KAIKOHE ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Northern Advocate, 3 January 1922, Page 8

KAIKOHE ATHLETIC SPORTS.

ANNUAL GATHEjIIXG Tho i.a! athletic sports gathering organised by the Kaikohe Athletic Club took place on Saturday afternoon, and the occasion attracted a large number of patrons to the northern centre from ill parts of the district. The morning train from Whangarei started its journey well filled and picked up a quota of passengers from every station along the route until by the time it reached Otiria it consisted of eleven well-filled carriages. The visitors by railway arrived at Kaikohe at noon, and the sports were begun promptly after their n:rival, with the result that the train passengers w 7 ere enabled to witness all the main events before leavfhg on the n.turn journey at 3 o'clock, an effort by the executive to have the train's departure delayed having failed. The sports ground, alongside Mr Pameka's residential property, wai a suitable one, although the mowing of grass which had been done on the straight racing track might well hnv? been extended to include the circular one, upon which the grass was ri+hor long. To visitors who had previously attended the sports at Kaikohe, one of the chief improvements noticeable wis the playing of the Kaikohe Brass Bam!, which was present in full force un.lcr bandmaster Repi Wihongi. During the past twelve months the Band has made big strides and the programme so ably submitted on Saturday was a distinct credit to the bandmaster and bandsmen.

In Mr W. J. Worthington the executive controlling the sports had a very efficient secretary, who had all data at hi? finger-tips, and also was able to see that the events were got off to time. To his energies and with the capable assistance of Mr Norman Drever, the controller of the running events, and of the sportsmen who managed the popular axemen's carnival, much of tho srccess of the gathering was duo. Following are the results of the various events:—

Maiden Race, 100 yds.—D. Drever 1, R, Johns 2, L. Tobin 3. Trewella mid W ynyard also started. Drever got a fine start and established an early lea l, "holding it throughout and winning by 3yds without being fully extended, while 2yds separated Johns and To'iin.

Handicap Hurdles, 120yds.—E. Smith (4yds behind scratch} 1, S. Steedman <\3yds) 2, L. .Tobin (Byds) 3. Those were the only starters, and Smith, hurdling extremely well, scored a meritorious win by two yards. Kaikolie Cup Handicap, first heat. 100 yard«—B. Xesbit (10yds) 1, G. Woods (oyds) 2, R. Johns (11yds) 3. Wilkinson 9yds, H. Waitling 7yds, Rankin 5 yds and S. Johnson 4yds also started.. A good start was effected and Nehbit soon established a lead which he retained, winning easily by three yards with the other men close together. Second heat, 200yds—B. Xesbit (20 yds) 1, R. Johns (22yds) 2, Rehi W.ithng (14yds) 3. The heat provided a good race, Xesbit winning by two yards find the rest of the field being close up. Third Heat, 300vds.—B. Nesbit (30 yds) 1, R. Johns (33yds) 2, Wilkinson (27yds) 3. Rehi Watling (21yds) also ran.- Xesbit won easily and thereby won the cup with three firsts, R. Johns being next with two seconds and a third. Boy's Race, under 14 years—Pnlie Hiriwini 1, Bruce Munro 2. Archie McDonald 3. A good race. Girls' Race, under 14 years —Doreen Jamieson 1, Annie Snowden 2. Won easily from a large field. Boys' Race,'under 10 years—T. Marsh 3, Colin Bowling 2, Harold Skinm-r 3. Marsh won with ease. Girl's Race, under 10 years—Anni.i Snowden 1, Eva O'Brien 2, F. Johnson

Half-mile.—S. Blundell (syds) 1, Thomas (20 t vds) 2. These were tlie only two of six starters to finish. Christmas Handicap, 440y<ls.—S. Steedman (20yds) 1, B. Xesbit. (20yds) 2, S. Blundell (syds) 3. Thomas (15 yds), Wilkinson (20yds), H. J. Harding (30yds) and R. Johns (30yds) also competed. Young Ladies' Race.—Alexia Stewart .1, Doreen Jamieson 2, Annie Snowden 3. Married Ladies' Race. —Mrs R. Moses 1, Mesdames Waetford and Rankin dead heat.

| AXEMEN'S EVENTS The chopping and sawing events Avore very good indeed, and they attracted good entries and keen competitions. Kangirini scorcd a meritorious win in the Axemen's Cup contest on an 18 inch log, there being 15 starters in that loading event. The contests were A<e'l managed, although no time record was kept. FolloAving are the results:— Maiden Chop, standing, 12 inch — Ngj.pikaua 1, Rangirini and J. F. O 'Sullivan, dead heat 2 . There Avere 11 starters and Ngapikaua won by a good margin from the rest, all of whom were close up in the running for second place. Axemen's Cup, 18 inch log.—Rangirini (30sec) 2, Walter Smith (12see) 2, W. Mounga (Bsec) 3. The winner eut good scarves and after putting all his energy into the task he won by

three or four blows. There were 14 starters, including J. O'Sullivan, on scratch, who won the championship at Kawakawa. He chopped well at Kaikohe, but struck bad luck "with the log selected and a large gap in his axe-edge was caused by a hard knot in the core Single-handtd Saw.—.]. Croft (her) 1, J. Amos (2soc) 2, Bissett (ssee) 3. The only starters. Won easily. Double-handed Saw. —Bissett and mate (ssec) 3, J. Croft tind mate (scr) 2. There were three starters, and the event was won very easily indeed the two cuts being made before -one- pair had cut through the long once. Underhand Chop, 12 inch. log. —J. F. O'Sullivan (ISsec) 1, J. Sullivan («cr) 2. There were thirtee.i starters in the event which was cvently contested. No times were taken.