DOVEDALE.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11925, 3 May 1907, Page 3

DOVEDALE.

FARMERS' UNION FIELD DAY. Considerable interest was taken in the Field Day Sports held on Wednesday. May Ist, in Mr Walter Thorn's property, under the aus- : pices of the local branch of the Farmers' Union. Although tbe day broke dull with occasional showers, settlers came from a radius of fully twenty miles — Tadmor, Stanley Brook, Moutere, and the Waimeas, being well represented. The programme consisted of ploughing Hiatch.es, wood chopping for men and youths, sawing also for men and youths, nail driving for women. Tbe obstacle driving was a feature of the day's sport, "this event being keenly contested by a good number of entrants. The obstacles consisted of short sticks driven in the ground at intervals in a circle, and the drivers had to drive over these. Taken on the whole 5 the driving was exceedingly good. There v?as also a class for ladies in this event, and brought out quite a number of fair contestants. The ploughing match brought out eight competitors— five long mouldboard and three, short mouldboard, both in stubble land, the areas being about a quarter of an acre for each. Some excellent work was done in the long mouldboard class. The judging was done by points on the following basis: Straightness, entering, in and out, best packed, neatness, and finish. Kain commenced to fall about noon, and continued all the afternoon, and this marred the enjoyment of the spectators. The officials, one and all, worked hard, and deserve great credit for the way in which they arranged matters. The following is a list of the officials:— President, Mr W. Thorn; Secretary, Mr W. Best; Judges of Ploughing, Messrs William Best (Brightwater), James Leighton, senior, and F. Challies; Stewards for Chopping and Sawing, Messrs N. Win, J. Thorn, J. Jordan. W. Best, andjH. Langman ; Stewards for Nail Driving and Stepping, -Messrs H. B. Thorn, C. Silcock. C. Hall, and A. Thorn ; Committee for Concert and Dance, Messrs JW. Best, P. Hall, A. Win, A. Snook, T. Burnett, and A. Stringer; timekeeper, Mr John Glen; ( Mr H. 3. Harris, of Wakefield. was in charge of the luncheon booth, and he provided an excellent bill of fare. It is estimated that fully five hundred persons were present. The promotors are to be heartily congratulated upon such a successful undertaking, under rather trying circumstances. The results were : — Ploughing — Short: W. Jordan 1, £2 : A . Ebau 2, jBl. Long : J. Jordan 1, £2: F. Palmer 2, JBl; C Silcock 3, 10s. Wood Chopping— Adults: T. Hannan, 2mins 35secs, 1, £2 2s ; C. Hope (French Pass), 2mins 56secs, 2, £1 Is; H. Snooks 3. Under 18: Lewis Griffiths, 3min 12 3-sth sees, 1, 35a; C. Silcock, lmin 18 2-sth sees. 2, 7s 6d. Griffiths also took a special prize of 5s for the best cut. Sawing— Adults: (18in. log) Leaaon Griffiths and Alex. Baigent, 29 2-sth sees, 1, £1; A. Davis and Alex. Baigent, 32 3-sth sees, 2 10s. Davis and Baigent tied with another pair in the first attempt, but won in the saw off. Under 18: (12in. log) R. Davis and Burnett, 45 3-5 sec, 1, (10s); J. and M. Thorn, 49 l-sth sees, 2, (ss). Single Sawing: W. Burnett 1, lmin 4-othsecs 1, 10s, the only competitor. Obstacle driving: W. Smith, £1: Arthur Win, 10s. (As it came on to rain our correspondent did not remain to see the finish of the competitions.)