THE AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 307, 28 December 1914, Page 7

THE AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

The weather conditions were perfect at Elthani on Saturday for the first day of the New Zealand Axemen's Association's 14th Annual Championship carnival. A crowd, numbering fully 3000 assembled' in Taumata Park, and were treated to exhibitions of good chopping and excellent cycling. The Eltham Band, under Conductor A. Beesley,' gave a very enjoyable programme during the day, and numerous side-shows .did a brisk business. The catering was in the able hands of Mrs Brooking. CHOPPING AND SAWING. Maiden Handicap Chop (15-inch standing blocks).—E. J. King 1, J. A. Fergusson 2. Time Imin 41 1-5 sec. Five started. There was nothing very brilliant about' the chop. New Zealand Championship Chop (12-inch standing blocks). First Heat, C. Sims 1, C. A. Eichstaedt 2, C. Volzke 3, A. Fergusson 4. Time 38 2-ssec. Sims won easily among seven starters. Second Heat, J. E. Richardson 1, J. E. Shewry .', 2, T. Hicks 3, W. Pech 4. Time 34sec. A close finish.

Single-handed Sawing Championship.— S. Kennedy 1, C. Dwyer 2, A. Volzke 3, J. Poynton 4. Time lmin Usee. Kennedy won on a very knotty block. Six starters. .. . World's Championship Chop (2foot standing blocks). —W. Pech 1, C. Volzke 2, J. E. Richardson 3, Apa Thia 4. Time, smin 21 L-ssec. J. E. Shewry had the bad luck to get a." very knotty blockj and both his axes were unfit for service before he could finish. Pech's steady, clean stroke gained him a well-earned win. Underhand Championship Chop (18inch logs).—First Heat, C. Sims (30 sec), 1; J. E. Shewry (32sec), 2; J. Poynton (38sec) 3. Time, 3min. Five starters. Second Heat, C. Dwyer (30sec) 1, E. H. Home (38sec) 2, Richardson (24sec) 3. Time 2min 31sec. Won by about 10 seconds. There was a keen contest for second place. Four starters. Third Heat, A. R. Fergusson (38sec) 1, O. Larsen (36sec) 2, E. A. Eichstaedt (32 sec) 3. Time 2min 4. 3-ssec. Final Heat, C. Dwyer 1, J. E. Shewry 2, E. H. Home 3, E. A. Eichtaedt 4. Time 2min 4 l-ssec. A well-contested chop, though Dwyer won by a. good margin. CYCLING.

The track was in very good order for cycling, and the races proved extremely interesting. Half-mile Handicap.—First Heat, P. Griffin (scr.) 1, W. T. Kerr (35 yds) 2, A. Da.nielson (15yds) 3. Time lmin 11 2-ssec. Five starters. Seer ond Heat, G. Collingwood (65yds) 1, A. P'arkes (30yds) 2, S. W. Crutchley (35yds) 3. Time lmin 13 1-5 sec. Collingwood was in the lead throughout the race. . Four starters. Third Heat. This resulted in a dead heat between P. Hill (35yds> and A. 0. Parkes (45yds). Five starters. Final Heat, W. T. Kerr 1, P. Griffin 2, A. 0. Parkes 3. Time lmin 9 l-ssec. Won by about three lengths. Carnival Wheel Race (2 miles).— First Heat.t P. Griffin 1, A. Danielson 2, W. T, Kerr 3, S. W. Crutchley 4. Time smin 26 l-ssec. Eight starters. Second Heat, A. Parkes 1, 0. Murray 2, A. 0. Parkes 3, P. Hill 4. Time smin 23sec„ Final Heat, P. Griffin 1, W. T. Kerr 2, S. W. Crutchley 3, A. 0. Parkes 4. Time smin 23sec. , C. Murray set the pace for- the first few rounds. Won by a length. ' - One Mile Handicap.—First Heat, P. Griffin 1, A. Parkes 2, W. T. Kerr 3. Time 2min 31sec. Seven started. Second Heat, W. Roebuck 1, 8. W. Crutchley 2, H. Henderson 3. Time 2min 25sec. Six started. Final Hoat, P. Griffin 1, W. T. Kerr 2, W. S. Crutchley 3. Time 2min 30sec.

Five Mile Handicap.—P. Griffin 1, W. T. Kerr 2, A. Parkes 3. Time 14min 39sec. Griffin soon began to show his superiority, and the ond of the tenth round showed him about fifty yards behind Roebuck, who was in the lead. Kerr was leading at

3} miles. By the 19th round Griffin had taken first place, and he maintained his lead till the end.

Tug-of-War.—The pull between' the

South Taranaki Bacon Co. v. Kakaramea resulted in a win for the latter team, after four minuates. The Maori team, under . the captaincy of Mr Carroll, of Hawe'ra, beat the Gane Milking Machine Co. team, the former team having the weaight on their .side. • At thte end of 10 minutes they had got 3 to 4 inches o'. rope.