TAHAKOPA SPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3798, 28 December 1926, Page 65

TAHAKOPA SPORTS.

CHAMPION AXEMEN IN ACTION. The annual athletic meeting staged by the Tahakopa Caledonian Socieay was held at the Catlins River township on Wednesday last. There was a good attendance cf the public and almost perfect weather conditions were experienced. As Tahakopa is the centre of a large sawmilling district woodcraft events occupied the most prominent place on the programme. Axemen from all parts of Southland were present, as well as competitors from the West Coast, Victoria, Chaslands, Otago, and districts near Catlins River. Prominent competitors were J. Pone (Tuatapere), probably the bestknown Southland axeman, and J. Sullivan, formerly of Australia and now of the West Coast, who claims the title of worlds champion axeman. A most exciting duel between Sullivan and Pont was seen in the match for the championship of Otago. The veteran Southlander was beaten by a single blow owing to his log containing a knot. The big 15in Plumb handicap, which carried with it £42 in prize money and a handsome gold medal, was won by F. Fluerty, another Tuatapere axemau, who was on the 23-second mark. Fast times were recorded in nearly jf* events, as the wood used was kamah’, which is conducive to fast i hopping. Competitors were in every case keen, x-id this resulted in close finishes. The various events resulted as follows: 12-INCH MAIDEN UNDERHAND CHOP, of £8 and gold medal. H. Fraser (16sec) 1 H. Knowler (lbsecj ... 2 J. Tiilard (16sec) 3 Sixteen started. All the competitors were on the 16sec mark as the event also represented the first heat in the 12-inch undcrftand handicap. Time, 47sec. 12-INCH UNDER-HAND HANDICAP, of £9. First heat as in maiden chop. Second heat: H. Ollerenshaw (16sec) 1 D. Mather (16sec) 2, J. O'Sullivan (2sec) 3. r len started. Won by a few blows, lime, 44seo. Third heat: J. Stuart (Msec) 1, D. Kelleher jl4sec) 2, J. Pont (scr) 3. Twelve started. The winner’s time was 36sec, out 'Pont, who was on the scratch mark, got through his log in very fast time—22 1-5 sec. Final. H. Knowler 16sec) ’ 1 H. Fraser (16sec) j L>/ Kelleher (Msec) 3 Ihe finish was a close one, only a few seconds separating the placed men. Time, 33 2-ssec. . 18-INCH DOUBLE-HANDED SAWING, first two ; gold medals and two cross-cut saws, second £2, third £l. F rasef Bros. (Tokanui) 1 W. Sproule and A. Laurie (Tuata- ; pere) ... 2 • W. Gill .and G. Hammond (Winton) 3 Four competed. The time—ls l-ssec—-wa»- very fast. 12-INCH- STANDING CHOP, of £ls and gold medal. First heat: D. Mather (lOsee) 1, A. Laurie (Msec) 2, J. o‘Sullivan (scr) 3. Eight started. Time, 34sec. Second heat: D. Kelleher (16sec) 1, A. R. Andrews (I3sec) 2, P. Lumsden (16sec) 3. Nine started. Time, 44 3-ssec. Third heat: W. Sproule (16sec) I,'J. Bone (13sec) 2, G. Hammond (ISsec) 3. Eight started. Time, 45 l-ssec. Final. D. Mather (lOsee) 1 A. R. Andrews (13sec), D. Kellehar (16sec), W. Sproule (16see), equal 2 O’Sullivan did not start in the final. The finish was a very close one, Mather getting through first by several blows, while the judges could not separate the next three men. Time, 34 2-ssec. 18-INCH DOUBLE-HANDED SAWING, Of £l2. Fraser Bros, (lsec) 1 Ollerenshaw and Lumsden (4sec) . .... 2 Sproule and Laurie (lsec) 3 Five pairs started. Time, 15 2-ssec. 15-INCH PLUMB HANDICAP, of £45 and gold medal, presented by Messrs F. A. Plumb and Co. First heat: J. Milner (26sec) 1;-J. O’Sullivan (4sec) 2, H. Ollerenshaw (26sec) 3. Nine started. Time, lmin 29 4-ssec. Second heat: D. Kelleher (23sec) 1, A. Black (12sec) 2. Eight started. Time, lmin 14 l-ssec. Third heat: P. Lumsden (20sec) 1, A. Laurie (16sec) 2, J. Bone (16sec) 3. Eight started. Time, lmin 20sec. Final. F. Fluerty (23see) 1 A. Black (12sec) 2J. O’Sullivan (4sec) 3 Won by three blows. O’Sullivan was chopping magnificently, but was just beaten for speond place by Black. The time was very fast—lmin 6sec. OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIP UNDERHAND CHOP (15-inch). J. O’Sullivan 1 J. Pont 2 Four competed. The contest was a memorable and exciting one and resolved itself into a duel betwen Pont and O’Sullivan, both of whom rank as world’s' champions. The Australian beat Pont by only one blow amid great excitement, but the Tuatapere axeman was unfortunate in striking a log containing a nasty knot. The time was 54sec, which must be near the record for a 15-inch log. “While it is difficult to form sound impressions on a first visit to a district, I can say I was favourably 'impressed with the country, particularly in the Marlborough portion near Blenheim,’.’ remarked the Hon. K. S. Will'ams, Minister of Public Works, when asked his views regarding the route of the South Island Main Trunk line, which he had traversed. The Minister considered that the hill country was carrying splendid feed for stook, but as he got down to the Clarence River he began tp be impressed with the difficulty l likely to be encountered by the railway engineers in thpir Efforts to find a good route to connect the existing lines. He mentioned that surveys are still going on, with a view of ultimately submitting to him a complete report on the position, with, a close estimate of the cost