PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1929, Page 12

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS

■SUCCESSFUL SEASON RECORDED. REPORT OF STRATFORD CLUB. "The club’s sports were held on March 21, 19’29, and it can be claimed that they passed off most successfully,” states the report to be presented to the annual meeting of the Stratford Athletic Club to-night.- "The programme comprised a large number of running and cycling events and these were dispatched to the scheduled times.” An innovation "on the programme, the report continued, had been the inclusion of wood chopping events, and these had created considerable competition. The events were well filled, and their inclusion in the programme added to the variety. A feature of the sports meeting had been the competition in the Highland events, and the committee wished to thank Messrs. S. Macalister and J. E. Jamieson for taking charge and controlling these events, and also Mr. J. W’ade, the judge. The committee also wished to thank the Scottish Society for its donation of £6 towards the prize money for the Scottish events. The committee wished to record its appreciation to the Domain Board, to the- overseer (Mr. L. B. Davis) and to the borough staff for their attention to the grounds and other incidental work carried out by them, and also to thank the Domain Board for reducing the ground rent by one half and accepting £6 in full settlement. The financial position of the club was satisfactory, and this was due to the reduction made by the Domain Board and to the ready sale of members’ tickets. The canvassers desired to record appreciation of the ready response of townspeople to the sale of members’ tickets. The club commenced the year with a balance of £5 ISs lid in the bank andcompleted it with a credit of £l7’ 13s Id. BIRD’S HOMING INSTINCT. A WAYFARER AT STRATFORD. A few days ago Mr. B. Vinsen discovered a tired* and dispirited homer pigeon lingering about the front of his business establishment in Central Broadway, Stratford. He cared for the bird, fed and rested it and later set it free with a note tied to one leg explaining the incident. Yesterday, Mr. Vinsen received'a letter from Mr. F. Perrett, of Wellington, to the effect that the pigeon arrived safely home with- the note intact. ,‘T would like,” wrote Mr. Perrett. “to express my sincere thanks for your thoughtful kindness. ' The bird was one of a flock liberated at Frankton Junction the day before it reached Stratford. Unfortunately the flock encountered bad weather, many birds being lost. The one you found must have been blown a long way out of its course to have reached Stratford, but nevertheless it found its' way back to Wellington exactly one week after you liberated it.” ELTHAM CYCLE CLUB RACE. MEHRTENS WINS SENIOR EVENT. Thirteen riders started in the second race of a series of four for the Britannia Tyre Company’s Cup, held by the Eltham Cycle Racing Club on Tuesday evening. The race started at the Eltham Post Office and was over a ten mile course. K. Mehrtens, off the three-minute mark, won by about five lengths, being followed by Taylor (4min.), and Potts (4min.) together. Mehrtens finished fourth off the same handicap in last week’s race to Stratford and back. O. Belk (l|min.) gained fastest time, covering the course in 27min. 41sec., which was eleven seconds better than the winner’s time of 27min. 52sec. Following are the details:— K. Mehrtens (3min.), 27min. 52sec. 1 J. Taylor (4min.), 28min. 53sec 2 B. Potts (4min,), 28min. 22seo. .... 3 A. Bourke (3min.), 28min. 49see. .. 4 R. Bourke (4min.), 29min. 49sec. 5 Pilkington (3min.), 28min. 49sec. ~ 6 Other riders to finish were O. Belk (27min. 41sec.), fastest time; G. Vick-, ers, J. Crockett, K. Stockman (3min.); V. Robson (31min.), F. Bocock and S. Bocock (6min.). BOYS’ RACE TO M. SHEEHY. Before the -start of the big race a boys’ race to Cornwall Road corner on the Mountain Road and back was held, about 15 entries being received. The race created a great deal of interest, and the return of the riders was keenly watched. The course was of three miles. Following ia the result: — M. Sheehy, scr. lOmin. 15sec. ~ .. 1 B. Mullally, gmin. ........2 A. Bridger, Imin 3 Other competitors were:' E. Stockman, gmin. behind, E. O’Hagan scr, J. Rowe, B, Best fmin., F. Cowell, P. Shepard Imin., D. Shepard Ijmin., M. Paton B. White 210111., C. Burgees Imin. The points to date are:— A. Bourke 3, Mehrtens 3, Taylor 3, Robson 2, Belk 2.