CALEDONIAN SPORTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 26 January 1927, Page 9

CALEDONIAN SPORTS

INAUGURAL GATHERING. AN AUSPICIOUS OPENING ROSE AND LAMB; TO COMPETE. The mountain -east aside a, long -streamer of cloud, and the iskias gave the ;sun unclouded sway this morning, when that grand old relic of wider Caledonia, the Highland sports gathering, picked up the threads of -such, functions field in H-awe-ra. long ago, and continued them with a -success never before achieved in this province.

The arrangements made for the : first gathering of the Taranaki Provincial Caledonian Sports Association for their piping, dancing, and athletic competition were admirably carried out. Soon after ten o’clock Hawera, commenced to 'fall with men in kilts and people who .had come t-o watch them perform. The streets were bright with tartar, and the skirl of the pipes brought people to the doors of their shops and houses as the bands marched by. That an encouraging crowd should be present —given such ideal conditions —went without saying. Not only was a Scottish gathering unique in its form of entertainment to receive a new and happier launching than it had yet known in Taranaki, but also the programme presented attractions which could not he ignored. Not only had highly qualified pipers from, Auckland, Wellington, an-dT Dunedin and intermediate centres entered in the dancing and piping events, but through the assistance of the Hawera Amateur Athletic Club, the fastest human on a bicycle, in the form of It. W. (“Fatty”) Lamb, made his first appearance in a Taranaki arena. Moreover, Randolph Rose, the finest distance man New Zealand has ever produced, had entered for the ■ half-mile and the mile running events. The appearance of these two amateurs at the one meeting is a fortune not accorded to towns of much greater size than Hawera. Though oft the unbanked turf of the Ha.wera A. and P. Society’s grounds, where the, •SjTCnering was held, it is impossible to record the almost unbelievable' speeds of from 60 to. 65 miles an hour which Lamb put up behind a motor-cycle on a hard, banked track in Australia, nevertheless, with keen going, opposition to push him on, liis appearance could not fail to appeal to the large crowds which visited Hawera to-dav. It was hard to say which claimed pride of place, the Scotsman. Lamb, or Rose. The events started punctually at 11 o’clock under the direction of the following officials : —Patron, Sir Walter Carncross. M.L.C,; provincial chief, Mr J. L. Campbell; chieftains, Messrs W. L Kennedy (Stratford Scottish Society), J. Jameson (Stratford Pipe Baud' W G. Simpson (Hawera Scottish Society), J. B. Laurenson (Hawera Pipe Band). N. G. Nasmith (New Plymouth Caledonian Society), J. Austin (New Plymouth Pipe Baud), E. J. 'peers Me Kiri Scottish Society), I>. Clement (Eltliam Pipe. Band), A. M. Brown (Auroa Pipe Band); hon. secretary, Mr F. H. Miller; judge of piping, Colonel J. M. Rose; judge of dancing, N. MacKenzie-.Forbes; sports referee, Mr W. A. Spragg; sports inspectors, Messrs B. Alien, H. McCabe, A. L Palmer, C. S. Mahoney; judges of athletics, Messrs A. Grant, H. L. Spratt. Read and Dr. R. G. B. Sinclair; field judges. Messrs C. Dahl (chief), R

Foy, M. R. Jones; time-keepers, Messrs G. Bostick, F. Foden. L. H. Clapham, clerk of the course, Mr J. H. Brown scorer, Mr J. Strachan; announcer, Mr R P. Morrissey; surveyor. Mr J. Sturrock; marshal, Mr G. Cbllms; field doctor. Dr. A. M. Young; starter, Mr L. T. Marter; piping stewards, Messrs S Macalister, D. Clement, and J. F. Crawford; dancing steward, Mr J. It. Nairn. There was little wonder that splendid entries were received for the events. The prize lists have rarely been equalled in Taranaki. Besides the official awards there wag a handsome list of special prizes donated by Mr. J. D. Campbell, for open piping; Mr N. Macken zie-F ! or be s for- champion junior piper in Taranaki; Mr. D. Clement, novice piping under 12 months’ tuition; Messrs Purser Bros., best- dressed Highlander; Messrs-W. G. Simpson, A. Bissett, J. Hicks, J. B. Laurenson, J. Winks. J. Nairn, B. Henson, B. vr. Smiairt,’ B-rodie, L. A. Taylor, D. S. Richardson, F, H. Miller, McD'airmid. As the massed bands, headed by their splendidly “busbied” di'ummajors, marched on the field, the- great runner Rose appeared in the area in fulfilment of liis engagement. He had had great difficulty in getting through to the meeting. Yesterday, in his brother’s car, he went from Master-ton to Wellington, then up to Stratford, and on to Whangamomona. This morning, said Rose to- -a representative of this paper, he left for Hawera at 10 o’clock. He missed the service car at Stratford, and picked up a motor lorry, which eventual-,y landed him at the sports ground in time- for the 880 yards,, but ill-provided with rest or refreshment.

