EASTER SPORTS MEETING

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4833, 14 April 1936, Page 5

EASTER SPORTS MEETING

SPLENDID DAY AT TE KUITI BIG INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE WIDE VARIETY OF ATTRACTIONS There can be no doubt that the Te Kuiti Sports were successful from every point of vir-w—and more particularly so from the point of view of the spectators, for the programme went off without a hitch and provided great variety—cycling, running, wrestling, tugs-of-war, and national and tap dancing. Entries for all these sports were excellent and the competition was keen. The weather was perfect. The growth in popularity of the sports may be gauged from the fact that last year it was estimated from gate receipts that about 2000 people attended the sports, and last Saturday it is estimated that slightly over 3000 people were present on the Domain.

One of the chief "draws" at the sports this year fas the appearance of the four crack Australian wheelmen together with the notable cyclists of New Zealand. The Australians found their handicaps too stiff in the short distances, but made an Australian finish of the £2O race, the two-mile handicap. Veitch won the two-mile scratch race and Thomas the first place in the £l2 10s three-mile cycle handicap, so they may account theirs a successful visit. The fast time recorded in this last event shows how fast was the track. Very few falls occurred during the day—in one case three riders crashed together at the top corner, but beside a couple of individual spills this was the only mishap. And for a cycle race it would be hard to beat the two-mile scratch race, in which there was a marvellous finish. For close finishes in the running events the honour probably lies with the 100 yards open final. In the longer distance races local athletes were very successful, Ormsby winning the 880 yards and one mile, Stranger the 440 yards, while Jack-- 1 son secured seconds in the 440 and 880 yards. The Wrestling. The success of the wrestling was undoubted. Four bouts were staged during the afternoon, and all were worth watching. Especially was this so of the contest between Ira Palmer and Alex. Irvine, the two youns: heavy-weights brought by Sergeant Paine from Wellington, who wrestled a draw —one fall each. These two powerful men went hard from the start, but the real fun began after Irvine secured a fall as the result of a series of head throws and finishing up with an aeroplane spin and dump. After that Palmer began to set the pace, and soon throws, face lifts and dumps had Irvine groggy. A dump and body press in the last round saw the falls even and the bout was declared a draw. Interesting wrestling was witnessed when the bout between C. Jones and C. Curtiss was in progress. In the first round Jones apparently had the best of it, but the second round had just begun when Jones applied a leg scissors on Curtiss, gaining him the fall, and, though Jones was forcing the pace in the last round, also the victory. A fall gained by K. Kenneth (Bay of Plenty heavy-weight champion) over D. Marsh (Auckland's middleweight champion) early in the bout resulted in the victory going to the former. He got into difficulties from the series of crucifixes applied by Marsh, but at the end of the bright bout no further falls had resulted. Probably the most interesting bout, after that between Palmer and Irvine, was the one between V. Rawle (N.Z. welter weight champion) and W. Williamson, ex-featherweight Auckland and New Zealand champion). These two displayed highly unorthodox tactics—and surely the most unorthodox hold seen was that when Rawle put on an automatic toehold—looped his opponent's toe back into his belt so that all Williamson could do was to crawl out through the ropes. Rawle won the bout by two falls—the first a submission fall gained by a Boston crab and the latter one gained with a body press. The club had splendid appointappointments for the wrestling. Mr. "Snowy" Dickson was the referee and these amateur contests were one of the highlights of the entertainment. Running Events. The following are the results of the events: — 100 Yards Local Handicap of £2: E. A. Brainsby (Iyd) 1, J. P. Stranger (6yds) 2, J. Collins (4yds) 3. Time 10 3-5 sees. Won by I yard each way. 100 Yards Open Handicap, Ist : £ls, 2nd £3 10s, 3rd £1 10s.—First j heat: H. F. Wyatt (9yds) 1, W. ' Walker (7yds) 2, C. Fox (4yds) 3. Time 10 sees. Second heat: A. L. Coburn (BJyds) 1, T. C. Allen (10 yds) 2, E. R. Plowman (61yds) 3. Time 9 4-5 sees. Third heat: P. Smyth (B£yds) 1, E. A. Brainsby (9yds) 2, D. E. Kearney (9yds) 3. Time, 9 4-5 sees. Final: C. Fox 1, T. C. Allen 2, D. E. Kearney 3. Time, 9 4-5 sees. This race carried with it the biggest prize money in the running events of the day, and entries totalled 24. Two of the heats were run off in 9 4-5 sees, and most of the runners in the final tried hard to beat the starter and were penalised. The finish was a splendid one—only inches separated the five front men. 220 Yards Handicap, Ist £4, 2nd £2, 3rd £l.—First heat: E. R. Plowman (20yds) 1, E. W. Collins (6 yds) 2, J. P. Stranger (23 yds) 3. Time, 21 4-5 sees. Second heat: A. L. Coburn(2l yds) 1, G. Baker (18 vds) 2, F. J. Donavon (23yds) 3. Time, 21 3-5 sees. Third heat: C. Fox (12vds) 1, J. M. Harding (17 yds) 2, W. Courtney (23yds) 3. Time, 21 4-5 sees. Fourth heat: D. E. Kearney (21yds) 1, W. Walker (17yds) 2, H. F. Wyatt (21yds) 3. Time, 21 3-5 sees.

