OTAUTAU SPORTS

Southland Times, Issue 21846, 25 October 1932, Page 5

OTAUTAU SPORTS

INCREASED GATE RECEIPTS. M. FORDE WINS SHEFFIELD. Like a certain well-known product the Otautau Sports are improving with age, the society’s tenth annual meeting which was held yesterday on the picturesque recreation grounds proving in every way a most successful fixture. Labour Day always sees a large influx of people into the Western District township and this year’s gathering proved even more attractive than ever. Crowds came by rail' and road to lend their patronage to the sports and the gate receipts showed a pleasing increase, the sum obtained in this way being £76, nearly £l3 above last year’s amount. Keen competition was witnessed in all sections of the sports which proved a worthy pipe-opener for the big holiday circuit. Indeed the athletic standard displayed was remarkably high and augurs well for the success of the present season. The brilliant sunshine experienced during the day gave everyone present a liberal tanning but the red on the faces of the officials was further heightened by the many congratulatory references made concerning the condition of the grounds. It was obvious that much attention had been given to their preparation for the surface was nothing short of excellent. The tracks were level and very fast and resulted in some exceptionally speedy performances being registered. From the president (Mr C. G. G. Sinclair) to the secretary (Mr R. R. Walker) the officials all gave of their best with the result that splendid organization characterized yesterday’s meeting. The events were expeditiously disposed of and the sports concluded in good time. Very good form for so early in the season was displayed in the running events which were ably handicapped by Mr Wallace Murdoch, junior, who has now completely taken over the work so capably undertaken by his father during many years past. M. Forde gave an impressive display by winning both the 75 yards handicap and the 135 yards Sheffield handicap. Good form was shown by G. J. Hoffman who won the 100 yards maiden race. J. McCorkindale ran a strong race to win the 220 yards handicap and also occupied third place in the 440. First place in this event went to J. Scott who also accounted for the mile. H. Denny in a close finish turned out the winner of the 880 and ran second in the mile. The young fry were well catered for with "events during the afternoon, the most important being a relay race which attracted three primary school teams. An easy victory was gained by the Waihopai team which will hold for one year a silver challenge cup. Four cycling events were held, all providing thrilling sport. In the professional section H. H. Jackson won the mile and B. H. Benneworth the two mile. In the amateur section L. Johnson won the half mile and A. Hagerty the mile. Both shared the trophy donated by Mr H. Smyth for most points in amateur cycling events. Despite the slackness of the timber trade the competitors in the bushcraft events were in good form and some exciting contests resulted. Messrs M. Dowling, T. O’Byme and A. E. Cocker as usual proved of considerable assistance to the society in connection with this part of the programme. John Te Au won the 12 inch standing block chop handicap, F. McMurtrie the 15 inch underhand chop handicap, and A. J. Hodges and Knight the 18 inch double-handed sawing handicap. The piping section which was judged by Mr John McCrostie, of Invercargill, did not attract large entries, the most outstanding performance being that of Lindsay Taylor, of Invercargill, who won both open competitions. The dancing events, which were judged by Mr St. J. McGregor, of Invercargill, attracted large entries and considerable interest centred in the appearance in the open and under 16 classes of Misses Lorna Budge and Wilmar