accorded •us during the recent tug-of-war competitions. We also desire to especially thank Mr C. Dunford, captain of Dunedin Police team, Messrs Speight and Co.'s employees. Thompson and Co., Powley and Keasf. Messrs Boss and Glendining, Mr and Mrs Street, of the Provincial Hotel, and Speight tndC*. Oa behalf of West Coast Tug-of-War (earn, B. Penhaixubiach (captain). HOBNTBRQOK'S v. WESTLAND. More than ordinary interest is being taken in the contest between Hornibrook's team and Be ban's West Coast team, which will take place in the Alexandra Hall, Cbxistchnrcb, to-night. The meeting will fe for £SO a side. SINGLE-HANDED PULL. Arrangements have been made for a match between A. Beban, of the West Coast team, and Hospn, of Inch Valley. The stake will probably be £2OO a side. It i* proposed that the match shall take place a* Qreymouth in a few weeks' time.