Large Programme For Caledonian Games In January

Southland Times, Issue 24005, 21 December 1939, Page 11

Large Programme For Caledonian Games In January

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The second sports meeting of the Caledonian Society of Invercargill in January this year showed that the Invercargill Caledonian Games could fairly be claimed to be one of the best sports meetings in the South Island, if not in New Zealand. The revival a little more than two years ago of a sports gathering which was in the early days one of the most popular attractions in the province has- certainly been crowned with success. The society seems destined to go on to greater success, for it has organized for January 13 next year a large-scale Centennial sports meeting which should set a standard that no other fixture of this kind in New Zealand could surpass. The Caledonian Society has arranged an outstanding programme for its next games and the sum of £330 is being offered in prize-money, to be won outright. The programme could surely not be more comprehensive. Running events for both professional and amateur athletes, professional and amateur cycling, field events, Highland dancing and piping and bushcraft events are all featured on the programme, but that is not all. Visitors to the games will see wrestling, miniature rifle shooting, clay bird shooting and model aeroplane flying. The society has obviously spared Ho effort to provide the best for both competitors and spectators, and the preparations for the third annual meeting deserve to be rewarded with the fullest success. % The six professional running events carry a total prize-money of £6O and should attract athletes from all parts of the country. The most important event, the 135 yards Sheffield, offers £l3 to the runner securing first'place. The competitor’ who gains second place will receive £5, the third man will get £3 and the fourth £l. The 220 yards and 440 yards events each carry a first prize of £4, with £2 for second and £1 for third. The winner of the half-mile will receive £5; the second man will receive £2 and the third £l. The successful competitor in the mile gains a prize of £6 and the second and third men receive £3 and £1 respectively. Good money is also offering for the 75 yards event. The competitor with most points in running events will win the Sir Robert Anderson Centennial Cup. AMATEUR SECTION The amateur section includes six races for which £l6/15/- is offered in trophy orders. These are the 100 yards and 440 yards open, the mile, 75 yards women’s race, men’s inter-house relay and women’s relay. With the enthusiasm which has so far marked amateur athletics in Invercargill this season, and the number taking part in the sport, it will not be surprising if record fields are entered for these events. It was shown at the games early this year that amateur running can be as popular with the crowd as professional events. It is particularly pleasing to see that field events have not been excluded from the programme. This is a branch of athletics that is too often neglected at major sports meetings’ and good entries should be forthcoming for the shot putt, the hop, step and jump, broad jump and tossing the caber. The first three events are for amateur competitors; the last-mentioned is open. Both professional and amateur cyclists are catered for with two events in each section, the mile and the twomiles. The sum of £l5 will be divided between the two professional events and the same amount in trophies is being awarded in the amateur races. STRONG BUSHCRAFT SECTION Axemen and sawyers will not be disappointed with the bushcraft programme and the excellent prize-money, totalling £75, should create strong competition. The principal chopping event, the 14-inch underhand chop, carries a total of £3O and a racing axe given by Messrs F. R. Plumb. The winner will receive £l6, the second man will receive £7, the third £3, the fourth £l, and the fifth £l. Heat winners not placed in the final will receive 12/6. The 20-inch double-handed sawing handicap carries £8 for first, £4 for second and £1 for third. Attractive prizemoney is offering for the other bushcraft events.

SCRATCH

All the other sections are particularly strong and should attract large entries. The Highland dancing events are worth £24 altogether and the piping section carries £29 in prize-money. Miniature rifle shooting enthusiasts are catered for with seven events.

Entries close with the secretary (Mr M. C. Wilson) on Wednesday, January 3, at 9 p.m. The handicaps will appear in The Southland Times on Wednesday, January 10. To commemorate the Centennial gathering the society is able, through the generosity and interest of residents of the city, to present handsome Centennial cups to the competitors gaining most points in sectional events on the programme.