VALEDICTORY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 11 October 1922, Page 4

VALEDICTORY.

FAREWELL TO W. P. RUSSELL.

On Monday afternoon a meeting of members of the Stratford Racing Club and friends of Mr. W. P. Russell, who has been a member of the business community of btratford for the past fifteen years, and who has taken, a great interest in racing matters particularly, accorded him a farewell in the Counxy Hotel on the occasion of his departure to take up a position as handicapper for clubs in the Dominion, with headquarters at Wellington. There was an attendance of over twenty prominent residents in the district. There was a tone of sincerity about the remarks of the speakers that was convincing and sincere.

Mr. A. .W. Budge presided, and spoke brieiiy in eulogistic terms of the guest as a sport and citizen of Stratford. It was the unanimous opinion of that class of sports, he said, that Mr. Russell had been a good man as a correspondent of racing news and also as a handicapper. The meeting, said Mr. Budge, wished to express in a tangible way their appreciation of his services. They desired to help a friend who was leaving them, and who would move in a different circle for the future. Mr. Budge congratulated Mr. Russell on having been appointed handicapper to the Masterton Racing Club. He believed he would give the club {he same satisfaction as he had given the Stratford club. It was the unanimous desire of the many admirers of Mr. Russell to present him with a small memento of the regard in which he was held by the sporting community of Stratford, and on behalf of the subscribers he handed Mr. Russell a travelling bag and a fountain pen, which, he hoped, would remind Mr. Russell of the esteem in which he was held by his old Stratford friends.—(Applause.) Mr. Budge wished him every success in the future. A handicapper, he said, must be above suspicion, and he had no hesitation in recommending' Mr. Russell to the outside clubs as one who could be depended upon in that respect. He felt sure that Mr. Russell would follow on the same lines as the highly-trusted handicapper had always done, with whom it was understood Mr. Russell would work.— (Applause.) Mr. J." Butler, as representative cf the trainers and racing interests, said' a few words in appreciation of Mr. Russell as a personal friend and of his judgment in racing matters. As a close follower of form, Mr. Russell was equalled by few, and his ability to follow, a race from start to finish and give an "unbiassed opinion of the performers was seldom equalled. There was no doubt whatever that he had

given a great deal of time and study to the subject of racing, and as a handicapper Mr, Butler considered Mr. Russell must make a success of the position. He was always able to give a reason for his handicaps, and in this connection Mr. Butler gave a concrete example. In conclusion, Mr. Butler said he was of the opinion that the Stratford club should be congratulated on having unearthed Mr. Russell as a handicapper.—(Applause.) Mr. S. Pitt, president of the Stratford Racing Club, referred to the loss to Stratford through Mr. Russell's departure. He had no doubt that Mr. Russell would be successful in the new line of business in which he had launched. In his opinion there had been a lack of opportunity for men of Mr. Russell's stamp to take up the game. And this was the case also in regard to judging and stairting. Many of- the clubs did not sufficiently encourage such men. Probably the reason was that the clubs feared failure on the part of the new men, but he wished to state he had every confidence that Mr. Russell would make good. He was a good sport, and in. the speaker's opinion was a good man, for the reason that his sense of honesty and integrity was undoubted. Mr. Pitt said he was convinced Mr. Russell would make a success of his new business, and he recommended his services to other clubs throughout the Dominion. He wished him every success.—(Applause.) Mr. H. E. Abraham spoke of Mr. Russell as a neinghbour in business, and testified to his splendid character as a business man and a sport. Stratford would miss him very much. The fact of the matter was that Mr. Russell was recognised as an authority on racing in these parts. All were sorry he was leaving, and all wished him every success, and felt sure that he would make a worthy successor to Mr. Henrys.—(Applause.) Mr. A. E. Copping said he wished to heartily endorse what had been said, and to add his personal congratulations on the step Mr. Russell was taking. -Not only as a sportsman, but as a business man of the town for ten years, he had held the respect of every resident of the town, and had an absolutely clean record.—(Applause.) Mr. T>. J. Malone, for the kindred sports, also offered congratulations for Mr. Russell's future welfare. The success of sport depended on good government and on the appointment of competent officials, and in the appointment of Mr. Russell all felt assured confidence in the continued popularity of the sport.—(Applause.) * j Mr. A. Coleman, as secretary of the I btratford Racing Club, also added his i tribute to Mr. Russell's worth as a| handieapper. He remarked that he had not had such good services from anyone in this connection as from Mr. Russell. His promptitude in declaring handicaps for the second day of the meeting had been unequalled. Mr. Coleman desired to contribute his short eulogy to the remarks of the previous speakers regarding Mr. Russell's worth, ability, and personal integrity.—(Applause.) Mr. Russell, in reply, spoke briefly, and thanked the speakers for their remarks regarding his work, and also those who had contributed towards the presentation. He assured them that he and his family would long cherish the gifts, not for their intrinsic valuo, but as evidence of the good fellowship i and sporty feeling that had existed between them during his residence in the district. He admitted he had given a j lot of time to the study of racing, and he felt pleased to know that his efforts - in that direction had -been appreciated. ! —(Applause.) The health of the guest was drunk with enthusiasm, and after the exchange of personal good wishes the company dispersed.—Stratford Post