ATHLETICS

Southland Times, Issue 21262, 8 December 1930, Page 15

ATHLETICS

(By

“Bystander.”)

COMING EVENTS

December 25: Edendalc Sports Society’s annual meeting. December 26: Limehills Athletic Society’s annual sports, December 27: Balfour and Longridgc Caledonian Society’s annual sports. January I: Tuatapere Axemen's Athletic Society’s annual sports; Dipton Athletic Society’s annual sports; Waikaia Athletic Society’s annual sports; Port Molyneux Caledonian Society’s annual sports. January 2: Riversdale Athletic Society’s annual sports. January 7: Winton Athletic Society’s annual sports. February 25: American athletes at Invercargill.

COUNTRY SPORTS

THIS SEASON’S CIRCUIT.

PROGRAMMES REVIEWED.

Southland is always well catered for in the number of country sports societies it possesses and their annual fixtures held during the summer arc very popular holiday attractions. This season, which opened with the Otautau meeting on Labour Day and the Wairio gathering last Saturday week, promises to be just as successful as those in the past and not withstanding trie present general financial depression, professional athletes are as well catered for as ever before as a glance at the various programmes will indicate. Times may be hard at present but the value of these sports meetings is such that they cannot be discarded. This was in evidence at the annual meeting recently’ of the Wyndham and District Caledonian Sports Society when the president (Mr George Hunter) hit the nail right on the head in replying to a question from a member whether the meeting should have a motion to the effect that the society should carry on or not in face, of the financial return. Mr Hunter said that he. had thought of that point, but as there was such a lot of depression about it would only be increasing the present gloom. If once they dropped the meeting it would be exceedingly difficult to get started again. A motion to carry on the sports was subsequently carried and the Wyndham Society is to be congratulated upon its action. The same spirit is actuating the various other societies who this season will still be going strong. Programmes of their fixtures are now beginning to reach “Bystander” and in accordance with the usual custom will be reviewed in these columns for the information of athletes and the" public generally.

' BALFOUR: The forty-fourth annual sports meeting of the Balfour ami Ixmg ridge#. Caledonian Society will be held on the society’s grounds, Balfour, on Monday, the 29th inst., commencing at 1.15 p.m. The sum of £BO is offered for prize money and the programme is of a comprehensive nature, embracing as it does running, cycling, field, dancing and piping events. Of the more important races the 135 yards Sheffield Handicap has a first prize of £7, the second £3, third £1 and fourth 10/-. The 440 yards Presidents Handicap has attached to it. a first prize of £4 as has also the 220 yards Balfour Handicap. Numerous races for boys and. girls will be held throughout the day and liberal prizes .will be given. The Balfour Pipe Band is to be in attendance and the meeting will be wound up with a dance in the hall in the evening. Mr A. P. Scobie, Balfour, is secretary and nominations for the main events close with him on th.t 20th inst. at 8 p.m., handicaps to appear j in the Southland Times on the 23rd inst.

EDENDALE: Nominations for all field events (except post entry) for the Edendalc Sports Society’s thirtieth annual gathering to be held on the Edendale Recreation grounds on Christmas Day, close with the secretary (Mr R. A. Marshall) to-day at 3 p.m. From the society’s programme it is learned that a total sum of £147 10/- is being offered in cash prizes and medals, and judging by the variety of events enumerated the Edendale meeting promises to be as great a success this year as in the past. In addition to the usual running events the public will be entertained with cycling, wrestling, bushcraft, piping and dancing I events. The 135 yards Presidents' Handicap should come in for its share of popularity with athletes in view of the fact that first prize consists of the sum of £l5 together with a handsome cup valued at £5 5/- (donated by Mr John Fades) to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. A miniature of the cup will also be presenteel to the winner. Second prize is £6, third £2 and fourth £l. There are two chopping events, the 14 inch underhand and 12 inch standing, both of which carry first prizes of £6 and for the 18 inch doublehanded sawing there is a first prize of £4. Nominations for these eVents close with Mr Marshall, Edendale, or Mr M. Dowling, Tuatapere, to-day, and al) handicaps will be published on Thursday, the 18th inst. To wind up the sports a picture entertainment will be held in the Public Hall in the evening to be followed by a dance.

