SPORTS AT MOTU

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 16014, 28 December 1922, Page 8

SPORTS AT MOTU

A SUCCESSFUL AIEETING

1 lie annual sports meeting held by the Alotu Sports Club, under permit lt'om the N.Z.A. and C.U., was held on Boxing Day in the grounds adjacent to the hotel. Til el weather was ideal and the attendance was a record! one, a large number of townsfolk having seized the opportunity of spending a day m tho country. The prize money totalled £!SO, and the events numbered nineteen, each qf which was well contested, the chopping events proving most popular. The completeness of tile arrangements rejected great credit • upon the joint secretaries, Messrs D. Mitchell and O. White, and the judges, Messrs P. .1. Quirk, A. McLean, and O. Richmond (horse events), IL y. Fisher (chopping), carried out their duties in a capable manner. The handicaps, arranged by Mr A. E. Davy, with the assistance of Mr Howchow,. resulted in a series of very close finishes. During the afternoon the “Lyric Jaazieians,” a town hand, enlivened' proceedings with a. most enjoyable programme of selections. The events resulted as follows:—Maiden Horse 'Jumping/ (optional style): Fred Read’s Tui T. Miss M. Smith's Dixie 2, M. Lynch's Gold Coin 5 (19 entries). Stepping the Chain • A. O. Arthur and 1 C. Gordon, dead heat (137 entries). Flag Race: R. Gilman 1, M. Lynch 2 (25 entries). 100 Yards’ Handicap, open : D. Mitchell 1, P. Colbert- 2 (9 entries). Maiden Chop (12in. block): I). Costello 1, V. Anderson. 2. Time, 53 1-5 sec. (7 entries). Horse Jumping, hunters’ style: R. Gilman's Peter 1, R. Gilman’s Tliela 2. F. Read's Tui 3.

Motor-car Driving Competition: T. J. Caesar 1, C. 11. Cooper 2, J. Scholium 3 (15 entries). Chopping Handicap (15in. block): C. Smith 1, IL Harris 2, M. O’Rourke 3. Time, 1.32 (lb entries). Horse Jumping, steeplechase style: R, Gilman's. Tliela 1, A. McAllister’s K:a Ora 2, Miss Smith’s Dixie and R. Heine’s Kiwi 5 (dead heat), (16 entries). Cork-spearing Competition (ladies) : Miss M. Gray (97 corks) 1 (23 entries). Single Ladies’ Race: Miss M. Hepburn 1, Miss Clarke 2 (12 entries). 229 Yards' Handicap, open : P. Colbert 1, E. Graham 2 (12 entries). Potato Race (mounted): F. Read 1, C. H. Cooper 2 (16 entries).

Married Ladies’ Race: Mrs W. A Wright 1, Mrs W. M. Costello 2 (9 en tries).

Bending Race (mounted) : R. Gilman 1. F. Read 2 (17 entries). Chopping, underhand. 15in. block : M. O’Rourke 1, S. Johnstone 2, R. Harris 5. Time, 1.20 (14 entries). Double-handed Sawing: M. and W. J. Costello 1. Smelling Bros. 2, (6 entries). ' Gold medal presented by R. F. Jackstill, jnr., for the points aggregate in the. horse events was won by R. Gilman, with 6 points, with F. Read run-ner-up, with 5 points. Wclght-estimaking (sheep): A, won by D. G. MacDonald l and 1 0. Lovell (dead heal al 1201bs); B, won by F. W. Peddle, who estimated 1201bs (correct weight): C, lamb, S. Whitehead and A. Wilson (dead heat at 78|lbs). Special prizes were donated by Messrs C. Adair, Common, Shelton and Co., Ltd., Vacuum Oil Co., Aardi C'o.,-and W. Hayes, while sheep for the estimating competitions were donated hv Messrs F. Clearv, J. Donaldson, and F. Read.

A refreshment booth, organised: by a party of ladies under the leadership of Mrs P. J. Quirk, did good business during the. day in the l sale of ice-cream and drinks, the proceeds going to the Sports Club. Mr C. Pederson, of Motuhora, rendered’ great assistance to (lie committee in the conduct of events, and deserved much credit. The horse event stewards (Messrs W. Cunningham and C. Frampton), were especially capable, and other officials were not behindhand in securing the/ smoothness of the arrangements under their charge. Mr A. S. Caulton donated to the club an outfit of horso jumps, and Mr C. Lovell performed gratis the carriage of the gear from the Motuhora railhead 1 .

In the evening the. annual sports hall was'-held in the' Motu hall, and was voted by all (o be thegnoMi successful held in Ihe history of the club. The interior of the hall was decorated tastefully with wiper streamers, hunting arid .greenery, in accordance with a scheme arranged lyy Miss Cameron, and 1 put inlo effect by a committee comprising Messrs O'Loughlcn, S. Thorburn, C. E. Frampton and/iS. Hanson. The refreshment buffet was in charge of Airs 1\ J. Quirk, and the supper arrangements in the liandfi of Air Alec Motile, their ex- ' cllenee being .generally commented ”r>on. Tho attendance was estimated l at 85 couples. The “Lyric Jazzicians” nroyidod the dance music, and the satisfaction ol the dancers was signified! by the fact that every number was encored. An exhibition of ‘"eccentric dancing was given by. Air A. G. Greig, to the general nmusewent of all. Extras were plaved l»y Aliss .R. Read, Airs Cleary, and Air Then Caesar. Dancing was continued until the early hours of the morning.

ft has been ascertained that the sports meeting and dance proved financially very successful, arid the committee are to bo congratulated upon their efforts.