SPORTS AT URUTI

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1927, Page 7

SPORTS AT URUTI

WET WEATHER PREVAILS AXEMEN IN EXCELLENT iFORM.S KEEN COMPETITION WITNESSED. For the second time in three years the Uruti Sports Chub has been very unkindly treated in the matter of weather. Following a fine day on Tuesday yesterday morning broke wet, but the committee, after due deliberation, decided to make the best of matters and carry on as originally arranged, so as not to disappoint the public and the competitors who had arrived despite the rain. Carry on they did, and successfully, too, though rain that fell more er less throughout the day made conditions very damp underfoot and very unpleasant overhead. The wet weather must have been very disheartening to members of the committee, who had arranged such an attractive programme, and had been at such pains to complete all the details necessary to the successful carrying out of the gathering, but they made light of their misfortune and all co-operated so whole-heartedly that the lengthy programme was put through right up to time, despite the unavoidable late start. Axemen, of course, as is only to be expected in a district that itself was but lately bush, were well catered for, there being no less than thirteen chopping events, including heats and finals. All proved of a very interesting nature, though occasionally a burly bushman found it difficult to obtain a foothold, and some splendid finishes were witnessed. The big money, the Uruti Chop, carrying with it a first prize of £2O, was annexed by J. Newsbroeki, a veteran axeman from Midhirst, in a field of seventeen. R. Waite won the Tangitu Cup Chop for the second year in succession against thirteen competitors, and the cup therefore becomes his own property. There was a protest after this event, the only one of the day, on the grounds that the winner and second men had started before time, but the protest committee, Messrs C. H. Barnitt, D. L. Tate and W. Dowds, decided not to alter the judge’s decision. Twentyfive started in the 12-inch chop, which was decided in three heats, the final being won by J. Harrison, whilst D. Rae won the maiden. Both doublehanded sawing events fell to Schrieber Bros.

Fields in the running events were not very large, but the racing was keenly contested. C. W. Gush had a field day, winning the 220yds, 440yds and 880yds, whilst A. V. Laurent annexed the maiden and 100yds open. A feature was the keen competition evinced in the young ladies’ race. The finishes were a tribute to the work of the handicappers, Messrs J. H. Hansen and W. Oxenham (local), but despite the closeness of the contests, particularly in the chopping, where there were several dead heats in minor places, the judges. Messrs B. Oxenham, L. Boyes and W. Lawrence (chopping), and A. R. Alpe, B. Anderson and B. Oxenham (running), never made a mistake. Mr. Geo. Baker, as starter, effected good despatches. Other officials who added their quota to the smooth running of the gathering were J. Schofield, clerk of the course; W. Smith and Rev. Teague, marksmen; D. L. Tate, press steward; R, W. Richardson, referee; G. Murray and Rev. Teague, block stewards; R. Say well, J. Miller, J. Beggs, E. Rumbal and W. Rogers, track stewards; E. Selby and W. Smith, gatekeepers; P. C. McGregor and S. S. Butt, competition stewards; J. Dickie, marshal; E. A. Jones, result official; Geo. Baker and A ,R. Alpe, timekeepers. The energetic committee, of which Mr. W. L. Larsen was chairman, had made very complete arrangements for the conduct of the gathering, having spent a lot of labour and time on the picturesque domain, in getting the track prepared as well as the enclosure, and pukatea blocks ready for the chopping, and it is to be regretted that their efforts were not rewarded with the financial success they deserve. For such a day the attendance was remarkably good, showing that the committee has the support of the district behind It. Those present included quite a number of ladies, who thoroughly enjoyed the outing under improvised shelters. The catering, which was in the hands of Mr. Vinsen, of the Stratford Marble Bar, was of a high standard, and provided a very welcome interlude. In its secretary, Mr. W. Reisima, and assistant secretary, Mr. C. H. Short, the club is fortunate in possessing two officials wm, not only have the interests of the club at heart, but thoroughly understand their work. Detailed results are.--CHOPPING EVENTS. -Maiden Chop. 12-inch block. First prize £3 10s, second £2, third 10s. — First heat: R. E. Ekdahl (26sec) 1, W. Larsen (26sec) 2, B. Rae (24sec) 3. Seven started. Won with a little to spare, the second man dropping his ’block a blow ahead of the third. Time, 48 l-ssec. Second heat; D. Rae (26sec) 1, R. A. Larsen (26sdc) 2. P. Newstroski (27sec) 3. Eight started. Won by about three seconds, with a blow between second and third. Time. 53see.’ Final: D. Rae, (26sec) 1, P. Newstroski (27sec) and W. Larsen (26see) dead heat 2. All qualified started. This 1 proved a very interesting contest. Rea, chopping strongly, finished a second ahead of the other pair, whose blocks fell simultaneously. Time, 43 l-ssec. Tangitu Cup Chop, 14-inch block. First £5 and cup valued £lO 10s, second £2, third £1. —First heat: R. Waite (21sec) 1, H. Nuku (22sec) 2, M. Corbett (28sec) 3. Six started. Waite, chopping strongly, soon overhauled the limit men and lifted his block off a couple of seconds ahead of Nuku. Corbett was several seconds back. Time. 56sec. Second heat: J. Harrison (3asec) 1. A. Fazackerley (18ece) and E. J. Ekdahl (28see) dead heat 2, W. L. Larsen (33sec) 4. Seven started. Harrison won by about a second. Time, Imin 3sec. Final: R. Waite (21sec) I, A. Fazackerley (ISsec) 2. H. Nuku (22sec) 3, J. Harrison (35sec) 4 The seven qualified started. Harrison was nearly round before Fazaekerley started. The scratch men, however, chopped strongly, Waite lifting his block off three or four blows ahead of Fazackerley, who ran out of wood. Nuku was a second away third. Time. 52see. A protest that the winner had started before time was dismissed. Uruti Chop, 14-inch block (open). First £2O, second £4, third £l.—First heat: J. Newstroski (20sec) 1, E, A, Fazackerley (27sec) 2. J. Harrison (35sec) 3. Eight started. Newstroski beat Fabaokerley, by a couple of blows, while Harrison took almost three seconds longer. Time, Imin 2sec. Second heat: A. Faz-I