Thomson, both of Dunedin. In the Seann Triubhais (open) Misses Budge and I. Macdonald tied, the Dunedin competitor winning by a narrow margin in a deciding dance. In the junior events Miss Mavis Gregory was prominent by gaining two firsts and a special prize for most points. Miss Mary Hamilton for a young dancer did well by gaining a first in the Sailor’s Hornpipe under 16 and a second in the Sword Dance. The Otautau Pipe Band was in attendance and played a number of much appreciated selections. The sports were fittingly wound up by a ball in the Coronation Hall last evening. Following are the detailed results of the various events:—

RUNNING. 75 YARDS HANDICAP, open. First £3, second £l, third 10/-. Eleven entries. First heat: J. Windle (3|yds) 1, M. Forde 3Jyds) 2, N. D. McCorkindale (scr) 3. In a close finish feet separated the placed men. Time, B’sec. Second heat: T. Valli (4yds) 1, G. F. Hoffman syds) 2, E. Cowie (2yds) 3. Valli scored a comfortable win with Cowie close behind Hoffman in third place. Time, Ssec. Final. Forde J Windle 2 Valli 3 Some difficulty was experienced in despatching the field and when the runners eventually rose to start they had in most cases beaten the pistol. Forde ran strongly all the way to win by inches from Windle with Valli in similar distance away third. Time Bsec. 100 YARDS MAIDEN RACE. First £l, second 10/-. Five entries. G. J. Hoffman 1 J. O’Brien 2 M. I. McKenzie 3 Hoffman ran a good race to win by nearly a yard, a foot separating O Brien and McKenzie. Time, 11 2-ssec. 135 YARDS SHEFFIELD, open. First £7 7/-, (including £2 2/- donated by Mrs S. Keith), second £3 3/—, third £1 1/-. Ten entries. First heat: T. Valli (SJyds) 1, M. Forde (6yds) 2, S. Slater (3>yds) 3. Valli won a well-contested race by a yard and a-half, a similar distance separating Forde and Slater. Time, 14sec. Second heat: J. Windle (6jyds) 1, N. D. McCorkindale (2yds) 2, E. Cowie (syds) 3. A good start prefaced a good race, Windle winnning by nearly two yards. McCorkindale finished second a foot ahead of Cowio. Time, 14 sec. Final. Forde % Windle 2 Valli 3 The finish was a close and exciting one, Forde breasting the tape about two feet ahead of Windle with Valli a foot away third. Time, 13 4-ssec. 220 YARDS HANDICAP, open. First £3, second £l, third 10/-. First heat: N. D. McCorkindale (scr) 1, M. Forde (6yds) 2, J. Windle Byds) 3. The competitors made no race of it, running merely to qualify. Time 29 2-5 sec. Second heat: J. McCorkindale (syds) 1, D. Morrison (Byds) 2, T. Valli (8 yds) 3. This was a good race, McCorkindale . winning by two feet with inches between second and third. Time, 24 4-ssec. Final J. McCorkindale 1 D. Morrison 2 t N. D. MeCorknvlaJe 3

In one of the most spirited finishes of the day J. McCorkiridale breasted the tape inches ahead of Morrison with N. D. McCorkindale a very close third. Time, 24 l-ssec. 440 YARDS HANDICAP, open. First £3, second £l, third 10/-. Seven entries. J. Scott (16yds) 1 J. Senior (scr.) 2 J. McCorkindale (Syds) 3 The runners maintained a fast pace and several changes in leadership occurred before the straight was reached. Scott then went ahead to beat Senior to the tape by two feet with McCorkindale inches away third. Time, 53 3-ssec. 880 YARDS HANDICAP, open. First £4, second £l, third 10/-. Ten entries. H. Denny (30yds) 1 G. G. Cochran (30yds) 2 G. P. Forde (25yds) 3 R. E. Souness (45yds) led at the bell but was unable to keep up the pace. Denny took the lead coming into the straight and won from Cochran by a yard. Forde was a yard and a-half further back third. A protest entered against Denny for alleged crossing in the straight was dismissed at a subsequent meeting of the stewards. Time, 2min 2 2-ssec. ONE MILE HANDICAP, Open. First £5, second £2, third £l. Eleven entries. J. Scott (45yds) 1 H. Denny (35yds) 2 R. E. Thomas (35yds) 