HAWKE'S BAY CLUB

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1020, 10 July 1930, Page 12

HAWKE'S BAY CLUB

TWO ONE-DAY FIXTURES PROPOSED DECEMBER AND JUNE Owners and trainers j n the Auckland Province will feel seme disappointment at the decision of the Hawke's Bay Trotting Club to hold next season's two one-dav | fixtures. j For some reason, which is difficult Ito define, the East Coast light harness organisation does not meet witi the success it deserves, although usually it receives good support from this I part of the Dominion. When tie I Hawke’s Bay Club gained the perI mit, rendered available through the I defection of the neighbouring Poverty | Bay Club, it was generally expected I that the holding of a two-day fixture at Hastings would tend to create a 'keener interest in the sport on the East Coast. In 1929. the carnival was held on June 1-3 and proved a fairly successful function. Despite the publicity given to the meeting, and the fact that a better class of pacer and troiter than usual was competing, the public did not appear to appreciate to its full extent the efforts put forth by a live-wire committee to mats the affair most attractive. Change of Season However, the keen racing witnessed on that occasion augured well for future functions. The committee, when making arrangements for the 1930 campaign, considered better results might be obtained if the meeting was held at an earlier period of the season and March 15 and 17 were decided on as the dates for the carnival. With the Manawatu club's one-day fixture taking place on March 12. a useful country circuit was formed, but the change did not bring‘about the result hoped for. The meeting was enjoyable and well conducted, but small fields, particularly on the second day, had a depressing effect on the general revenue. The executive, while recognising that a two-day fixture is the most attractive for owners and trainers in distant provinces, has come to the conclusion that there is too long between the meetings to hold public interest. Some members claim that two meetings will tend to raise, and hold, more enthusiasm in Hawke’s Bay in the popular pastime. With this idea in view, an application has been made for two one-day fixtures for the forthcoming season, the dates suggested being December 20 and June 3. Fitting in with Carterton It is to be r hoped that in the event of this policy being acceptable to the • dates committee —and there should be

no hesitation in granting the request, as some larger clubs are favoured in this direction —the expectations of the promoters will realised. The first date —December 20—should fit in nicely before the South Wairarapa Christmas carnival, and as the classes of both clubs are on a similar basis, thosvisiting the one function will no'doubt take part in the other. Owners from a long distance with eligible candidates will not find if much more expensive to include the Hawke’s Bay December fixture in their arrangements for the Wairarapa function a week later. There is usually » good quota for the latter rendezvous from the Auckland Province, and owners from this territory, seeing that the Hawke's Bay Club has found it necessary to experiment with separate periods, will appreciate the fact that the first session is so handy to the date of the Carterton carnival.