GALA DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 92, 20 March 1939, Page 8

GALA DAY

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

THRILLS BY MOTOR-CYCLISTS

Noted now for its enterprise in introducing novel and spectacular showring attractions, the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association enhanced its reputation on Saturday when it staged a special gala day with a view to lowering the debt on the ta.sk of re-roofing the main grandstand at the Showgrounds. Ideal weather conditions prevailed and there were large attendances at both the afternoon and evening sessions. Always popular, the steer-riding exhibitions provided feats of skill, while, introduced in the Dominion for the first time, the motor-cycle chariot racing raised the crowd to a high pitch of excitement as the daring drivers “burned up” the track at lightning speed. Big attractions were provided by “Daredevil” Frank McFarlane (America) and Fred Yoemans (Australia), who were brought to this country under special engagement. They were all that had been said about, them and their feats of equestrian art won rounds of applause. The gate takings totalled £507, the figures for the afternoon being £370 while in the evening the receipts were £137.

The splendid display given by members of the Manawatu-Orion Motor Cycle Club demonstrated the part which the motor-cycle can display in outdoor entertainment. Led by Mr E. Pink these daring young men provided turns which were as spectacular as they were thrilling, and indicated that assiduous training must have been carried out. The formation ride would have done credit to an American mo-tor-cycle police corps and in the evening when the riders appeared with coloured head-lamps, the demonstration was particularly attractive. R. Styles performed a daring act by riding through a burning wall at top speed, while an element of humour was lent by a clown on a bucking motor-cycle and by the appearance of “Sissy” the cow. also on a machine. Altogether the contribution to the programme by the motor-cyclists was a highly creditable effort.

McFarlane and Yoemans appeared first of all in a Roman ride, each standing on the backs of two horses as they galloped round the arena. McFarlane’s jump over a parked motorear and over a hurdle in flames were daring feats, while Yoemans showed the art of whip-cracking as it has seldom been seen in this country before. As a final turn McFarlane and one of his trained horses staged a drama of the west. “The Cowboy’s Last Ride,” which won much applause. The evening programme was enhanced by the appearance of a team of gymnasts from the Y.M.C.A., whose turns were, as ever, popular. The opportunity was taken by the president of the association (Mr A. Burgess) to thank the public for their patronage and to thank all who had assisted to make the gala the undoubted success it proved to te. The results of the competitive events are as follow ; STEER RTDING. Novice final.—L. Flintoff (Feilding) 1, T. Aklerdice 2, T. S. Allen (Massey College) 3. Open final.—J. Albert (Waimarino) I, L. Sinclair (Marton) 2, H. Blunden (TTalcombe) 3. Placings in the morning were: PIG AND CAR RACES. Heats were won by R. Simpson, J. Francis and D. A. Scott, the winner of the final being Francis. MOTOR-CYCLE EVENTS. Long jump.—S. Mclntyre 1, E. Pink 2. Serpentine.—H. Decke 1, S. Mclntyre 2. Football.—R. Redshaw’s team beat R. Styles’s team by one to nil. Chariot racing (afternoon). —First heat: A. J. La Frentz 1, R. Styles 2. Second heat: H. Robson 1. E. Pink 2. Final: La Frentz 1, Robson 2. Chariots (evening).—First heat: E. Pink 1, H. Robson 2. Second heat: R. Styles 1, La Frentz 2. Final: Styles 1, Pink 2. In an attempt on his own to set up a record for the track in a chariot, E. Pink covered the distance in 26sec., A. J. Frentz’s time being 27,scc.