3 This race was productive of a good struggle, the time returned being very creditable. The runners set off at a fast pace and at the end of the first lap G. Key (80yds) was leading, followed by Scott and Denny. At the close of the second lap Scott was in front, E. R. Sounness (80yds) coming next and then Denny. By the time the third lap was completed Thomas with a plucky effort had taken over the lead and was followed by Scott and Denny. Thomas did not have sufficient in reserve to maintain his lead and in the run home Scott won by about three yards, easing up. Thomas was two yards behind Denny in third place. Time, 4min 33sec. Children’s Events. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ RELAY RACE —Approximately 400 yards. Open to any boy or girl attending any primary school in Southland, teams of four. First prize silver cup, valued £5 5/-, to be held for one year, and each member of team to receive a silver medal, second silver medals. Three entries. Waihopai (Moffett, McCrostie, Ladbrook, Burleigh) 1 Otautau A (White, Manson, Rawlinson, Daly) 2 Otautau B (Browning, Liddell, McGregor, Hill) 3 Won by about 12 yards, 15 yards separating second and third. Time, 55 2-ssec. RUNNING RACES: Under six years (girls): Jessie Morton 1, Gladys Collie 2, Fay Lindsay 3; (boys): Dick Goodson 1, Graham Sutherland 2, Pat Hishon 3. Under eight years (girls): Molly Thomson 1, Mavis Jamieson 2, Jessie Morton 3; (boys): Alan Sutherland 1, Ronald Lindsay 2, Michael O’Brien 3. Under 10 years (girls): Yvonne Paulin 1, Doreen Thomson 2, Zora Sutherland 3; (boys): Teddy Baker 1, Arthur Cartwright 2, Ritchie Ballam 3. Under 12 years (girls): Betty Baker 1, Daphne Whittlestone 2, Mavis McMillan 3; (boys): James Morton 1, Arthur Irwin 2, Robert Thomson 3. Under 14 years (girls): Lily Maxwell 1, Hazel Marshall 2, Kathleen Smellie 3; (boys): P. Polson 1, John Sutton 2, J. Pope 3. Open race (for Mr L. J. Parmenter’s trophy); lan Ferguson 1, Desmond Hishon 2, Mary Dickson 3. “Stone-pickers” race: K. Laidlaw and L. Liddell 1 equal, Teddy Baker 3. CYCLING. ONE MILE HANDICAP, Open. First £2, second 15/-. Eleven entries. First heat: A. Sheplvrd (50yds) 1, T. Smith (60yds) 2, B. H. Benneworth (10yds) 3. Shepherd won by half a wheel. Benneworth came up fast over the latter stages to finish third a length behind Smith. Time, 2min 45 sec. Second heat: C. Knowler (80yds) I, H. H. Jackson (100yds) 2, G. Hoffman (syds) 3. Jackson led for most of the way but, entering the straight on the last lap, could not withstand a determined challenge issued by Knowler who won by half a wheel. Hoffman was some distance away third. Time, 2min 44sec. Final. Jackson 1 Knowler 2 Smith 3 Jackson, after leading at different stages, went to the front at the start of the last lap and in a close finish prevailed over Knowler by half a length. Smith was a similar distance away third. Time, 2min 41sec. TWO MILE HANDICAP, open. First £4, second £1 10/-, third 10/-. Ten entries. First heat: C. Knowler (160yds) 1, J. Cranstoun (scr) 2, B. H. Benneworth (20yds) 3. ' Knowler retained his lead throughout the laps to win comfortably by about 40 yards. Cranstoun and Benneworth fought out an exciting race for second place, the former winning by a wheel. Time, smin 45 sec. Second heat: R. A. Knowler (30 yds) 1, T. Smith (140yds) 2, A. B. Shepherd (130yds) 3. H. H. Jackson (200yds) was in the lead entering upon the last lap but had not gone far before Knowler took command _to win by 10 yards. Shepherd was 15 yards behind Smith in third berth. Time, smin 51 2-ssec. Final. Benneworth 1 R. A. Knowler 2 C. Knowler 3 This provided one of the best races of the day, Benneworth coming away from R. A. Knowler it. the straight to win by about half a wheel. C. Knowler was four lengths away third. Smith fell at the commencement of the last round. Time, smin 37 