ST. PATRICK’S SPORTS

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1942, Page 2

ST. PATRICK’S SPORTS

Saturday’s Events St. Patrick’s Sports were held at Victoria Park on Saturday, the weather being beautifully fine, after a stormy night. The attendance was quite good. Although the chopping events were somewhat late in starting, and the National Reserve chop had thus to be omitted from the programme, the sports were otherwise carried off with a minimum of delay. . The programme was an attractive one. In addition to the sports there were side shows and stalls. , The afternoon’s events opened with the customary procession, which led most of the crowd to Victoria Park. It was again a spectacular procession, and cu ew a large number of spectators as it travelled from the Hibernian Hall, along Tainui Street, Mawhera Quay and Boundary Street to the Park. The Municipal Band led the parade, ana was followed by marching ranks or girl and boy pupils of the Marist Brothers’ and Convent Schools. There were three large floats arranged by the Hibernian Society and the Marist and Convent Schools. Then came the Greymouth Highland Pipe Band, followed by the clergy of the parish and the members ot the Hibernian Society bringing up the rear. The cycling events were an attraction,’ although visiting Canterbury riders proved too much for the local contestants. The Canterbury men secured the main placings in every event. One of the closest finishes for some time was seen in the mile race, when the scratch man, Slack, just beat the other Canterbury rider. Running and inter-house games were the main source of interest for the younger people, while the national dancing was well patronised. The chopping events attracted large entries, and very keen competition was displayed. An incident occurred in the final of the big chop, w’hen the decision of the judges w r as booed by a section of the crowd. A majority of onlookers alleged that the winning axeman had struck his log after he had got off it, when his flag had gone up, and that he should have been disqualified. The judges stated that they had not been able to see the contestant clearly because of the crowd, and in the absence of any concrete evidence to the contrary, they must go on the order in which the flags were put up. The results of the sports are as follows: —

CHOPPING. Underhand Chop, 12 inches. First Heat:—H. Wilson (4 secs.) 1; T. Climo (3) 2; L. Gilman (4) 3. Second Heat:—H. Smith (5) 1; D. Roberts (3) 2; W. McKenzie (6) 3. Final:—Wilson 1; Gilman 2; Roberts 3. Open 12 inch Handicap Chop. First Heat:—B. Hale (6) 1; D. Roberts (3) 2; H. Wilson (3) 3. Second Heat:—T. Climo (3) 1; W. McKenzie (3) 2; H. Buchanan (3) 3. Final: —McKenzie 1; Climo 2; Scott 3. , ■F NATIONAL DANCING. Highland Fling (10 years and under): —M. Earl 1; H. McMillan 2; E. Duggan 3. Highland Fling (13 years and under): —W. Boyle 1; H. McMillan 2; A. Ward 3. Irish Jig (10 vears and under): — H. McMillan 1; L. Hickling 2; C. McGuire 3. Irish Jig (13 years and under): — E. Garden 1; W. Boyle 2; A. Ward 3. Sean Trubhais: —W. Boyle 1; A. Knott 2; M. Earl. 3. RUNNING. The School children’s races resulted as follows:— Boy’s Events, nine years: McGeady 1; Brown 2; O’Farrell 3. Ten years: Hay 1; Sweeney 2; Cowan 3. Eleven years: McKeefry 1; O’Callaghan 2; Brown 3. Twelve years: Finlay 1; Graham 2; Dunn 3. Thirteen years: Douglas 1; McGrath 2; Blumskey 3. Fourteen years: Mundy 1; Costello 2; Buchanan 3. Fifteen years: J. Soster 1; Curnow 2; Roper 3. Girls’ Races, nine years: Hunt 1; Burley 2; Mead 3. Ten years: Rooney 1; Malloy and Crooks, a head heat, 2. Eleven years: Caldana 1; Kennedy 2; Kelly 3. Twelve years: O’Brien 1; Robertson 2. Thirteen years: Keating 1; Kinaid 2; Gallagher 3. Fourteen years: Kelly 1; Jamieson 2; Buchanan 3. Fifteen years: Laloi’ 1; Clancy 2; Coyle 31 Round the track Relay (Girls’ High School): St. Teresa’s 1; St. Catherine’s 2; St. Anne’s 3. Boy’s Relay Race: —St, Paul’s 1; St. Pat’s 2; St. Columba 3. The sheep guessing competition was won by Mr Percy Callan. The baby show as usual was one of the most popular events of the day, and attracted a record field of c-ntries, including three sets of twins. The results were as follows. Six months and under 12 months): Baby Patricia O’Reilly 1. There were 22 entries.

Six months and under: The Rowly twins 1. There were 12 entries.

Mrs W. A. Bird made a very capable judge.