OTARA SPORTS

Southland Times, Issue 21605, 18 January 1932, Page 7

OTARA SPORTS

SUCCESSFUL FIXTURE J. T. SKERRETT WINS SHEFFIELD. Claimed to be the furthest south fixture of its kind, the annual Otara sports gathering was held in Mr M. Blair's paddock on Saturday afternoon when the ideal weather conditions attracted a large crowd of district residents and visitors alike. The gate receipts amounted to over £52 as compared with £3l taken at last year’s meeting, so that this year’s sports will go down as one of the most successful in the history of the club. The sports ground presented a picturesque appearance on Saturday and all present enjoyed the picnic outing. The entries in all events were much larger than the previous year’s and several close finishes were witnessed, despite the fact that all the running events being post entry made the task of accurate handicapping all the more difficult. Bushcraft events bulked prominently on the programme and one of the attractions of the meeting was the successful attempt (reported elsewhere in this issue) of the Fraser Bros, to break the world’s record of 12 seconds for an 18in log. In the 12in standing chop handicap A. Fraser gave a good performance to win this event in 38 3-ssec off a losec handicap. Fraser also came second in the 15in underhand chop handicap which was won by R. Anglem in a close finish. Anglem with Sellars for a mate also succeeded in annexing the 18in double-handed sawing handicap. The winner of the 12in underhand chop handicap turned up in A. Smith, of Tahakopa. Of the runners J. T. Skerrett, a prominent member of the Rugby Park Club, who has patronized this meeting for many years, was successful in winning the 135yds Sheffield handicap from B. McDonald (Invercargill) and J. McCorkindale (Rugby Park). Reg Hormann, of Lorneville, won the mile in good style off scratch from R. E. Thomas (Fortrose) who staved off a challenge by J. Trotter (Woodlands) for second place. Hermann’s brother Carvel won the 440yds handicap and the 220yds was won by P. Valli (Wairio) off 18yds. D. Morrison (Rugby Park) who came second in this event, ran a fine race, while the scratch men, Skerrett and McCorkindale, found the handicap on the round track too great. The 75yds handicap was won by B. McDonald in a close finish and the 100yds consolation went to W. Reid (Limchills). A half mile handicap for boys was won by T. Crighton in a fighting finish. The field events as usual came in for good support. The officials in charge of the meeting were the president, Mr A. Black, who also acted as handicapper; starter, Mr J. Blair; judges of running and field events, Messrs J. Casey and G. Jennings; judge of bushcraft, Mr W. Young; clerk of course, Mr C. Casey; steward in charge of chopping, Mr W. Young; stewards, Messrs J. Blair, C. Jennings, C. Bonniface and James Blair. Mr A. E. Cocker acted both as handicapper and starter in the bushcraft events and carried out his duties in a most efficient manner. As secretary Mr W. T. Blair gave every satisfaction. Following are the sports results: — Bushcraft Events. 12 INCH STANDING CHOP HANDICAP. First prize £3 10/-, second £1 10/-, third £l. Twelve entries. First heat: G. Weir (15sec) 1, W. Cook (15eec) 2, W. Bone (Bsec) 3. Won by a blow. C. Burgess who was first to finish, was disqualified for starting before time. Actual time of winner, 45scc. Second heat: R. Scott (14sec) 1, A. Ericson (15sec) 2, A. Fraser (15sec) 3. Won by 2sec, a blow separating second and third. Time, 31 3-5 sec. Final. F raser Ericson 2 Scott 2 Fraser won by 2sec, Ericson and Scott finishing together. Time, 38 3-ssec. 12 INCH UNDERHAND CHOP HANDICAP. First prize £4, second £1 10/-, third 15/-. Twenty-one entries. First heat: G. Weir (16sec) 1, W. Cook (17sec) 2, H. Ericson (16sec) 3. Time, 38sec. Second heat: J. Milner (16sec) 1, 11. Knowler (Msec) 2, C. Burgess 12sec) 3. Time, 34 3-ssec. Third heat: A. Smith (15sec) 1. J. Bone (13sec) 2, A. Bates (13 sec) 3. Time,'3s 4-ssec. Final. Smith (Tahakopa) 1 Weir (Haldane) 2 Bates (Otautau) 3 A great contest, all three finishing together. Time, 344 sec. 15 INCH UNDERHAND CHOP HANDICAP. First prize, cup or £B, second £2, third £l. Seventeen entries. First heat: A. Ericson (24see) 1, A. Fraser (24sec) 2, W. Bone (llsec) 3. Won by ssec, with Fraser and Bone close up in second and third positions. Time, Imin llsec. Second heat: R. Anglem (22sec) 1, J. Milner (22sec) 2, M. Donnelly (22sec) 3. /A blow covered the first three axemen, the fourth man being a blow behind. Time, Imin 15 l-ssec. Third heat: H. Knowler (16sec) 1, A. Bates (19sec) 2, R. Swale (23sec) 3. Knowler won by three blows, half a blow separating Batea and Swale. Time, 58sec. Final. Anglem 1 Fraser 2 Bates 3 Anglem gained victory by 2sec, a blow separating Fraser and Bates. Actual time of winner, 63sec. 18 INCH DOUBLE-HANDED SAWING HANDICAP. First prize £3, second £1 10/-, third 10/-. Eleven entries. First heat: Anglem and Sellars (6sec) 1, Fraser Bros, (scr) 2. Won by Isec. Time, 15Jsec. Second heat: Bone and Scott (4} sec) 1, Bone Bros (s}sec) 2. Won by Time, 15 2-ssec. Final. Anglem and Sellars 1 Bone and Scott - Bone Bros. 2 All three placed competitors finished within a second of each, other. Actual time of winners, 16 l-ssec. RUNNING EVENTS. 75YDS. HANDICAP. First prize £2, second 15/-, third 7/6. First heat: IV. Reid, Limehills (2yds) 1, J. O’Bvrne (7yds) 2, W. Thwaites (syds) 3. Second heat: B. McDonald, Invercargill (3yds) 1, J. T. Skerrett, Rugby Park (2yds) 2, R. Thwaites (7yds) 3. Final. McDonald R. Thwaites 2 Skerrett 2 The runners were all bunched at the tape. Time, Bsec. 100 YARDS CONSOLATION HANDICAP. First prize £l, second 5/-. W. Reid, Limehills (syds) 1 J. McCorkindale, Rugby Park (3yds) ’ 2 W. O’Byrne (syds) 3 Won by two yards. 135 YARDS SHEFFIELD HANDICAP. First prize, cup or £5, second £2, third £l. First heat: B. McDonald, Invercargill (6yds) 1, J. T. Skerrett, Rugby Park (syds) 2, W. Reid, Limehills (syds) 3. Time, 13 3-ssec. Second heat: J. McCorkindale, Rugby Park 1, R. G. Webb, Rugby Park 2, D. Morrison, Rugby Park 3. Time, 13 4-ssec. Final. Skerrett 7 McDonald 2 McCorkindale 3 Skerrett won with a few feet to spare. Webb, the virtual scratch man, could not get up with the leaders. Time, 13 3-ssec.

