BOXING DAY SPORTS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11027, 27 December 1928, Page 5

BOXING DAY SPORTS

GATHERING AT MANGATAINOKA LARGE CROWD DESPITE RAIN. The twenty-ninth annual sports gathering of the Mangatainoka Amateur Athletic Society, held on the Domain grounds yesterday, was marred considerably by adverse weather. Rain set in overnight, and a disagreeable drizzle continued throughout the day, making conditions unpleasant for spectators and competitors alike. The gathering, however?" has becdme so well established in the district that it takes more than a drop ior ,rain to keep the public away so it was that under the contritions a very large crowd patronised the sports, the gate takings, although naturally reduced on the previous year’s figures, showing the gratifying total of over £54. The field and appointments were in splendid order, but the rain made the track very slippery, and especially treacherous to cyclists. A number of spills occurred in the cycle events, but luckily none of the accidents were of a serious nature. The champion. Tom Oakley, had bad luck on both appearances, crashing on the corner twice when his chances were fairly good. The outstanding runner in the flat events was T. W. Mexted, the youthful St. Patrick’s College boy, who lived formerly in Pahiatuai. He (carried off the 100 yds. 220, long and high jumps, thereby annexing the Lett challenge cup for this year. The other events, both cycling, and running, were well distributed. ' An innovation that proved extremely popular was the whippet racing which took the place of the horse events of previous years. This fascinating sport bids fair to catch the public fancy and for excitement it has few equals. To watch the whippets streaking over the field between the tapes, a distance of 120 yards, in about 7 seconds, was sufficiently exciting for anyone, and this section of the programme was perhaps the most popular of all. Under the watchful eye of the popular president, Mr E. L. Harvey, the various officials conducted the proceedings without a hitch. The energetic and genial secretary (Mr D. \Y. Wilton) was assisted in the office by Mr C. J. Roy. The judging of Messrs B. Harvey, J. McKenzie, and H. Goodwin gave every labefaction. tWp luncheon booth was run by Mrs G. Jones and did a splendid trade. Mrs Jones alco conducted the sweet stall, while the society had control of the soft drink booth. The events resulted as follow: RUNNING. President’s Handicap, 309 yards: Fii st heat- R. J. Whiteman (9yds) 1, F. A. Williams (6yds) 2, C. J. Cross (Byds) 3. Second heat: T. Mexted (llvds) 1, G. Marsh (Byds) :2, B. Brady (llvds) 3. Final: T. W. Mexted (Wellington) 1, R. J. Whiteman (Masterton) and B. Brady (Prh iatua) 2nd equal. Won nicely. 220 yards handicap- T. W. Mexted (24yds) 1. C. J. Cross (Masterton) 18vds 2, G. Marsh (Masterton) 18yds 3. Half-mile run handicap: R. Willers (Dannevirke) 50yds 1, B. Harvey (Eketahuna) 50yds 2, L. E. Hack (Masterton) 30yds 3. McDonald won easily, but was disqualified for bumping a runner on the corner.

One- mile run: R-. H. McDonald (P.N.) 50yds 1, L. E, Hack (Masterton) 70yds 2, R. Devine (Masterton) 130yds 3. Time 4.36 sec. 440 yards handicap: E. K. Eastwood (10yds) 1, F. A. Williams (24 yds) 2. O. J. Cross (30vds) 3. Won nicely by three yards. Time 52J sec. Boys’ race, under 15 and over 12, 220 yards: Fergus 1, J. Paget 2, O. Harvey 3. Boys’ race, 12 and under, 100 yards: C. O’Connor 1, S. Green 2, C. Mexted 3. Ladies’ open handicap, 100 yards: Miss G. Jackson (Carterton) 1, Miss

