OTAUTAU SPORTS MEETING

Southland Times, Issue 23648, 25 October 1938, Page 3

OTAUTAU SPORTS MEETING

r Successful Annual Fixture KEEN COMPETITIONS; GOOD ENTRIES GATE-TAKINGS SHOW BIG INCREASE The first meeting on the Southland professional athletic sports circuit, the Otautau Athletic Society’s annual Labour Day sports meeting yesterday, set a standard which augurs well for the success of the season. Athletes, pipers and dancers from all parts of Southland were competing, making the entries among the biggest that have yet been received for this meeting. Performances were of a uniformly high standard, and the crowd of 4500 spectators, many of whom were on the natural grandstand

which shelters one side of the picturesque Otautau Domain, at no stage found entertainment lacking. The gatetakings were £263, compared with £216 last year, an increase of £47. This is a record for the society.

The day was fine and warm, the sun shining brightly in the morning and the early afternoon. A westerly wind was blowing, making things somewhat difficult for competitors in the sprint events.

For so early in the season, sprinters ■" showed surprisingly good form and competition was very keen in all events from the 75 yards to the quarter-mile. Performances in the mile and half-mile events were poor in comparison. The fields were small and the runners appeared to be in no hurry, reserving their energy for uninspiring final sprints. ’ The outstanding sprinter of the day was W. E. Baldwin, of Tuatapere, who won the Sheffield and the 75 yards handicap, and secured third place in the furlong. He ran from the five yards and a-half mark in the Sheffield and, in a great finish, beat H. W. Milne (2yds) by two feet. A lightly-built runner, Baldwin appeared to be very fit and made the most of his handicap in each event in which he started.

MILNE’S GOOD FORM Milne, who lives near Gore, was the fittest runner on the ground. He showed that by running second to Baldwin from scratch in the 75 yards, by his powerful finishing burst in the Sheffield, and by the splendid manner in which he gathered in the front markers to take second place in the final of the 220 yards handicap. He should be the back-marker at all meetings this season and, when he has had a few more runs, should be among the most prolific points-getters.

The cycling events, as usual, provided keen competition and there were some exciting finishes during the day. R. A. G. Wilson-Pyne, a Dunedin rider, had a successful day, winning the half-mile and the one mile and ahalf handicaps. The main cycling event, the one mile Great Western wheel race went to T. J. Smith, of Orepuki, who rode consistently well throughout the day. He also secured second place in the half-mile and third in the two miles.

Two amateur cycling races were included on the programme this year and they proved very popular. Entries were big in each event and the standard of performances was very high. The most successful rider was R. McDougall, who won both the mile and two-mile handicaps.

The bushcraft section was not extensive—there were three chops and one double-handed sawing event—but it was popular. The chopping in some heats was not fast, but each final saw

good times registered. The sawing event, in particular, was good. Waldron and Mclntosh beat a strong field by the barest of margins and all finished within a few strokes of each other. The main chopping event, the 14-inch underhand, went to J. Swale, deserved his win. The general standard in the bushcraft section was good. The piping and dancing events provided an outstanding attraction Mr J. J. McCrostie and Miss M. Hillis, who judged in. the dancing sections, stated that a high standard was maintained throughout, more especially in the open classes in which some excellent performances were given. In the South Island championship for Seann Triubhais, Miss Isobel Macdonald once again showed her prowess by winning this Highland classic event for the second time this year. Miss Macdonald’s performance was one of the highlights of the gathering. In the piping section, Mr J. Cameron, the winner of the Southland Championship in bagpipe marches, added another win to his long list of successes. Mr W. Maconnachie, the judge, said he was very pleased with the standard of playing throughout the various grades. The pipers for the dancing were Messrs R. Donaldson, Lindsay Taylor, and W. Milne. The Otautau Pipe Band, under the direction of Pipe Major J. Miller, played during the day. RUNNING EVENTS 100 YARDS MAIDEN RACE. First prize, £1; second 10/-. (Five entries). — J. Holland 1, W. Te Koeti 2, R. Baker and N. Church (equal) 3. Holland led all the way to win by a yard and a-half. Time, 0.11.

