SPORT IN BULLER.

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1928, Page 8

SPORT IN BULLER.

(Bv “Sasanof. ”) Westport Trots.—Numerically, the nominations for the Xmas meeting of the Westport Trotting Club are nothing to enthuse over, but class is fairly well represented, and in the event of the acceptances being up to the average the club should have a credit able meeting. Natural!;,-, rhe local sports are very sore over the action of the Grey Jockey Club in adding six trotting events to their Xmas programme, and this fact is generally considered the cause of the drop in the local nominations and the heart burnings caused will n 0 doubt be expressed in the proper quarter . Thing have no doubt come to a dead end when a metropolitan club like the Grcv Jockey Club have recourse to have +rot ting events in their programme to save them from financial failure and the •ooner this club hands in its brief as a metropolitan club then the better for th© sake of those clubs which are fostering the light harness syc.rt on the Coast. The racing calendar for the Grey has been too ambitious an-/, now the club finds itself in the «ate gory of a country racing club insteaa of the metropolitan club of the West Coast centre. Imagine the Canterbury Jockey Club having recourse to the same procedure and what would th 3 sports think. However, the Westport Trotting Club will still carry on the good work, and th© record price f»Z £145 paid for the Publican’s Booth rights, shows there is at least one optimist in our midst.

Athletes’ Affair^. —The Wjestport Athletic and Cycling Association, have published a very ambitious programme for their sports gathering to be held on Victoria Square on December 29th. and the runners and cyclists have been well catered for. The annual sports meeting of this body is already being looked forward to very eagerl The evening sports are still being cor tinned very successfully and the cy cling events alone have drawn frost competitors each evening. The ath letes are also warming to their work and the 120 yards event last Wednes day evening was run in heats and tue spiked shoe brigade gave a very credit abl e display, but there is still a dearth, of distance runners. Hulquist, tie well-known cyclist, was an absentee last week, but will b© present, aga'n this evening, and Atkinson will again b c severely tested. “Copper” Lockey has again come back into the game and should not be long in striking form. Mokihinui Sports Club are also functioning as usual this year and athletes are reminded that nominations for the various events will clos© on December 12th, with the Secretary, Mr A. Bain. There is also a project afoo' . to form an athletic association al Tiraroa. and th'e special feature of the 1 Club, besides catering for a cycle road race and Sheffield Handicap is to afford the sawyers and choppers a chance to make “chips.” Another feature of the Westport Club s even ing meetings is the contest for the Primary Schools’ Championship fol a valuable watch for the greatest number of points.

Buller Boxing Boui>. —The very attractive programme arranged by the Westport Boxing Association, for their premier boxing tourney on Boxing Day night, represents the acme of the : r projects, and the matching of Reg Trowern and Artie Hay for the welterweight championship of New Zealand is indeed the best that has ever been arranged for fans in Buller. The local Association deserves to bc congratula ted on the ambitious step they have taken to bring the boys together at such great expense, and besides the title being at stake, the “Truth” belt will also be allocated to the winner. Both Trowern and Hay have prove:themselves the goods, and besides having the best available in the “pro” ranks, fans will see the best amateur bouts yet staged in Westport. The local champion, Percy Hawes has been piled up against Frank Keith,, the Wellington champion, and this fight alone should have the fans at their toes. Bill Scott of Denniston meets young Menzies of Dobson.; whilst, last but not th e least interesting, encounter of the night will be between Noel McElwee of Westport (whose previous fights against Rayner are well remem hired) and a recent arrival from the Emerald Isle in Arthur Twamley, who holds the Beaty Cup for secondary schools on behalf of St Mazy’s College. The Irish Lad is considered another Mike McTigue, and is a double handed fighter of rar© ability but in McElwee he will sample the real wild colonial boy. and this mix-up is going to be a trimmer. The Association i to be congratulated on this first-class bill of fare and deserv© th© hearty support of all boxing fans and thhouse, on Boxing Night, should be .1

capacity one, and if sports do not fill •he Theatre Royal to overflowing on that night, the very Live and progressive Association will have caus© to think of their labour in vain. “Sasanof” appeals to fans to rally round the Association and give the welter weight champions a royal Buller wel eome.

New Bowling Qlub. —The official opening of the new bowling club at Sergeant’s Hill took place on Satur day afternoon. Although the weather was far from what was required, there was a large attendance of bowlers from all over th e district. Although newly-formed, the green is in fair order and in time should bv equal to the famous Westport green which wins the admiration of all visiting players. The “weed” which take? the place of grass on the Westport green is coming away well and should be in first-class condition shortly. The season was declared open by the President of the Sergeant’s Hill Bowl ing Club, Mr “Ted” Jenkins. He said that work had been commenced in April and had been done mostly with voluntary labour and he thanked all for their assistance. He especially mentioned Mr Koeghan and the Hon Secretary Mr A. Douthett. He also thanked the past president of the West port Club, Mr P. A. Struthers.- the secretary, Mr J. Rose and the present president, Mr A. Morley. Mr Morley I had presented a handsome silver eu£

for competition and Mr Ralph Dansby had donated a silver badge. The President called upon Mrs Jenkins to throw lip the jack and deliver the first bowl. In the absence Of Mr Morley, the past president of the Westport Club. Mr Struthers returned thanks. He said that up to the present Westport had been isolated as far as' bowls were concerned. Now, however inter-club matches would create a good deal of interest. When Millerton and Denniston got going, they would be able to form a Buller Centre. He con gratulated the new club and wished them a prosperous future. After several other speeches had been made afternoon tea was dispens .-<1 by the la&iM.