TAKAKA ATHLETIC AND CYCLING CLUB.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 14958, 4 January 1919, Page 6

TAKAKA ATHLETIC AND CYCLING CLUB.

ANNUAL SPIRTS MEETING

(From Our Own CorrespondGiir.)

The above popular meeting was held to-clay und January) on the ftoc-ivatfo" trround in perfect weather, and proved a i brilliant success. Tho crowd was tUero, tao competitors were all true ■sports, and the races were keenly con-1 testou A phasing feature of the I n-eoting, was the number of returned soldiers who contested the various items. The same pluck and dash that took our boys so promptly into the faring line was very much" in evidence to-day. For instance a Twelfth Reiniorcement man who was so shot to pieces that lie was reported "killed in action" and subsequently had this amended to "dangerously" wounded"— a man who returned but a few months ago m a shattered condition, to-da-rode 111 tnree cycle races, and won one w^-^ood h!tk to him. Again, the iw lards Run was annexed by a bixth Iteinforcement man'with a Turkish bullet still in his arm, and a wounded M:un Body Ar.zac ran him a good second. A hero of the Tenths put up a good fight for second in the 220 yards —a man who, by the way, left part of his anatomy, and an important part, oeliind at Gallipoli. A special race wits put on for returned soldiers only and wa* fought to a finish by two Main J>ody men, one Sixth and one Tenth and they all cut out the 200 yards in good time. It was a returned "soldiers' day out, and between them they made the sports meeting. The events and winners were as under:— Boys' 50 yards, tinder 10: R. Kirk 1,1. Egan 2. Fourteen starters Maiden 100 Yards Run: Keith Scott i, VV. b. Harris- 2. Eight starters : won easily. Novice Roadster Cycle: Rawiri 1. J L. Gatey 2, Vernon Scott 3. Five starters; won by 20 yards. Boys' 75 yards, under 12: It. Kirk 1, B. Kerr 2. Fourteen starters Half-mile Run: M. V. Humphreys 40 yards, 1; M. Robertson, scratch, 2! Four starters; the scratch man caught and passed his field and had the race apparently won, but Humphreys put m a game sprint and fairly fought his way home a winner—a groat finish. Humphreys should persevere with foot racing, he has good grit as well as r-ac>. S -'-'ial 200 yards1 for bona fide retur- I soldiers (Mr. E. W. Scott's spt," d prize): Ralph Sparrow ("Main Body), 16 yards, 1; C. J. Emms (Sixth Reinforcements), 13 yards, 2; R. Benson (Tenth Reinforcements), 8 yards 3. F. Hayes (Main Body), scratch' also started. Half-mile Cycle: W. J. Kissell 30 yards, 1; T. Rahrarui, 20 yards, 2. if ive started; Kissell rode a pretty race and won very easily. This man should be heard more of at future meetings. Boys' 100 yards, under 14: Re^ Sadd, ser., 1; J. Adams, 2 yards behind, 2. Ten started. 220 Yards Handicap Run: Keith fcveott (7 yards) 1, R. Benson (5 yards) 2 F. Hayes (4 yards) 3. Ten started. This race was spoilt by the ugly shaped and narrow track. L. Kerr "(scratch) was going through his men in.greatstyle when he fell heavily, Hayes from the 4 yards mark looked a winner, but was blocked before reaching the tape, and could only get third. Stepping Competition for Men: D. Scott 1, F. Adams 2. Forty-ono competed. Youths' Half-mile Handicap Run, age IS or under (Mr. James Manson's special prize): A. "W. Nalder (10 yards) 1. N. Fauchelle (10 yards) 2. 'Three started; a, great finish between the placed lads. 100 Yards Handicap: First heat, F. Hayes (2 yards) 1, R. Benson (4 yards) 2; second heat, C. J. Emms (7 yards) 1, W. H. Haase (4 yards) 2; final, C. J. Emms (7 yards) 1, F. Hayes (2 yards) 2. • Time 12 seconds. All-good finishes. . ■'.■'■ One Mile Cycle: Ashley. .Hitchcock (120 yards) 1, W. J. Kissell (scratch) ' 2. Sis started. Kissell rode really well, and got within a wheel of his man at the tape. Ladies' Stepping: Miss F. Lindsay Slow Cycle. Race: First heat, I. Patterson, sole finisher I; second heat, Reg Sadd 1, F. Pool 2; final, Reg. Sadd 1, F. Pool 2. These two lads showed great skill in manipulating their bike*', and there was nothing much to spare at the finish for the winner. 440 Yards Handicap Run: Erie Be-n----semann (20 yards) 1, M. Robertson (scratch) 2. Five started. The winner put up a fino performance, and being yet very young should make a name for himself if he sticks to the game. ,One Mile Cycle, youths of 18 or under (special prize by Mi* A. H. Hume: White Rawiri i, L. Hitchcock ] 2. Three started. Tho winner showed j good stuff, and will do well at future; meetings. Sheep Guessing, live weight: Messrs J. F. Lindsay, EL. Sparrow and" anothpr guessed 1071b, the exact weight. Thus ended a particularly bright and happy sports gathering. The club has now got on its feet after four years of struggling under war stress. Next year big prizes and a more lavish state of.things all round are now made possible. The thanks of the committee are clue to the little, band of "-sports" who kept the flag flying for years in the face of great odds. Smooth water is now ahead. In the avening"'following on the sports meeting cur patriotic band of young ladies organised and ran a-, delightful dance in honour of tho many returned soldiers new in our midst. 'During the evomng I\'r. J. B-. Sadd spoke a few word:-, of welcome to the returned boys, and congratulated those, who competed ft tHo .shorts cw their Mie performances, and a hearty fhree-tirnes-throe v.;vs v-h-pu v.ith tho 'Molly Good Fellow" chorus. " ■ ■