LIMEHILLS: On the 26th inst. the thirty-eighth annual sports meeting of the Limehills Athletic Club will be held on the Limehills new domain, commencing at 12 noon. Always providing an interesting days sport the society promises this year to repeat past successes. Particular’ interest is added by the fact that the Southland ladies’ championship over a distance of 11)1) yards is decided, first prize being an attractive rose bowl valued at £4 4/This always results in a galaxy of lady Nurmis being present. The Limehills Handicap of 135 yards is a most valuable, event, first prize being £l2, second £3 and third £1 10;-. Nominations for this race close with the secretary, Mr E. J. Crowe, Limehills, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, the 20th inst., all other events which include running, cycling, dancing and school shield events, being post entry. The President's gold medal goes with the first prize of .£3 in the 75 yards Handicap which is always productive of a keen contest. Limehills arc the holders of the logo, shield presented by Mr W. Swale to be held from year to year by the primary school winning most points in the school events and this competition is always enthusiastically entered into by the children. In addition various races for boys and girls will be held during the dav and a band will be in attendance, a dance in the evening bringing the meeting to a conclusion.

PORT MOLYNEUX: Over £l5O in prize money, including many handsome gold and silver medals, is being offered at the sixtythird annual sports meeting of the Port Molyneux Caledonian Society to be' held at Wilsher Bay on Thursday, January 1, commencing at 12.30 p.m. sliarp. In addition to the usual running contests field, bushcraft, dancing and piping events figure prominently on the programme. First prize in the 100 yards Handicap is £l3, in the 880 yards Handicap £lO and in the 75 yards Dash Handicap £5. Entries for the main running and bushcraft events close with the secretary, Mr A. M. Wylie,' on the 26th inst.

TUATAPERE: Before dealing with the programme for the Tuatapere Axemen’s Athletic Society’s nineteenth annual meeting on New Year’s Day, “Bystander” takes the opportunity of congratulating the society on the exceptionally fine poster it has issued. With its panoramic photograph of the Tuatapere Domain, well-described as a place of wondrous beauty, Jud prominently set out letterpress, the poster is a splendid one and should undoubtedly achieve its purpose of drawing attention to the big meeting, “the daddy of them all.” Axemen and other athletes are again being as well catered for as in past years, the sum. of £243 in cash and £25 4/- in trophies being offered in prizes. There are five big bushcraft events included which should pro-

vide worthy contests for John Pont and Co. upon their return from Tasmania. There Plumb 15 Inch Underhand Chop Handicap carries the fine prize of £25 together with a handsome gold medal donated by an American axe-manufacturing firm. Second prize is £lO, third £5 and fourth £2. First prize in the Publicans’ 12 Inch Standing Block Handicap is £l5, including a special prize of £5 donated by Mr B. Brookes, also the president's gold medal valued at £2 And now to deal with running events, lhe 135 5 ards Open Handicap has a first prize of £l4, second of £5, third of £2 and fourth of £l. Both the half mile and mile events carry first prizes of £S ami in the former races a fine cup will be given to the competitor who wins this event twice in succession or three times nt intervals, hour cycling events are included on the programme and the remainder are made up with a clay bird shooting match, piping, dancing and school children's events. h«ominations for all events (dancing, shooting and piping excepted> close with the secretary, Mr Af. Dowling, whose name is a byword in athletic circles, on Thursday, the 18th inst, at 8 p.m. and handicaps will appear in the Southland Times on I'ridav, the 26th inst. lhe sports arc to be wound up in the evening with an entertainment followed by a dance.

WINTON: On January 7 next the annual sports gathering of’the Winton Athletic Society will be held on the sjxirts ground, Winton. Twenty-nine events are on the -’Ogramme, ranging from running; hurdling and cycling fo bushcraft, piping and dancing. In addition to the big prize money offered there are a number of trophies which fend to make the meeting of much interest to athletes. First prize offered in the 135 yards Sheffield Handicap is the sum of £7, together with a gold medal valued at £1 1/-. Similar good prizes tire attached to the other events while gold medals will be awarded to the competitors gaining most points in the running, bushcraft. and dancing events respectively. There is also liberal prize money for children s races which will be sandwiched in with the programme, and a band will be in attendance to enliven proceedings. Entries close with the secretary, Mr D Wildey, PO Box 52, Winton, at 8 p.m. on the u7th inst. and handicaps will appear ol January 3.