ackerley (IBsec) 1, H. Nuku (27sec) 2, T. Smith (30sec) 3. R. Waite (21sec) 4. Nine started. A great finish, only a few blows separating the first four men. Time, 60 2-ssec, Final: J. Newstroski (20sec) j. A. Fazackerley (ISsec) 2, H. Nuku (27sec) 3, E. A. Fazzackeriey (27sec) 4. The six qualified started. Harrison was quickest around, followed by A. Fazackerley, with Newstroski a blow later. The last-named, chopping in great style, was putting a lot of power into his blows and ran out a winner by a good second from A. Fazackerley. who just beat Nuku by a blow. E. A. Fazackerley was close up fourth. Time, 54sec. Open Chop, 12-inch. First £4, second £l.—First heat: 3. A. Fazackerley (20sec) 1, M. Corbett (23sec) 2, W. Rogers (25sec) 3, H. W. Burkett (14sec)' 4. .Six started. Fazackerley struck a splendid block and, chopping very strongly, ran out an easy winner in 38sec. Second heat: Tamaki (25sec) 1, R. Waite (17sec) 2, W. Sutton (26sec) and W. Larsen (26see) dead heat. Nine started. Won with a little to spare. Time, 40 2-ssec. Third heat; A. Fazackerley (lasec) 1, J. Harrison (24sec) 2, R. Ekdahl (24see) 3. Ten started. A great finish. Time, 29 l-ssec. Final: J, Harrison (24sec) 1, R. Waite (17sec) 2, A. Fazackerley (lasec) 3, W. Larsen (26sec) 4. All qualified started. Harrison's block . just fell ahead . of Waite’s, whilst Fazackerley was two seconds later to finish, just ahead of Larsen. Time, 36 2-ssec. Maiden Double-handed Sawing, 14inch, one cut. First £2 ss, second 10s.—Schrieber Bros, (scr) 1, B. Oxenham and Jones (scr) 2, Whittle and Biggs (scr) 3. Six pairs competed. Won by a second, with only a fraction between second and third. Time, lOsec. Double-handed Sawing (open), two cuts, 14-inch log. First £4, second £l, —Schrieber Bros. (7sec) 1, J. Harrison and E. A. Fazackerley (7sec) 2, C. Whittle and C. Beggs (7sec) 3. Five pairs started. Won by about a second, with very little between second and third. Time, 18see. RUNNING EVENTS. Maiden Race. 100yds. First 255, second 10s. —A. V. Laurent 1, J. Roberts 2, B. Teaegue 3. Seven started. The winner led all the way to win comfortably by four yards, with a yard between second and third. Time, 11 3-ssec. 100 Yards Open, First £4, second £l.—A. V. Laurent (11yds) 1, H. Carey (7yds) 2, J. Richardson (12yds) 3. Six started. Laurent took the lead early to win comfortably by two yards, with a yard between second and third. Boys’ Race, under 16 years.—D. Feak (Byds) 1, P. McGregor (16yds) 2, E. White (scr) 3. Four started. Won comfortably. 220 Yards Open. First £6, second £2 —C. W. Gush (17yds) 1, H. Carey (15yds) 2, A. Oxenham (21yds) 3. Six started. This provided a good race, Gush winning by 4 yard, with a foot separating the next two men. Time, 25 l-ssee. 440 Yards Open. First £6, second £2— C. W. Gusli (28yds) 1, H. Carey (17yds) 2, J. Roberts (40yds) 3. Five

