HIGHLAND GATHERING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 27 January 1927, Page 6

HIGHLAND GATHERING

YESTERDAY’S GREAT OCCASION DANCING, PIPING, ATHLETICS THREE CHAMPIONS COMPETE. Yesterday was the greatest day of the year lor tiie Scotsmen of Taranaki. Hawera was tiie. scene, of the gathering oi the clans, the occasion being the Caledonian sports on the Showgrounds. There "the diene and .skirl of .pipes was heard for hours without intermission. Thei scene increased in Caledonian splendour as the morning wore into afternhOn, and more men in kilts arrived with more spectators to watch them. The scene became reminiscent of the famous events of Aboyne and Braemar. where the best in Scotland assembles on those village green,s and wrestles, chants, dances, tosses the caber and runs for" supremacy under royal patronage. Hawera has, at tins resumption of Caledonian activity in Taranaki worthily attracted the spirit of Donald Dinnie. As the- day wore on the men from north of the Tweed seemed, to forget that they were thousands of miles from the land of the tliist'e, and many a Scottish burr, long since robbed" of its dignity of accent by colonial contact, took heart again, and was heard in all its rich flavour and rugged broadness. The, Hawera, Eltham, and New Plymouth pipe hands were present in strength. The deep colours of their uniforms contrasted in fine display, and variation was given by the distinguished dresses of individual performers. Judges of tartans got busy with identification, even as spectators on Deeside pride themselves on knowing all thei plaids on sight, and know everything from the Gordon and Cameron of their own locality to the two Stuarts. “The 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar” was the apex of Highland effort at the gathering.' The pipe bands, having given, their own selections and marched round the ring to the tune, of their chanters and the hum _of the drones, paraded before an admiring stand full of people ; and they captured the proper Scottish atmosphere in their isplendid rendering of the “79th.” With the dancing proceeding on one platform, piping on a second, and field events and races continuing at the same time, the ground provided plenty of intexesi. Additional to news given in yesterday’s issue, was Rose’s 1 withdrawal from the half-mile after he had chased Gilmour for 300 yards. Gilmour (N. 8.) ran a good race, and won fairly comfortably. Eraser (Batea) ran into second position. He was completely done in the straight, and just reached th© tape ahead of L. Tuffery. The time, • 2min 2 2-ssec, from ten yards, is equal to a shade under 2min ssec for the distance. Additional results are as follows: — PIPING. Open piping, march.— Mackenzie (Hawera), 1; Geo. Yardley (Dunedin), 2; C. C. McDonald (Wanganui), 3; John Mackenzie (Hawera), 4. Open piping, strathspey and reel.— C. C. McDonald, 1; Murdo Mackenzie, 2; Geo. Yardley, 3. DANCING. Ladies’ Highland fling (open).— Jean MeLachlanr 1; Phyllis MacMillan, 2: Jean Miller, 3. ~ Men’s Highland fling (open):—Wm. Sutherland, 1; D. H. Bothwell, 2; Donald Scott, junr., 3. Sailor’s hornpipe, ladies _ (open).— Jean MacLaehlan. 1; Phyllis McMillan, 2; Jean Miller, 3. Sword dance, men’s (open).—D. H. Bothwell, 1; . Wm. Sutherland, 2; Donald Scott, 3.

Highland reel, men’s (open).—Wm. Sutherland, 1; D. H. Bothwell, 2; W. G. Brown, 3. The meeting was remarkable for the appearance, in so small a place as Hawera. of not only some of th© best pipers in New Zealand, hut also of three British Empire athletic champions (Lamb, Rose and Lay). The takings amounted to about £l3O. The prize for the best-dressed Highlander was awarded to Pipe-Major Murdoch Mackenzie, of the Hawera. Pipe Band. ATHLETIC. Long jump.—A. E. Gilliver 1 (6in), 21ft Tin, 1; C. Shore (Ift 6in), 21ft 3in, 2; A. Newall (6in), 21ft 3in, 3. 220 yards handicap.—First heat: L. Bourke” 6vds, 1; N. Goodson, 10yds, 2; P. O’Grady, 16yds, 3. Time, 23 3-ssec. Second heat: R. A. Adams, 20yds, 1; It. Solomon, ISyds, and H. Pettett, 22yds (tie), 2. Final: R. A. Adams, 1; L. Bourke, 2; N. Goodson, 3. Won by inches. Time, 22 4-5. Bourke made a strong effort to catch the leader on the tape, but just failed to make a dead heat of it.