75 YARDS HANDICAP. First £3 10/-; second £1 10/-; third 15/-. (13 entries). —First heat: W. E. Baldwin (IJyds) 1, F. N. Newman (scr) 2. Won by two feet. Time, 0.7 4-5. Second heat: R. Thomson (3|-yds) 1, E. R. Sizemore (2J yds) 2. Wo® by a foot. Time, 0.7 4-5. Third heat: H. W. Milne (scr) 1, J. Holland (3Jyds) 2. Won by a yard. Time, 0.8. Final: Baldwin 1, Milne 2, Sizemore 3. Milne made a great race of it and was beaten by only six inches. The same distance separated second and third. Time, 0.8. 135 YARDS SHEFFIELD. First, £l3 13/-; second, £4 4/-; third, £2 2/-; fourth, £1 1/-. (14 entries).—First heat: H. W. Milne (2yds) 1, J. W. Schultz (B|yds) 2, F. G. Pickering (4yds) 3. Won by a yard. Two feet between second and third. Time, 0.13 4-5. Second heat: W. E. Baldwin 1, R. Thomson (9yds) 2, F. N. Newman (2£ yds) 3. Won by two feet. A yard between second and third. Time, 0.14. Third heat: E. R. Sizemore (Byds) 1, A. McPherson (3yds) 2, J. Ferguson (9 yds) 3. Won by a yard. A foot between second and third. Time, 0.14. Final - Baldwin 1 Milne 2 Thomson 3 Sizemore 4 After one false start, the field got away well, Thomson being the first to show out. Baldwin took the lead at the 100 yards mark and, although Milne put In a strong challenge, he finished strongly to win by two feet. A similar distance separated second and third. Sizemore was close up in fourth place. Time, 0.13 4-5. . 220 YARDS HANDICAP. First, £3 10/- and siver cup donated by Mr F. N. Newman; second, £1 10/-; third, 10/—. (14 entries).—First heat: W. E. Baldwin (3yds) 1, E. J. Mclntyre (7 yds) 2, A. McPherson (2yds) 3. Won b.y a yard. Time, 0.24 3-5. Second heat: H. W. Milne (2yds) 1, J. W. Shultz (Byds) 2, R. McKenzie (6yds) 3. Won by a yard and a-half. Time, 0.24. Final: McKenzie 1, Milne 2, Baldwin 3. It was thought that the race would be between Baldwin and Milne, but McKenzie gave the back-markers no chance. He got a good start and went away to win by a yard. Milne finished strongly a yard ahead of Baldwin, who appeared to be tiring. Time, 0.23. 440 YARDS HANDICAP. First, £4 10/- second, £1 10/-; third 15/-. (Nine entries). —F. N. Newman (Byds) 1, E. J. Mclntyre (12yds) 2, F. G. Pickering (scr) 3. Pickering made his run too early and failed badly going up the straight. Newman, who ran well within himself for the greater part of the race, put in a splendid finishing effort to snatch victory from Mclntyre by a foot. Pickering was three yards further back. Time, 0.54. 880 YARDS HANDICAP. First, £4 10/—; second, £llO/-; third, 15/-. (Eight entries). —J. W. Keown (35yds) 1, A. Church (35yds) 2, J. Gillan (20yds) 3.

Keown early went into the lead and came away to win by 15 yards. The third man was 10 yards further back. The scratch men were never in the picture. Time, 2.4 3-5. ONE MILE HANDICAP. First, £6; second, £2; third, £l. (Six entries). —J. W. Keown (65yds) .1, H. W. Witsey (10yds) 2, J. S. Daly (scr) 3. This was a poor race. The first lap was run at a funereal pace and the next three laps were little better. Keown won by 15 yards. A foot separated second and third. Time, 4.45 4-5. CYCLING EVENTS HALF MILE HANDICAP. First, £4; second, £1 10/-; third, 10/-. (13 entries). —First heat: R. A. G. Wilson-Pyne (20yds) 1, T. J. Smith (scr) 2, A. G. Woodford (20yds), 3. Won by a length. Time; 1.15. Second heat: J. E. McCartney (35yds) 1, C. W. Robinson (scr) 2, A. T. Helm (20yds) 3. Won by half a length. Final: Wilson-Pyne 1, Smith 2, McCartney 3. Robinson went into the lead at the end of the first lap, but could not stand the pace set by WilsonPyne and dropped back to fourth place in the straight. Wilson-Pyne won going away by seven lengths. McCartney was three lengths further back, half a wheel ahead of Robinson. Time, I. 1-5. ONE MILE GREAT WESTERN WHEEL RACE—First, £l2; second, £3; third, £l. (13 entries). —First heat: T. J. Smith (scr) 1, A. G. Woodford (40yds) 2, C. W. Robinson (scr) 3. Won by a wheel. Two lengths between second and third. Time, 2.39 4-5. Second heat: J. Muir (100yds) 1, D. O. Brown (scr) 2, R. A. G. Wilson-Pyne (40yds) 3. Won by a length. Inches between second and third. Time, 2.46 4-5. Final