started. Burkett lead over the early stages but, with half the distance covered Gush ran into first place and went on to win comfortably by several lengths from Carey, who came up to beat Roberts by a yard. 880 Yards Handicap (open). First £4, second £1. —C. W. Gush (35yds) 1, H. Carey (25yds) 2, Dick Oxenham (60yds) 3 Five started. Laurent made the pace very hot for a quarter of a mile, when Gush took the lead, followed by Carey and Oxenham. The latter made a great effort to catch the leader, but was done 50yds from the post, and Gush went on to win nicely by six yards from Carey, with Oxenham 10yds further back. Time, 2min 3sec. Local Race, 150 yards.—Dick Oxenham (syds) 1, Rev. Teague (3yds) 2, J. Richardson (2yds) 3. Five started. Won by two yards. Time, 18 2-ssee, Members’ Race, 100 yards.—W. M. Sutton (scr) 1, A. V. Laurent (scr) 2, Dick Oxenham (scr) 3. Four started. Won by 18 inches. Time, 12 2-ssec. Boys’ Race, under 12 years.—Vai Boyes 1, J. Oxenham 2, M. McGregor 3. Eight started. Young Ladies’ Race, 75 yards.—Miss M. Oxenham 1, Miss A. Boyes 2, Miss A. feek 3. Seven started. 75 Yards Young Ladies’ Race, 12 to 16 years.—M. Fugle 1, J. Musker 2, J. McDonald 3. Four started. Girls’ Race, under 12 years.—R. Oxenham 1, J. Laurent 2, M. Rea and D. Rea dead heat 3. Six started. Ladies’ Nail-driving.—Mrs. E. Jones. Men’s Nail-driving.—J. McDonald won after having to hit off with E. Jones and C. Jones. BALL IN EVENING. The ball in the Uruti Hall in the Evening proved a fitting finale to the day's outing. The hall was crowded and all had an enjoyable time, the M.C.’s, Messrs J. Telfar, E. G. Jones and R. W. Richardson keeping matters merrily moving to the music of G. Boulton’s orchestra. Supper, catered for by Mr. Vinsen, provided a pleasant break. During the evening Mr. J. C. Rolleston, M.P. for the district, presented the prizes won during the day. The committee responsible for the success of the ball comprised Messrs P. Thomson, B. Rae, E. A. Jones, J. Guild, D. Rea, A. G. Oxenham, Misses Smith, K. Oxenham, E. Thomson, Mesdames Ratcliffe and G. K. Oxenham.