Tli© first big event of the programme was tli© appearance of Lamb oil the cycle track. Accompanied by a aider from Wellington, he rode round tli© grass track a. couple of times, easing up his legs. The great rider’s immense power of leg land hip was clearly evident. He carried, as he does when world record-breaking, tlie plump appearance which earned him liis “nickname.” In the course of a word with a representative of this paper. Lamb ■said lie was having <a very good time in this country. He enjoyed riding here., hut found some of tho tracks a hit rough. Lamb was then introduced to tho crowd as the champion amateur cyclist of Australia., and the holder of ten world’s records. He got a good reception. La.m.h then paeceeded to compote in hi® first race. He seemed 1 afraid to let himself out oil the unbanked: bends. Through failing to keep to' the outside of the field all the way in a short race, of many competitors, all keen on being placed before him. Lamb never rode into a position from which he could get to grips with the limit markers, who! were successful in the mile cycle race. The next big event of tho day was the massed pipe band parade, in which the Highland character of the meeting reached its height. The pipes raised the enthusiasm of what had now grown to be a very large crowd. RESULTS. .'Results were a® follow: PIPING AND DANCING.

Novices’ piping, under 12 months’ tuition: A. Russell 1, J. F. McNab 2, I. Campbell 3, J. Hannah, v.h.c. Sword dance, hoys and girls under 14 years. —Alister McGowan 1, Iv. Campbell 2, Winnie McGowan 3. Novices’ piping, under five years in Taranaki pipe hand.—L. J. Gower 1, A. Russell 2, R. Henson, and A. El. Linn (tie) 3. Sword dance, hoys and girls of 14 years and under 18 years.—Jean MacLachlan 1, Jean Miller 2, Donald Scott 3.

Highland fling, 14 years and under 18 : Jean MacLachlan 1, Donald Scott 2, Jean Miller 3. Highland fling, hoys and girls under 14. —A. McGowan 1, May Weir 2, Kenneth Campbell 3. Men’s open dancing.—W. Sutherland 3, D. Scott 2, D. H. Bothwell 3. Irish Jig.—Phyllis McMillan 1, Jean MacLachlan 2, Jean Miller 3. ATHLETIC 100 yards handicap. —First heat: E. C. Gilmour, 4yds, 1; J. Jackson, Syds, 2; L. Bourke, 4vds, 3. Time, 10 l-ssec. Second heat: B. Adams, 9yds, 1; E. V. Solomon, 7yds, 2; C. Shore, 4yds, 3. Time, 10 1-Ssec. Final: E. C. Gilmour, 4yds, 1) J. Jackson, Syds, 2; E. V. Solomon, 7yds, 3. Time, 10 1-5. A foot separated tho placed men. On© mile cycle handicap.—F. C. Brown, 195yds, 1; R. Ivumball, ISOyds, 2; A. E. Prime, 210yds, 3. Time, 2min 23 4-ssec. Lamb caught tho nearest back markers half-way round the first lap. He tried to pass W. Stening on the curve, hut the challenge was met, and Lamb fell into line with the hunch for a round. He shot ahead before the same bend the next time round, but again W. Steniifg held his attack. The pace was not the fastest possible. The limit markers also carried too liberal an allowance, and filled the three first places. Lamb took the inside running in the second lap and found himself in a position he could not ride out of. His time was 2min 35 4-ssec. Half a dozen riders finished ahead of him.

Throwing the hammer.- —L. Hunt, scr, 114 ft 2in, 1. 120 yards hurdles. —A. Ncwall, scr, 1; G. Lander, 10yds (one hurdle down), 2. Time, .17 l-ssee. Won by ten yards. Open piping, pibroclis.—G. Yardlcy, 105, 1; C. C. Macdonald, 99, 2; Murdo Mackenzie, 90, 3; J. Mackenzie, 73, v.h.c. BSO' yards—Gilmour 10yds, 1; G. S. Fraser, 25yds, 2; Tufforv, 70vds, 3. Time, 2min. 2 3-ssec. Putting the shot —Notman (4ft Gin), 39ft 2in, 1; L. Hunt (scr), 3Gft 9iu, 2; Ritter (7ft Gin), 3Gft 7in, 3.