B. Jackson (Carterton) 2, Miss Nora Lett 3. Mangatainoka schoolboys’ race, 440 yards: Fergus 1, Staples 2, J. Singers 3. Broad jump: T. W. Mexted (3ft) 22ft 24ins 1, B. Brady (3ft) 20ft 2in 2, R. B. Robertson (24ft) 19ft 9in 3. Hop, step and jump: B. Brady (4ft) 42ft oin 1, T. Mexted 42ft 4Jins 2, W. Grantham (3ft) 38ft 4in 3. High jump: T. W. Mexted (sms) sft 34ins 1, W. Grantham (2in) sft 24ins 2, W. H. Roberts (scr.) sft ljins 3. CYCLING. Three-mile cycle, open: W. G. Pedlev (Rongotea) 15<)yds 1, E. J. Blakewa.v 150vds 2, G. E. Taylor (Wanganui) 295yds 3. Time 3-5. Won easily. Two mile local cycle: E. J. Blakewav 100yds 1, E. J. Lett 140yds 2, O. Bellshaw 140yds 3. Time 4.59. Half-mile B grade cycle race: A. R. Attree 140yds 1. A. Clapperton (Napier) 100yds 2, E. J. Lett 75yds 3. Quinlan Memorial Cup cycle handicap, half-mile: E. J. Lett 20yds 1, O. Bellshaw 20yds 2, L. Angelini 35.yds 3. Two mil e cycle, open: T. McCord (Masterton) 220yds 1, A. Clapperton (Napier) 2, I. R. McKenzie (P.N.) 255,ycLs 3. Won easily, Oakley and several other competitors falling. Time 4.58.

One mile cycl e race, open: G. E. Taylor 195yds 1, W. G. Pedley Rongotea 150yds 2, A. R. Attree (Masterton) 200yds 3. Five mile cycle handicap: C l , Bellshaw 350yds 1, E. J. Lett 350yds 2, W. G. Pedley 225yds 3. A great race, nicely judged by the two local boys.

MUSIC AND DANCING. Marches, maiden: O. W. Matthew 1, P. Beech 2. Marches: C. C, McDonald 1, C. W. Matthew 2, R. Smith 3. Laments: C>. C. McDonald 1, P. Beech 2.

Strathspeys and reels: C. C. MsDonakl 1, P. Beech 2, R. Smith 3. Irish Jig. 13 and under: J. Holdem 1, J. Lee 2, M. Ross 3. Sword dance, 14 and over: M. Thompson 1, H. Lee 2, H. Glasgow 3.

Sword dance, 13 and under: J. Watt 1, V. Oliver 2, M. Ross 3. Sheauntriubhs, 14 years and over: H. Lee 1, M. Thompson 2, N. Evans 3. Highland Fling, 14 and over: H. Lee 1, M. Thompson 2, J. Miller 3. Highland Fling, 13 and under: J. Lee 1, J. Watt 2, J. Holdem 3. Highland Fling, 10 and under: J. Lee 1, V. Oliver 2, D. Adsett 3. Scotch Reel: H. Lee 1, M. Thompson 2, H. Glasgow 3. Sailors’ hornpipe, 14 and over: M. Thompson 1, N. Evans 2, J. Benge 3. Highland Fling, for girls 13 and under, local: J. Milne T, D. Millie 2. Irish -Jig. 14 and over: H. Glasgow 1, H. Lee 2, M. Thompson 3. WHIPPET EVENTS. Patron’s Handicap: First- heat: Nanette sc-r. 1. Katinka 9yds 2. Second heat: Elopement 11yds 1, Glen Bell e 7yds 2. Third heat: Giggles Bvds 1, Billikins 6vds 2. Fourth heat: 'Miss Ransom o.vds 1, Survivor llvds 2. Semi-final: Nanette 1, Glen Belle 2. Semi-final: Billikins 1, Miss Ransom 2. Final: Miss Ransom (owned by Mr A. Phillips) P; Nanette (owned hv Mrs E. O. Johansen) 2. Pahiatua Hurdles: Miss Ransom I, Glen Belle (owned by Mr G. Remington) 2. “Toki” Stakes: Nanette 1, Miss Ransom 2. The above events wer e all arranged and run by the Manawatu “Whippet Racing Club. The owners of the winning dogs belong to Palmerston North. ANNUAL DANCE. The annual dance in aid of the Society, held in the Library Hall last evening, was, financially, an unqualified success. The Hall was unpleasantly crowded, there being scarcely room to dance. Visitors were present from far and near. Splendid orchestral music was provided, and an appetising supper was handed round.