JOCKEYS’ APPEALS HEARD BY TARANAKI COMMITTEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1948, Page 6

JOCKEYS’ APPEALS HEARD BY TARANAKI COMMITTEE

(P.A.) I-lAWERA. This Day. An anpeal by the Hawera jockeys, L. H. Clifford and B. George against the term of supsension imposed upon them by the judicial committee of the Egmont Racing Club on February 28, was concluded by the Taranaki district committee at New Plymouth last night. The charges against both riders arose from alleged interference to Bahtacha at the straight entrance in the Normanby Trial Handicap. Clifford has been suspended for 12 months on four charges: (1) alleged interference; (2) false and misleadingevidence; (3) misconduct towards an official of z the club; (4) threatening behaviour' to other riders in the race. George was suspended for two months for allegedly giving false evidence.

At last, night’s hearing the district committee dismissed the first two charges against Clifford, but upheld the Egmont Club’s decision regarding charges three and four, and his term of suspension was decreased from 12 months to three months, effective from February 28. His deposit was ordered to be refunded.

George had his suspension increased from two to three months. In dismissing his appeal the district committee added a resolution that it took a grave view of the charge of giving false evidence. It considered that the sentence imposed by the Egmont Committee was lenient, but in view of his youth and previous good record the term would be increased by only one month.