RACING AT WAITARA

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1931, Page 8

RACING AT WAITARA

SUCCESSFUL EVENING MEETING.

IMPROVEMENT TO THE GROUND.

The interest taken in athletics and cycling at Waitara was in evidence last night in the crowd that assembled at the Camp Reserve, for the first evening sports to Ire held this season by the Waitara Cycle and Athletic Club. The great improvement effected to the ground since last season as the result of the efforts of the Waitara sports bodies, backed by the support of the townspeople, was the theme of general comment. Waitara now possesses a sportsground unequalled in Taranaki and excelled in few towns in New Zealand. Features are the quarter-mile grass cycle track with the bends banked, and the straight 100 yards running track. The events last night drew large entries and produced keen racing. The officials present werd Messrs. T. Fowler (starter), A. Lash ami V. Penmail i(judgee). S. George (timekeeper ad handicapper), ,E. Brown and W. .Wordsworth (stewards) and G. Bird (secretary). The results were:—

75 yards running.—First heat: Ti. Watson (6yds) 1, C. Tate 2, R. Grant (B%yds) 3. Also started: L. Wilson (11yds) and W. Durrant (10yds). Won by a yard. Time, 7 4-ssec. Second heat: G. Fowler (Syds) 1, D. Woodhouse (Byds) 2, D. Dowsett (6|yds) 3. Also started J. Te Rete (Hyds) and E. Reynolds (12yds). A close finish. Time, Ssec. Final: R. 1, G. Fowler 2, R. Grant 3. Won by inches. Time, 7 4-5 'sec. 150 yards.—W. Durrant (16yds) 1, L. Wilson (17yds) 2, R. Watson (10yds) 3. Also started: D. Dowsett (11yds), G. Fowler (13yds), D. Woodhouse (13yds), R. Grant (14Jyd6), J. Te Rete (17yds), and E. Reynolds (19yds). Won by a yard, with the third man close up. Time, 161-ssec. Half mile cycle.—J. Cooney (70yds) 1, H. Kopu (7Oyds) 2, G. Topless (85yds) 3. Also started: B. Bellringer (40yds), M. Wiley (70yds), W. Hicks (70ydsj, L. Cooney (85yds) and A. Fulton (85 yds). Won by a wheel, with a similar distance between second and third. Time, Imin 11 sec. One and -a-half mile cycle.—L. Claffpy (120yds) 1, A. Ellis (90yds) 2, J. Cooney (130yds) 3. Also started: B. Bellringer (120yds), M. Wiley (130yds),» W. Hicks (130yds), H. Kopu (130yds), A. Fulton (145yds) and C- Topless (145yds). The field bunched a’i the close of half a mile. With a lap to go Ellis was riding in second position handy to Claffey, but in the run home Claffey held his own to win by one and a-half lengths, with Cooney a length away. Time, 4min 0 2-ssec. A number of children’s races was eontestea.