Smith 1 Wilson-Pyne 2 Robinson 3 Robinson took the lead at the begin-

ning of the last lap, but Smith caught him in the back straight and shot into the lead at the final 220 yards mark. Smith was never .troubled to win by five yards. Robinson and Wilson-Pyne had a great tussle in the straight, the latter just drawing ahead in the last 10 yards to take second place by a wheel. ‘ ONE MILE AND A-HALF HANDICAP. First, £4; second, £1; third, 10/-. (12 entries).—R. A. G. Wilson-Pyne (50yds) 1, A. G. Woodford (55yds) 2, J. E. McCartney (90yds) 3. D. Brown, the scratch man, jo de . a great race and led into the straight. He failed, however, in the sprint for the finishing post. Wilson-Pyne, who did not take a lap throughout the race, took command half-way up the straight and carried on to win by a length. McCartney was close up in third place. Time, 4.3 4-5.

TWO MILE OTAUTAU WHEEL RACE. First, £5 10/-; second, £2; third, £1; fourth, 5/-. (16 entries). —First heat: T. J. Smith (scr) 1, A. Shepherd (40yds) 2, J. E. McCartney (160yds) 3. Won by half a wheel. A length between second and third. Time, 5.35. Second heat: F. L. Mason (220yds) 1, R. A. G. Wilson-Pyne (65yds) 2, G. Hoffman (scr) 3. Won by 15 lengths. A length between second and third. Time, 5.38 4-5. Final: McCartney 1, Mason 2, Smith 3. Won by six lengths. Time, 5.34 2-5. AMATEUR CYCLING ONE MILE HANDICAP (20 entries). —First heat: R. Duncan (65yds) 1, H. Jones (25yds) 2, A. Drury (scr) 3. Won by a foot. Ten lengths between second and third. Time, 2.37. Second heat: N. Hazelmore (100yds) 1, R. McDougall (30yds) 2, A. Smeaton (45yds) 3. Won by half a wheel. Five lengths between second and third. Time, 2.36. Final: R. McDougall 1, H. Jones 2, A. Drury 3. Riding extremely well, McDougall just managed to head Jones in a thrilling finish. The three placed men came down the straight together and less than a length separated them at the finish. Time, 2.32 4-5. TWO MILES HANDICAP (20 entries). —First heat: R. Duncan (110yds) 1, C. A. Robinson (80yds) 2, O. Henderson (200yds) 3. Won by a length each way. Time, 5.29 4-5. Second heat: R. McDougall (60yds) 1, N. Hazelmore (200yds) 2, L. Johnson (scr) 3. Won easily. Time, 5.26. Final: McDougall 1, Henderson 2, Robinson 3. In a great finish, McDougall won by a length and a-half from Henderson. Robinson, who beat Henderson in his heat, was a length further back. Time, 5.15. BUSHCRAFT EVENTS 12-INCH MAIDEN UNDERHAND CHOP. First prize, £2 2/-; second, £1 1/-; third, 10/6 (16 entries). —First heat: L. McEwen 1, H. Middleton 2, H. J. Pont 3. Time, 0.41 3-5. Second heat: G. Shaw 1, E. E. Bennett 2, D. Duggan 3. Time, 0.49 2-5. Final: McEwen 1, Pont 2, Middleton 3. Won by a blow. Time, 0.35 1-5.