Final: G. Baker 1, H. F. Wyatt 2, E. R. Plowman 3. Time 21 sees.

Again both the heats and the final were keenly contested—the final particularly, as denoted by the lowering of the time for the heats. 440 Yards Handicap, Ist £6 10s, 2nd £2 10s, 3rd £1: J. P. Stranger (43yds) 1, K. C. Jackson (43yds) 2, E. R. Plowman (30yds) 3. Time 47 1-5 sees. Loud cheering proclaimed the success of the two local athletes, Stranger and Jackson, in this and subsequent races. These two were off the limit mark, but had run stdongly to maintain their advantage. Stranger began to drop back, but in a final sprint beat Jackson to the tape. Elliott, another local runner, missed gaining third place by inches. 880 Yards Handicap, Ist £6 10s, 2nd £2 10s 3rd £1: M. Ormsby (100 yds) 1, K. C. Jackson (48yds) 2, S. M. Elliott (58yds) 3. Time 1 min. 50 sees. The schoolboy runner proved too good in this race. He was off a good mark, but practically held his advantage, he running with a particularly pleasing style. The two other local runners competing made a "Te Kuiti" finish, for they came through from the ruck. Jackson gained second place despite a great final sprint by Elliott. One Mile Handicap, Ist £4. 2nd £2, 3rd £1: M. Ormsby (200yds) 1, C. J. Roper (125yds) 2, G. Tuffrey (75yds) 3. Time 4 min. 18 2-5 sees. Once again Ormsby held the lead throughout, though at one stage it appeared that Roper would catch him. However, he had plenty of reserve for a final spurt. Boys' Relay Race: Te Kuiti A 1, Hangatiki 2, Te Kuiti B 3. Girls' Relay Race: Te Kuiti A 1, Te Kuiti B. 2, Hangatiki 3. Cycling. Half Mile Cycle Handicap, Ist £5, 2nd 30s, 3rd 20.—First-heat: G. A. Vincent (70yds) 1, A. Ralston (15 yds) 2, T. Hookham 3. Time, 64 1-5 sees. Second heat: T. Horner 1, L. V. Smith (80yds) 2, G. L. Parker (50yds) 3. Time 62 4-5 sees. Third heat: F. C. Henwood (70yds) 1, S. J. Ward (40yds) 2, C. Burke (35yds) 3. Time 62 3-5 sees. Final: G. A. Vincent 1, T. Hookham 2, T. Horner 3. Time 62 1-5 sees. The field for the final was very bunched at the end of the race, and Vincent's and Hookham's great finishing sprints carried them to the tape first. Henwood gained the £1 prize for the winner of the fastest heat. One Mile Cycle Handicap, Ist £6 10s, 2nd £2 10s, 3rd £1. —First heat: L. Stevens (70yds) 1, G. A. Vincent (100yds) 2, S. J. Ward (70yds) 3. Time 2 min. 15 1-5 sees. Second heat: L. V. Smith (150yds) 1, W. Pratney (40yds) 2, H. Veitch (scr.) 3. Time, 2 min. 15 3-5 sees. Third heat: F. C. Henwood (40yds) 1, W. Archer (130yds) 2, W. Good (15 yds) 3. Time, 2 min. 14 1-5 sees. Final: W. Good 1, G. A. Vincent 2, W. Archer 3. Time, 2 min. 15 2-5 sees. In the final the riders bunched early. Veitch came through his scratch mark but was unable to pass them. As the riders swept down the final straight Stevens, who looked sure of a position, fell, and Good, Vincent and Archer were the placed men. Once again Henwood gained the £1 for winner of the fastest heat. Two Mile Cycle Handicap (North Island riders), Ist £3 10s, 2nd £1 10s.—First heat: L. G. Thomas (scr.) 1, H. Eva (scr.) 2, G. A. Vincent (100yds) 3. Time sm. 12 sees. Second heat: G. L. Parker (50yds) 1, J. Cooney (60yds) 2, W. Pratney (10yds) 3. Time sm. 15 3-5 sees. Final: L. G. Thomas 1, J. Cooney 2, W. Pratney 3. Time 4m. 52 1-5 sees. In this final the riders held off rather too much, but a great tussle eventuated over the last round. The Scratch Race.