4-ssec. Amateur Events. HALF-MILE HANDICAP. First, goods valued at £1 5/-, second goods valued at 12/6. Thirteen entries. First heat: A. W. Weir (50yds) 1, L. Johnson (10yds) 2, A. Browning (30yds) 3. Weir led all the way to win by three lengths. Inches separated second and third. Time, Imin 19sec. Second heat: E. Summers (25yds) 1, R. Sounness (10yds) 2, P. Flynn (45yds) 3. This provided a good race, the field keeping in a bunch all the journey. It was won by about half a wheel each way. Time, Imin 18 2-ssec. Final, Johnson 1 Summers “ Browning ’ Johnson and Summers fought out an exciting duel, the former gaining the decision by inches. Browning rode into third place three lengths away. Time, Imin 16 4-ssec. ONE MILE HANDICAP. First, goods valued at £l5/- and donation of goods valued at 10/-, second goods valued at 12/6. Eleven entries. A. Hagerty (scr) 1 p. Flynn (85yds) 2 A. Browning (75yds) 3 I L. Johnson (25yds.) had a nasty spill

at the beginning of the race which placed him out of the running. Hagerty, who rode strongly throughout, took the lead going round the back stretch for the last time and won by a length from Flynn. Browning was a length further back third. Time, 2mm 44 3-ssec. BUSHCRAFT. 12-INCH STANDING BLOCK CHOP HANDICAP, open. First £4, second £2, third £l. Seventeen entries. First heat: John Te Au (ssec) 1, A. Bates (llsec) 2, A. J. Hodges (15sec) 3. Won by 2 l-ssec. Time, 40sec. Second heat: R. Scott (llsec) 1, A. Agnew (15sec) 2, F. McMurtrie (15sec.) 3. Won by three seconds. Time, 47sec. Final. Te Au g Bates , Scott d Giving a fine display Te Au ch °PP through his log 2 3-ssec ahead of Bates. Time, 33 4-ssec. 15-INCH UNDERHAND CHOP F 'IDICAP, open. First £8 (including donation of £2 2/- by Mr Thomas Muir); second £3, third £l. Seventeen entries. First heat: T. A. Agnew (24sec) 1, F. McMurtrie (24sec) 2, John Te Au (lOsec) 3. In a close finish Agnew just gained the decision. Time, 62 1-5 sec. Second heat: C. Bonney (24sec) 1, T E Mason (24sec) 2, R. Anderson (24sec) 3. Won by 1 3-ssec. Time, 69sec. Final. McMurtrie Mason “ Te Au ■ J Anderson | Agnew * j-Tied for third place. Blows separated the placed competitors. Time, 68 3-ssec. 18-INCH DOUBLE-HANDED SAWING HANDICAP; open. First £4, second £2. Eight entries First heat: William Gill and J. T. Smith (4sec) 1, R. Scott and Agnew (4sec) 2. A close finish. Time, 18sec. Second heat: A. J. Hodges and Knight (4sec) 1, Bates Bros. (ssec) 2. Another close finish. Time, 17sec. Final. Knight and Hodges 1 Gill and Smith 2 Bates Bros. 3 The placed sawyers finished almost simultaneously. Time, 17 3-ssec. PIPING. MARCHES. Junior pipers. First £l, second 10/-. (Four entries): G. Bell 1, W. Johnston 2. NOVICE PIPING. First £l, second 7/6. (Three entries): G. Bell 1, J. Evans 2. MARCHES, open. First £2, second 10/-. (Four entries): Lindsay Taylor 1, C. C. Selby 2. STRATHSPEY AND REEL. First £2, second 10/-. (Three entries): Lindsay Taylor 1, G. Millar 2. DANCING. SWORD DANCE, 12 years and under. First £l, second 10/-. Eleven entries): Mavis Gregory 1, Mary Hamilton 2. Highland Fling, 12 years and under. First £l, second 10/-. (Eleven entries): Mavis Gregory 1, Wilmar Thomson (Dunedin) 2. Irish Jig, open. First £l, second 10/-. (Twelve entries): Dorothy Forrester 1, Ethel Smith 2. SAILOR’S HORNPIPE, under 16 years. First £l, second 10/-. (Ten entries): Mary Hamilton 1, Maureen Lindsay 2. SEANN TRIUBHAIS, open. First £l, second 10/-. (Eight entries): Isobel Budge (Dunedin) 1, Isobel Macdonald 2. HIGHLAND FUNG, open. First £l, second 10/-. (Six entries): Isobel Macdonald and Minnie Hillis 1, equal. HIGHLAND FLING. Consolation. First 15/-; second 7/6. (Seven entries): Adel Macdonald 1, Rosie Tomlins 2. JUDGE’S SPECIAL PRIZE OF 10/-: Myrtle Smith. MOST POINTS IN DANCING (donated by Mr E. Matheson to the value of 15/-); Mavis Gregory.