220 YARDS HANDICAP. First prize £2, second 15/-, third 5/-. P. Valli, Wairio (18yds) 1 D. Morrison. Rugby Park (syds) 2 B. McDonald, Invercargill (syds) 3 Won by two yards, a yard separating second and third. 440 YARDS HANDICAP. First prize £2, second 15/-, third 7/6. O. C. Hormann, Lorneville (6yds) 1 D. Morrison, Rugby Park (14yds) 2 R. Hormann, Lorneville (scr) 3 Won by three yards, a similar distance separating second and third. ILXLF MILE HANDICAP, boys. First prize 15/-, second 7/6, third 2/6. T. Crighton (30yds) 1 L. Matheson (40yds) 2 A. Black (scr) 3 The field of 33 starters presented a fine sight and all ran well, the three placed boys fighting out an excellent finish. ONE MILE HANDICAP. First prize £3, second £1 5/-, third 15/-. R. Hormann, Lorneville (scr) 1 R, E. Thomas, Fortrose (35yds) 2 J. Trotter, Woodlands (70yds) 3 Hormann won in good style from Thomas, who staved off a challenge by Trotter for second place. MARRIED LADIES’ RACE: Mrs A. Wybrow 1, Mrs H. Rae 2, Mrs B. Coate 3. MARRIED MEN’S RACE: H. Fraser 1, A. Ericson 2, G. Matheson 3. SINGLE LADIES’ RACE, eight entries. First heat: Miss W. White (scr) 1, Miss N. Ericson (syds) 2, Miss E. Blair (2yds) 3. Second heat: Miss A. Jennings (Iyd) 1, Miss R. Jennings (3yds) 2, Miss E. Neill (Syds) 3. Final: Miss M. White 1, Miss N. Ericson 2, Misses R. and A. Jennings 3 equal. GIRLS’ RACE (6 to 8 years): Joyce Blair 1, June Church 2, Katherine Ruddenklau 3. GIRLS’ RACE (8 to 10 years): Sylvia Thomas 1, G. Thompson 2, J. Nicholson and Pearl Muir 3 equal. GIRLS’ RACE (12 to 14 years): Elsie Evans 1, Marion Robertson 2, Peggy McIntyre 3. FIELD EVENTS. PUTTING THE SHOT. First prize £l, second 5/-. W. Thwaites (6in) 1 F. Aitken (6in) t G. Lovell (18in) t t tied for second place. Actual distance of winner, 35ft 3in. RUNNING LONG JUMP. First prize £l, second 5/-. F. Ericson, Otara (Ift) 19ft 9in 1 B. McDonald, Invercargill (Ift) 19ft 7in 2 P. Valli, Wairio (lift) 18ft 6in 3 HOP, STEP AND JUMP. First prize £l, second 5/-. Nine entries. 11. Heath (2ft) 41ft 7in 1 R. G. Webb (2ft) 41ft 4in 2 F. Ericson (2ft) 40ft 4in 3 SHEEP GUESSING COMPETITION. Actual weight of fat lamb, 881 b: A. Wybrow and Miss May Weir 1 equal. DISTANCE STEPPING: William Shirley 1. _________