This was as fine a race as could be seen anywhere. The four Australians, A. Ralston, F. Thomas, H. Turtill, and H. Veitch, were opposed by W. Good, of Greymouth, W. J. Lamberton, of Christchui'ch, L. Pither, of Timaru, and R. Weir, of Christchurclj. For the first part the men rode as teams, the Australians, with their track experience, having the best of it. Lap money was allotted as follows—Ralston, Thomas, Ralston, Thomas, Turtill, Thomas, Thomas —it all went to the Australian riders. This superority was not shown in the fighting finish. Four cycles swept down to the finish all in a row—one seemed to take a sudden jump forward and the Australian Veitch was home first, but with Lamberton and Weir inches behind, they gaining second and third place respectively. The other riders finished up: Ralston 4th, Turtill sth, Thomas 6th, and Pither 7th. Good had fallen during the race. ■ Points totals were: Australia 20, N.Z. 16.

Two Mile Cycle Handicap, Ist £ls, 2nd £3, 3rd £2.—First heat: W. J. Lamberton (40yds) 1, A. Ralston (40yds) 2, H. Eva (90yds) 3. Time 39 4-5 sees. Second heat: F. Thomas (scr.) 1, R. Weir (scr.) 2, J. H. Newlove (150yds) 3. Time 4 min.

47 sees. Third heat: G. L. Parker (160yds) 1, L. Stevens (150yds) 2, Turtill (scr.) and Burke (90yds) tied for third place and were both admitted to the final. Time, 4m. 46 SGCS. Final: F. Thomas 1, Turtill 2, A. Ralston 3. Time, 4m. 38 sees. The Australians scooped the pool in this, the biggest race of the day so far as prize money was concerned. In the first and second heats the scratch men won their way home, but only by a striking" final sprint did Turtill manage to qualify and make it an Australian win—for Veitch had hit a peg and fallen. In the final Lamberton looked like pressing the Australians, but fell back. Three Mile Cycle Handicap, Ist £8 10s, 2nd £3, 3rd £l.—F. Thomas (scr.) 1, W. J. Lamberton (80yds) 2, W. Good (60yds) 3. All riders cracked on the pace in this event> and the time, 7min. 1 sec, was remarkable for a grass track. Tug of War. Under 67 stone 71bs. (Heavyweights), Ist £B, 2nd £2.—Carriers beat Huia; Bedford beat Ngatoa. Final: Carriers beat Bedford. Under 57 stone 71bs., Ist £B, 2nd £2.—Ngatoa beat Tainui; Huia beat Waitett;. Final: Ngatoa beat Huia. Dancing Events. Judges F. H. Sutherland, Hawke's and Miss Fenton (Tap). Reel o' Tulloch (North Island championship) : Jean Lee 1, R. Docherty 2, I. Taylor 3. Local, Irish Jig: N. Howell, 78 pts, 1; M. Saville, 77 pts, 2, M. Boswell, 71 pts, 3. Novice Highland Fling: M. Howell 1, D. Walsh 2, Allen 3. Novice Hornpipe: P. Allen 1, L. Bridges 2, N. Howell 3. Highland Fling, under 10 years: P. McMinn 1, F. Connelly 2, A. Gee 3. Hornpipe, under 10: F. Connelly 1, P. McMinn 2, A. Gee 3. Irish Jig, under 10: P. McMinn 1, F. Connelly 2, A. Gee 3. Sword Dance, under 10: G. Connelly 1, P. McMinn 2. Tap Dance, under 10 years: Mark Fisher 1, Pat McGinn 2, Frances Connelly 3. Sailors' Hornpipe, under 14: J. Cain 1, J. Irvine 2, A. Copeland 3. Highland Reel, under 14: J. Irvine 1, D. Smith 2, B. Spiro 3. Sword Dance, under 14: J. Irvine 1, B. Spiro 2, I. Menzie 3. Tap Dance, under 14: Betty Spiro 1, Nita Copeland 2, Joyce Cain 3. . Irish Jig: J. Cain 1, J. Irvine 2, B. Spiro 3. Highland Fling, under 18: J. Lee 1, R. Docherty 2, D. Sorensen 3. Irish Jig, under 18: J. Lee 1, R. Docherty 2, D. Sorensen 3. Sean Triubhais, under 18: J. Lee 1, I. Taylor 2, O. Evans 3. Reel o'Tulloch, under 18: J. Lee 1, R. Docherty 2, I. Taylor 3. Tap Dance: Roie Docherty 1, Pat Aver 2, Margaret Lawrence 3. Dance in Evening. Over 400 were present in the Ritz in the evening after the sports. Though the hall was perhaps a little too crowded for dancing, everyone present appeared to enjoy the dance to the utmost, and all agreed it was a fitting climax to a splendid day's sport.