Javelin throwing.—T. Lay (80ft), 200 ft lOin, 1; L. Hunt (50ft), 184 ft 6in, 2; S. Lay (scr), 180 ft 2in, 3. One mile.—R. Rose, ser, 1; J. Standish, 150yds, 2; L. Tuffery, 135 yds. 3. Time, 4min 37 3-ssee. Rose made a fast pace over the first quarter, at the conclusion of which lie was 20 yards behind G. S. Fraser and A. Rumball. The latter was caught at the end of the far straight. As the half-mile was reached, Rose closed upon his field. At the end of the third round the champion was lying third. Standish led, Tuffery being on his heels. Standish started the last quarter with an increase of. pace which left Tuffery, hut brought Rose along in response- to the effort. The long runner caught Standish on entering the straight, and won by _lO yards. Tuffery wasi 15 yards behind Standish.

Mile cvcle invitation handicap.— It. W. Lamb, scr, 1; J. It. Kelly, 35yds, 2; W. Sterling, scr, 3. Time, 2niin 40 2-ssec. This race took the place of the twd-mile invitation scratch race. Lamb, W. Sterling, and C. Griffin rode from scratch. Lamb drew the outside position. W. Stening took the second lap, and rode it easily. Griffin took the third. There was then a: 50 yard gap between the scratch men and the leaders. Lamb entered the last lap at the tail of the field. He rail past Sterling and Griffin while passing the members’ stand. Going along the hack stretch W. Sten:ing showed out- in a determined dash, hut the Australian crack had his hack wheel as they commenced the last bend. Lamb came round the field at a tremendous pace, and won by 10 yards. This last 220 yards was the only occasion on which Lamb appeared to throw caution to the winds and show the pedalling he is capable of. 440 yards.—F. C. Gilmonr, 10yds, 1; 11. Jackson, 27yds, 2; S. Shore, 20yds, 3. Won by inches. Time, 53sec. This was the host race of the day. Gilmonr ran a splendid quarter. He moved steadily through a field Which contained a hunch of strong runners who reached the straight close together. The winner’s cutting down of Jackson was a fine performance.

High jump.—H. Pettett (Tin) and G. Lander (Gin), sft 6in, tie, 1; A. E. Gilliver (scr), sft 3in, 3,

Hop, step and jump.—G. Lander (6ft), 43ft Jin, 1; S. Lay (2ft- 6in), 42ft 3in, 2; A. E. Gilliver (scr), 42ft, 3.

Three-mile cycle.— F. C. Brown, 290 yds, 1 1 11. Rumball, 265yds, 2; R. W. Lamb, scr., 3.- Time, Bmin. 3secs. Won bv 25yds, 80yds between second and third. Lamb set off at a great pace, and was on to Stealing and C. Griffin, 35yds, inside a furlong. He tackled the turn with great determination and passed his opposition on it. “Taking” the second lap, he drew out wide to let the next man pace a while. After a few rounds at moderate speed. H. Sterling get out along the back stretch, riding fast", with the Australian hot on his trail, and Griffin and W. Stoning lying handy. Then there' was a crashing of bicycles. Gates struck the back wheel of Price’s machine. These riders fell, and involved the Stealings. Griffin and Lamb, of the scratch men, were left to ride the race through alone. With lack of pacing change, the speed was not what had been expected, and the scratch men, as in the mile event, never caught the limit markers, who filled first and second positions. Lamb was l applauded by the- crowd as be passed the stand. 41°. expressed the opinion that the handicaps, conceded were too severe for such a track.