WYNDHAM TROTTING CLUB

Southland Times, Issue 24545, 20 September 1941, Page 11

WYNDHAM TROTTING CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Wyndham Trotting Club was held on Thursday evening, when the president, Mr Joseph Hunter, presided over a good attendance of members. The chairman referred to the loss the club had suffered through the deaths _ of three members, Messrs J. McGlinchey, A. Gillies and A. Young. Motions of sympathy with the relations were passed. The annual report stated that there was a profit on the year’s workings of £l9O/11/9. Out of this amount £5O 10/- was donated to patriotic purposes and £5 written off as depreciation, leaving a balance carried forward of £133/1/9. The Juvenile Classic race was again a feature of the club’s programme and resulted in a field of high-class young pacers competing. It had been advocated in some quarters that racing should be' abandoned during the war period, but tire committee was of the definite opinion that it should be continued, and although the club would be racing under altered conditions the executive felt confident that the meeting could be conducted with, at the worst, a balancing of accounts.'

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman referred to the successful year experienced by the club. The gate takings were a record and the totalizator turnover increased from £15,000 to £22,000, which went to show the popularity of trotting with the general public. The racing had been of a high standard. The Juvenile Classic race was now an established feature of the programme. The appearance of the champion trotter had been a draw, and although he had not given of his best on the day all lovers of a good horse would appreciate the club’s action in procuring him for the meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr W. McDonald and carried without comment. , • The following officers were elected: President, Mr J. Hunter; vice-presi-dents, Messrs W. McDonald, T. Mawdsley, W. Irvine, sen., and E. Frame; committee, Messrs W. Sheehan, J. Young, S. Clarke and G. T. McNally; auditor, Mr P. B. Barnett. Mr John Hannon, in moving a vote of thanks to the executive for its excellent work during the year, said he wished especially to compliment it on the appearance of Certissimus at the meeting, as he considered such a step was along the right lines, no matter what might be said to the contrary, and he hoped that it would be possible to get another of the “cracks’ to appear next year. After the annual meeting a banquet was held when upwards of 150 sportsmen from all over Southland were present. A toast-list was honoured and items were given by Messrs C. Weir, H. H. Brown, W. Watson, L. T. Brown, H. McL. Eggers and Rowe. Messrs Barnett and E. S. Macfarlane were the accompanists.