Maungatapere’s Record Sports Meeting To-day

Northern Advocate, 18 April 1938, Page 6

Maungatapere’s Record Sports Meeting To-day

TBEAL WEATHER AND' PICTURESQUE BURRCIJNMNGB AT HAWK EX 1 PARK, MAUNGATAPERE. MADE A GALA BETTING FOR THE 2GTH ANNUAL EASTER MONDAY SPORTS HELD BY TOE MAUNGATAPEEE ATHLETIC CLUB TODAY.

The district-wide interest in the occasion was exemplified by the large attendance of the public. Spectators commenced to gather shortly before 10 o’clock, and the glorious sunshine ensured that last year's record Jubilee attendance figures would be at least equalled.

As Northland’s premier sports fixture, and with the increased interest which has accompanied all athletic events in the district this season, it was anticipated that entries would be large, and in this respect the sports were among the best yet held.

Entries Very Good

In the track events, the entries were exceptionally good, almost 100 runners taking the field, in comparison with last year's 70. The cycling section was an outstanding one, the entries showing a considerable increase over the past two or three years. Approximately 19 riders faced the starter in the races. Competitors came from Dargaville, Kpitaia and Hamilton, as well as from local centres.

Cycling

One mile cycle.—First heat: T. Jujnovitch (Herekino). 160yds, 1; D. J. O'Callaghan (Tangownhine). 120yds, 2; L. Byers »WhangareD. 220yds, 3. Second heat: S. Player (Dargaville). 1; G. Primrose (Dargaviile). 100yds. 2; I. Mears (WhangareO, 160yds. 3.

Final; Jugnovitch 1; Flayer 2: O'Callaghan 3. Time, 2.45 2-5. Jugnovitch lay behind the limit man, Byers, for a short space, but captured the lead early in the race to come home with a margin of six lengths, with Byers an equal distance behind, leading O'Callaghan by a wheel. It was Jugncvitch's race all the way. but there was a keen duel for second place, which lasted over the last two laps. Primrose, leading the bunch, was fourth. W. Buckley, of Whangftrei, riding from the 100 yards mark, fell in the last lap of the second heat, striking a bad patch on the western bend.

The chopping events were well supported by Northland axemen, entries being tvell up to the numerical standard' of last year. The national dancing classes also attracted support from throughout the district and competitions were watched by a large gallery of spectators. Results: — Running, 100yds, boys under 15. —D. Lecse. 1; B. Leese, 2; N. Ross, 3. 120yds. maiden. —C. Norris. 1; Osborne. 2; H. Mooney, 3. 100yds handicap (open).—First heat: C. H. Pattison, 10yds, 1; T. W. Flinn, 94yds, 2; D. M. Gordon, 2yds. 3. Second heat: P. W. Wellington. 10yds, 1; N. H. Boyd. 10yds, 2; A. Dysart. 74yds, O

Half mile handicap.—J. Harding. 25 yds.. 1; W. Preston. 12 yds.. 2; J. Bale. 65 yds.. 3. Time. 2,1. Harding won easily by about 10 yards, with about two yards between second and third men' Harding ran strongly and cut down the limit men’s lead consistently throughout the race, and Preston challenged strongly, but could not reduce the leeway over thejast 150 yards.

100 yards final. —Pattison 1; Wellington 2; Gordon and Flinn. equal. 3. Time. 10s.

Maungatapere Cup Handicap, 150 yards, for the Powell Cup, and miniature.—C, IT. Pattison, 14 yds.. 1; N. H. Boyd, 14 yds.. 2; D. M. Gordon, 3 yds., 3. Time. 14 3-ss. P. W. Wellington, running from the 134 yd. mark, was fourth.

Two miles cycle.—T. Jugnovjtch, 215 yds., 1: ,F. Veza (Herekino), 60 yds., 2; D. J, O’Callaghan, 175 yds., 3. Jugnovitch rode a consistently good race to take the lead from Byers, the limit man, in the second lap, with Veza in the running all the way. The backmarkers, led by M. Hibburt, of Auckland, who rode from scratch, challenged strongly throughout the race, the Aucklander, being hotly pursued by T. Young (Whangarei) and F. Player (Dargaville). In the second to last lap these men looked like leading the field home in that order, but, at the bell, clapped on the pace and the rear men found it too hot, although Young put up a great effort to run into fourth position.

ONE MILE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. W. J. Wells (Taranaka) .. I R. King (Mangaw’ai) 2 W. Preston (Whangarei) .. 3

Time: 4.35,

It being the first occasion on which such a classic has been allotted to 'a Northland centre, this event proved to the biggest draw card for the day. Six entrants faced the starter, the unplaced men being: M. Austin (Okaihau), H .Rowland (Dargaville) and J. Harding (Hoki'anga). All six men got away smartly from the gun and the first half was taken at a cracking pace, Preston and King heading the field to come past the pest for the first time, in OOseconds. The second lap was covered with Preston in the lead, heading frtom Wells and King, with Harding, Austin and Rowland several yards behind.. The first three improved their lead and the race quickly resolved itself -intjo a three-cornered battle between them. Wells took charge on the back straight in the second lap, but Rowland, who had been well up in the first lap, dropped out. Throughout the third lap the order was: Wells, King and Preston, Austin retired halfway round , and Harding, who had dropped well back, followed his example shortly afterwards. King went past; the field barely inches ahead of Wells, with Preston five yards behind. The two younger men made the pace on the western bend, and on the back straight, Wells called on his reserve to clear King at the corner. He headed him into the home straight by 20 yards, with a wonderful sprint. Preston finished third, another 20 yards behind.

Chopping.

12-inch handicap chop.—First heat: T. Peni, 1; C. Child. 13s. 2: P. Morresey, 13s, 3. Time, 495. Second heat; S. Alison. 18s, 1; W. Rika. 9s, 2; G. Reeves, 20s, 3. Time. 41s. Final: Alison 1; Morresey 2: Rika 3. Time. 42 2-ss.

14-inch Standing Chop.—R. Curry (20sec) 1. Jim Griffin (9sec) 2, W. Rudolph (17sec) 3. Time, 1.14 2-f>.