INDOOR SPORTS CARNIVAL.

Northern Advocate, 28 May 1921, Page 2

INDOOR SPORTS CARNIVAL.

SUCCESSFUL GATHERING LAST J NIGHT. The carnival promoted as the initial ' venture of the Whangarei Athlctic and Caledonian Sports Association took place in the Town Hall last night and the novel form of entertainment provided was fully appreciated by the well-filled house. Arrangements had been well ordered oul by a keen executive and all measures possible had been taken .to carry the unique programme through expeditiously. Of the items the .sawing eontest and the chopping events were most popular and they created great excitement, especially the former event, and at future gatherings an increased number of such contests would be welcomed. Amongst the hardest and most consistent workers in moving the weighty logs into position wa=» Mr Duncan McKenzie, whose adeptness with one arm was extraordinary. To his efforts and to the splendid handicapping done by Air "Doc" McKenzie, much of the success' of the chopping

events was clue,

Mr R. G. Hosking announced particulars of the programme and of results. After thanking the spectators for the patronage with which they had rewarded the efforts of the promoters he announced the first item, a bagpipe march contest. Mr R. Finlayson was introduced as judge of the piping contests, he having consented to abandon his intention to compete in order to fdl that position in place of Mr S. Clark, of Maromaku, wiho was unable to attend. BAGPIPE CONTESTS. The bagpipe music .was good and Piper McLennan, who won both the msjrch and the strathspey and reel events, was generally ndmitted to have contributed excellent rendering?. There were six competitors in each event and the results were as follows: — Pipe March —D. McLennan 1, McGregor McKay 2, T. Stewart and R. ICeay, equal 3. Strathspov and McLennan .1, McGregor Mackay 2, T. Stewart 3. SAWING. Prior to the sawing contest, for which seven entries had been received, Mr R. G. Hosking stated that as some of the intending competitors, had been unable to attend the event would be decided in one straightout contest between the four pairs of sawyers. The 15 inch taraire logs we're firmly mounted on substantial bases and there was I ample room for all competitors. The j event created great excitement, and the rapid progress made in the task of cutting twice through the logs was p.ecompanic'.l by enthusiastic cheering. The event was won by J. Noill and Goo. Telfer. H. Croft and mate were second, and W. Bartlett and JJ Croft, with mates, tied for third placc. The time was 45 seconds and the winners securcd first place by a sniall margin. CHOPPING EVENTS. The first chopping event was an exhibition contest "on a twelve-inch block between Duncan McKenzie of Kamo, the champion one-armed axeman, and Alf. Main, of Maungakaramea. The interesting event showed the remarkable skill of MeKenzie, who completed his task in 58 2-ssecs, less than 4 seconds later than Main. The exhibition was warmly applauded and a collection taken from the spectators as a donation to Mr McKenzie produced £12 12s.

There were 13 competitors in the underhand chopping event, on a 15 inch log, and its progress, was watched with interest throughout. In the first

heat M. Grffiin, scratch, conceded 2secs

to H. Beasley and 18secs to Tom Gough, and although Gough had 17 "heavy blows in before the scratch man started the latter made up the leeway rapidly, and despite the fact that he over-balanced. when turning on the he won the heat from Gough in the good time of lmin 33 2-Ssecs, Beasiov being close up, third. In the second heat G. Beasley, 20secs, won by one stroke only in lmin GSsecs "rom J. Pac, 18secs. W. Shelford, !2socs, won the third heat fairly comfortably in lmin 50secs, and in the fourth heat "W. Bartlett, ISsecs, won •nsily, although A. McKae, 20secs, was nund'upon his second scarf fully four seconds ahead of him. The time was lmin 43secs. The final -was contested by M. Griffin, scr, "W. Shelford, 12secs, W. Bartlett, 18secs, and "G. Beasley, 20secs. Bartlett was first to turn to his second cut, but Shelford and Griffin were rapidly gaining, and Shelford won the event fairly comfortably in lmin 36 l-ssecs, Bartlett being second and Griffin third. BABY SHOW.

During the afternoon a baby show had been held in conjunction with the carnival, and Mr Hosking announced the results of the judging which had been carried out by Matron Cookson and Mrs Frazerhurat. The judges had intimated that they had had a hard task on account of the evenness ofl the competitors, and the decisions had been made on the narrowest of margins in all classes The babies were in all classes overweight. Yhe results were:

Boy or girl, under 12 months, born within Whangarei borough. —Rowland Webb, aged 7 months, and described as a beautiful baby by the judges*. The other competitors were Ava Garry, 8 months, Lorraine Williams, 11 months, Douglas Carter, 9 months, and Jack Maddren, 11 months.

Returned Soldier'a baby, under 12 months. —Jack Maddren. Jack Boas* ley, 5 months, Douglas Carter, 9 months, and Ava Garry, 8 months, also competed.

Baby, under 9 months. —Yvonne McInnes, 5 months, described as perfect for her age. Jock Beasley, 5 months, Ava Garry, S months, and Rowland Webb, 7 months, were also competitors.

Baby, between 9 and 18 months. Lorraine Williams, J1 month?, and Douglas Carter, 9 months, tied. Thelma Smith, 18 months, and Jack Maddren, 11 months, were also judged.

COMIC SON& COMKETITIQNThe comic »ong competition WuS the weakest part of the programme. Four competed, but the songs selected were not suitable. The judging was done by Messrs Calder, McMahon and Simmons, selected from the audience. Piper Cochrane won the event with one oi' Harry Lauder'-, songs, the swinging chorus of which made it popular. Mr M. Clarke sang "Jones of the Lancers," Mr W. Wallingford "Mr Booze,'' and Mr G. Ti'ppett "At a Minute to Seven Last Night." TUG-OF-WAR. The tug-of-war resulted in a win for the hefty Parua Bay team which pulled the Rowing Club representatives' in the first heat, which was a good one, the losers gaining the advantage once by a sudden heave, but their weighty opponents soon got the advantage back and held on with less than an inch to the good until Senr.-Sergt Hollis, who judged, called time. Rowing Club then pulled the pipers* Their tactics of combined heaves met with more succcss and they won by an inch. In the final Parua .Bay again beat the oarsmen by* about threff inches and without much apparent difficulty.

During the evening Mr Nutsford auctioned the timber and chips > which wore a bargain at £2 12s Gd. To help to fill in the necessary delays in changing blocks and giving heat winners a reasonable spell, several songs were contributed by Piper Cochrane and pianoforte solos by Mr Dobson. Credit is due to the promoters, with special reference to Mr Hosking and the secretary, Mr E. P. Ramsey, for the general success of the venture, the appreciation of which by the patrons fully warranted consideration of further ?.imilar gatherings, taking: place, and, wilh lhat object in view, it behoves members of the society to make efforts to ?\.tend the membership and place the organisation on a manent and sound basis.