14-INCH UNDERHAND CHOP, open. First prize, £9; second, £3 10/ third, £1 10/- (22 entries).— First heat: J. Swale (7sec) 1, J. Pont (14sec) 2, J. Bates (7sec) 3. Time, 0*53. Second heat: G. Cameron (12sec) 1, A. Fraser (7sec) 2, R. Anderson (lOsec) 3. Time, 0.54. Final: Swale 1, Bates 2, Pont 3. Time: 0.50 2-5.

18-INCH DOUBLE-HANDED SAWING HANDICAP. • First pnze, £6; second, £2 10/-; third, £1 W- < l2 entries). —First heat: Waldron and McIntosh (7sec) 1, Collinson and Duggan (ssec) 2, Fraser and Swale 3. J-ime, 0.13. Second heat: Cameron and Morton (6sec) 1, Harding and Bates (7sec) 2, Murdoch and Brown (Bsec) 3. lime, 0.14 2-5. Final: Waldron and Mclntosh 1, Fraser and Swale 2, Duggan Collinson 3. A thrilling finish with almost nothing to spare. Time: 0.13 1-a. 12-INCH STANDING BLOCK CHOP HANDICAP. First prize, £7; second, £3; third, £1 10/- (14 entries).—First heat: A. Fraser (lOsec) 1, G. Cameron (7sec) 2, W. Collinson (6sec) 3. Time, 0.36 2-5. Second heat: J. Swale (9sec) 1, C. Harding (12sec) 2, J. Pont (llsec) 3. Time, 0.46. Final: Fraser 1, Swale 2, Cameron 3. Won by several seconds. Time, 0.37 2-5. PLATFORM EVENTS

MARCHES SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIP, open. First, £3; second, £2; third, £1 (six entries).—J. Cameron (Mataura) 1, W. Milne (Dunedin) 2, D. Bowman (Gore) 3. SLOW AIRS, A grade. First, £3; second, £2; third, £1 (six entries). W. Milne 1, J. Cameron 2, D. Bowman 3. MARCHES, B grade. First, £2, second, £l5/-; third, 10/- (six entiles). —E. Ashby 1, G. Elder 2, G. Miller 3.

STRATHSPEY AND, REEL, B grade. First, £2; second, £1 5/-; tmrd, 10/(four entries). —G. Miller 1, E. Ashby 2, L. Copland 3.

MARCHES, C grade. First, £1 10/-; second, £1; third, 10/- (nine entries). —L. Copland 1, A. Mortimer 2, G. Stalker 3.

MARCHES, D grade. First,' £1 10/-; second, £1: third, 10/- (six entries).— A. Mortimer 1, J. Wilson 2, B. Thomson 3.

HIGHLAND FLING, under 10 years. First, 10/-; second, 5/-; third, 2/6 (10 entries).—Nelson Clelland 1, Bevelly Wix 2, Gussie Hoffman 3. SWORD DANCE, under 12 years. First, £1; second, 10/-;. third, 5/- (19 entries).—Betty Anderson 1, Mavis Leebody 2, Sylvia Roberts 3. HIGHLAND FLING, under 14 years. First, £1; second, 10/-; third, 5/- (17 entries). —Sylvia Roberts 1, Betty Anderson 2, Joyce Tinker 3. HIGHLAND REEL. Team competition, open. First. £1 10/-; second, £1; third, 10/- (five teams entered). —Isobel Macdonald, Nannie McLeod, Joyce Tinker and Rosie Tomlins 1, Peggy Anderson, Mavis Todd, Betty Anderson and Mavis Leebody 2, Marion Thomson, Gussie Hoffman, Sylvia Roberts and C. O’Brien 3.

SWORD DANCE, open. First, £1 10/-; second, 15/-; third 5/- (nine entries). —Norma Marshall 1, Mavis Todd 2, Isobel Macdonald 3. HIGHLAND FLING, open.—First, £1 10/-; second, 15/-; third, 5/- (10 entries). —Norma Marshall 1, Isobel Macdonald 2, Peggy Anderson 3. IRISH JIG, open.—First, £1 .10/-; second, 15/-; third, 5/- (13 entries). — Isobel Macdonald 1, Norma Marshall 2, Mavis Todd 3.

SEANN TRIUBHAIS, SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. First £5, second, £2; third, £1 (seven entries). Isobel Macdonald (Invercargill) 1 Norma Marshall (Dunedin) 2 Nannie McLeod (Otahuti) 3