BUSMEN’S SPORTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 March 1929, Page 7

BUSMEN’S SPORTS

KOTUKU GATHERING. , ■’ . ‘V, ■ * * ■ ■ , ■ ■■■■ . "~r ■ Chopping and sawing contests are - particularly popular on the West Coast and this was shown on Saturday afternoon when a successful sports gathering took place at the Kotuku school ground, The prize money offered for seven axemen’s and sawyers’ events was just on £lOO and th,e enterprise of the promoters was fully justified by the nominations and acceptances by leading exponents from all parts of the Coast. Good competition was expected and that, combined with ideal weather conditions, resulted in there, being an attendance which was considered a record for the ground. Races were held for children of various ages and a few for adults, but the gathering was chiefly for decision of bushmen's events, the running track available being only about 75 yards in length. Management of the sports was in capable hands and as all the logs had been, trimmed and measured beforehand, ’"there was not delay and spectators’ interest was maintained throughout the afternoon. The Blackball Pipe Band was in attendance and a splendid programme, including ; dancing, added much to the general holiday atmosphere. The patron, Mr. J. F. Jack, and the president, Mr. G. Jack, were both present and they are, to be congratulated upon the way in which the executive carried out its duties both during the meeting and previously in attending to all arrangements so thoroughly. Mr. Rex Fitzgerald undertook the duty of handicapper and the close finishes, reflected his intimate knowledge of the ability of the competitors. The judges, Messrs Rooney; Thomas and Jones had no easy task, but their rulings gave general satisfaction. Messrs Kim Williams and E. Perkins held the stopwatches. and some good times were recorded, the timber, mostly red pine, being in good order.’

The principal event of the day was the underhand handicap chop, and the winner of the big money was J. Beardesley, who had won his heat and also a heat in the upright chop and the double handed saw event. It was his first appearance as a competitor this season. Bowman, who was second, had also won his heat, but Jack was third in both heat and final, and R. Gilsenan received/ £1 as an unplaced heat winner. In the upright chop none of the three placed men had won their qualifying heat. Both place-getters in the double handed saw had won heats, but none of the three pairs -gained prizes in the singlehanded event. An interesting contest was the saw for women and men and it drew good entries.

The secretarial duties were in the hands of Mr. J. Butcher and he was kept busy attending to the many calls upon him and in keeping a record of the proceedings. He was the right man for the position and a measure of the success achieved was due to his efforts. Results: —

Boys’ Handicap Chop, lOin. logs; boys under 16 years; prizes £2 ; 15/-, and 5/-. —Butcher 1, Deere 2, Southern 3. Eleven started. No time was recorded.

Maiden Handicap Chop, 12in. logs; prizes £5, £2 and £1. — M. Crimmins, 14sec., 1; L. Youngman, 12, 2; J. Ibell, 12, 3. Also competed: F. Thorn scr., W. Ryan 2sec., G. Ellery, C. Neame, Marshall Bsec, E. Harris, F. Revelry 10, L>. Gilsean 12, E’ Malloy, E. Jones, F. Kemple, S. Chamberlain 14, I. Palmer, Joe Malloy, J. W. Malloy, J. Crimmins, J. Kelly, E. H. Dense 16, J. Knight 18, J. Bryan, D. Bryan 20. This big field of 25 provided a fine contest and the progress of the chop created a lot of excitement, the finish being a close one. Time 49 3-5 secs.

'Upright Handicap Chop, 12in. log; prizes, £l2 and Plumb axe, £s,and £3:—

First heat. —T. Egerton, 13sec., 1; W. Blackmiin 13sec., 2; F. Laugeson, 2sec., 3. Also competed: H. P. Williams, 18sec., M. Junovitch 20sec., F. Revelry 20sec. A good contest, won by two blows in 47sec. Second heat.— R. Gilsenan, 13sec., 1; C. O’Leary, 16 sec., 2; P. Bruerton, 9sec 3. Also competed.—j. Bannister, 3sec., J. Tibbles 9sec', J. Fluety 13sec.,' N.’ Nester 20 sec. A close finish by the place-get-ters. Time 44 2-ssec. Third heat. — J. Beardesley, 13sec., 1; D. Coulson, 6sec., 2; W. Fisher, 20sec., 3. Also competed: W. Jackson 16sec., E. Dense 20sec. Won fairly easily. Time 46 3-5 Sec. Final: C. O’Leary, 16sec., 1; P. Brerton, 9sec., 2; W. Blackmun, 13sec, 3. This was a good chop, the winner having only a fraction of a second to spare. Time 51sec.

Handicap double-handed saw, white pine, 20in. logs, one cut; prizes,' £l2 and two Symonds racing saws, £4 and £2.- —First heat: G. Jack and Methven, 4sec„ 1; T. Egerton and J. Ibell, ssec., 2; M. Junovich and J. Fluety, 3sec., and J. Bannister and J. Higgins, 3sec„ dead heat, 3. G. Ellery and W. Pryor, 7sec., also competed. The heat was won by 1 4-ssec clear of handicap allowance. Time 18 3-5. Second heat: J. Beardsley and S. Stewart, 7sec„ 1; S. Bowman and Oquist, 3 sec., 2; D. Couleson and W. Ryan, 3sec., 3. Also competed: F. Thorn and G. Wilson, 4sec., F. Mattson and C. Bryan, 7sec., and E. H. Dense and F. Chamberlain, 7sec. This was another great contest, the scratch pair just failing to get ahead of the two place-getters. Final: J. Beardsley and S. Stewart 7sec., 1; Geo. Jack and Methven, 4sec., 2; S. Bowman and Oquist, ssec., 3. Won by very little. Time 20sec.

Underhand Handicap Chop, 14in. logs, rimu; prizes £25 and Plumb axe, £6, and £3, with £1 to winners of heats unplaced in the final.—First heat: S. Bowman, 28sec., 1; S. Stewart, 26sec., 2; W. Fisher, 26sec. ; 3. Also competed: J. Bannister, ssec.’, P. Brereton 13sec., W. Blackmun 19sec., E. White 21sec., E. Molloy 30sec. Won by three seconds. Time 72 3-ssec. Second heat: R. Gilsenan 15 secs. 1; C. O’Leary, 19sec., 2; Geo. Jack, 26sec„ 3. Also competed: D. Couleson, Bsec., T. Egerton 14sec., L. Waghorn 24sec. H P. Williams 26sec., G. Wilson 28sec Won fairly earily. Time 55 3-5 sec. Third heat: J. Beardesley, 21sec 1J. Tibbles, 14sec., 2; F. Thorn, 26sec.’, 3. Also chopped: F. Laugeson, lOsec., G. Gillman, 16sec., M. Junovitch, 18 sec., W. Ryan, 24sec., C. Byran,' 26sec.’ : A good and close finish. Time, 67 3-5 sec. Final: J. Beardesley, 21s'ec !• S. Bowman, 28sec., 2; G. Jack, 26sec.’, 3. Won apparently with ease. Time 54 xs-ssec. . ' ’

Single-handed handicap' saw 15i n log, rimu; prizes £4, £1 and 10/-.—ij" Bannister 3sec,. 1; F. Laugeson scr. 2' J. Higgins ssec., 3. Also competed: Geo. Jack ,2sec., F. Thorn ssec., J. Beardesley; ssec., W. Pryror ssec. Ban-