PUKENGAHU SPORTS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1932, Page 8

PUKENGAHU SPORTS

LEATHER SPOILS ATTENDANCE.

(BTOCKAIAN OUTSTANDING CYCLIST,

One thing was clearly demonstrated at the Pukengahu sports yesterday afternoon, and that was the necess ty for * more systematic method of ° handicaps, particularly mcy • Until the referee, Mr. T. Kirkwood., who is also an official of the_Taranaki retro, stepped in and effected certain re handicaps, the. scratch me \^ re h p Jessly out of the races before ever a yiS tail. three Bute event. he made hut little impression on the lead, era, and after several laps dropped out disheartened. He won the two-mde event, but here the impossible impost tion of giving men like Tuffery yards and Gilbert 170 yards was lifted to the extent of moving him _ from scratch to the 85 yard mark Inthis race. E. K. Stockman, who had already won’ the half-mile, and the mile, was get back 20 yards, the result 'bein a a magnificent finish between the placed riders. Ritchie rode himself to a, standetill in order to win and collapsed tern porarily after the race. ■ Some of the handicap riders in Taranaki are a great deaLbetter than the handicapper evidently believes them to be for at-Midhirst the scratch men were also Set a task beyond their powers anj both Parker and Ritchie declined to g to the post in the last race. A gloomy day marred the sports and the fact that rain was falling m both Stratford and Eltham detracted from ■ the attendance. Nevertheless the gate receipts were only £5 less than those of last, year, the takings amounting to £l3 14s. Visitors were impressed by the great, improvements made to the. grounds. The TOO yards straight had been ploughed, levelled and re-sown during the. off-sea-son and presented a splendid racing surface, level and very . wide. Similarly, the track had been reformed and the corners banked.for cycling. ' When competitors entered the ground they were faced with an imposing array of 1 glittering trophies, displayed to marked effect by Mrs. E. Harper inside her sedan car in such a way as to . exhibit each article to full advantage.. In presenting the trophies, the president (Mr. D. C. McGuinness) thanked those present for their attendance despite-the . threatening conditions. He had hoped for a better crowd and a better day, but the races had more than (realised expectations. Congratulations . were (bestowed upon the winners,, whileunsuccessful competitors were wished better luck next time. In conclusion Mr. ■ McGuinness thanked the donors ■of trophies and remarked that although the annual meeting had viewed the holding of sports this year with some apprehension, he was glad that the venture had Wen more than justified. Catering arrangements were, in the hands of Mr. F. Fetch, Toko, the Pukengahu hall across the road being utilised for serving. In the evening the hall was well filled with a merry crowd of dancers, when, to the music of Vinson’s Ambassador’s the annual sports dance was held. Details of the events are: ■ Running Events. 120 yards local handicap: L. Lash 1, • J. Phillips 2, G. Harris 3. 100 yards maiden race: G. Wilson 1, K. Peterson 2,,R. Tapp 3. ■. 1100 yards Pukengahu Gift, open: First heat: R.- McCarthy (4yds) 1, K. V. Ewans (9yds) 2, V. Speakman (12yds) 3. Time llsec. Second heat: R. Irwin (11yds) 1, A. E. O’Byrne (9yds) 2, A. Mcßoberts (syds) 3. Time 10 3-ssec. •Final: ■ McCarthy 1, Mcßoberts 2, o’Byrne 3. Time 10 3-ssec. 440 yards open: A. Mcßoberts (32yds) -1, E. D. Cleland (45yds) 2, -E. Winmill (40yds) 3. Time 49sec. Mcßoberts made his run on entering the straight and ■ won with something slightly in hand. 880 yards open: E. Winmill (65yds) 1, V. Dravitski (60yds.). 2, M. Steiner (25yds) 3. This was an excellent race, Winmill showing good judgment in his running, but Steiner actually ran the best race from his handicap. Time Imin 56 3-ssec. 220 yards open: R. McCarthy (13yds) 1, K. Ewans (20yds) and A. E. O’Byrne i(lByds) dead heat 2. A great finish. JTime J23sec. ’ One mile open: M. Steiner (30yds) 1, V. J Dravitski (90yds) 2, J. Steiner (110 yds) 3. These were the only competitors to finish. M. Steiner started the race by. sprinting until he caught the leaders and sprinted. again down the straight to win by three yards. Time 4min 38 2-ssec. School relay race: Pukengahu school Ngaere school 2, Rawhitiroa school 3. Ladies’ nail driving: Mrs. Stockman 1. ’ Tossing the. sheaf: D. McGuinness 1. ’ Single ladies’ race, 100 yards: Miss J. Ferguson J, Miss M. Hall 2, Miss M. Schumacher 3. Married ladies’ race: Mrs. H. Hall I, .Mrs. D. McGuinness 2, Mrs. E. Stockman 3. (Schoolboys’ race: L. Phillips 1, J. Coffey 2. Schoolgirls’ race: Joyce Best 1, N. Harper 2, . CYCLING EVENTS. Half-mile cycle: E. K. Stockman '(3oyds) 1, C. Burke (60yds) 2, R. D. (Sole (42yds) 3. A good sprint race with all the honours to Stockman. Time Imin 13sec. One. mile cycle: E. K. Stockman (110yds) 1, R. D. Sole (70yds) 2, G. C. Tuffery (130yds) 3. For this race the scratch ’ man, A. C. Ritchie, was re- ’ handicapped to start on the 30 yard mark, but even so he was able to make little impression on those riding from a greater start. Stockman won in a great finish with a whole bunch just ■behind. Time 2min 33sec.

Ladies’' cycle handicap: Miss M. iW’alsh 1, Miss S. Stockman 2, Miss E. Death 3.

Two-mile wheel race: A. C. Ritchie '(Bsyds) 1, C. Gilbert (170yds) 2, G. C. Tuffery (230yds) 3. Stockman, who afterwards dropped out, made the race for Ritchie, re-handicapped from scratch to the 85 yards mark. Ritchie early reached Stockman and these two riding together gave a great exhibition of cycling, hour riders, with Ritchie on the outside, raced down the straight abreast, Ritchie winning by half a wheel. Time smin 20 3-ssec. Three-mile cycle race: C. Gilbert '(22oyds) 1, C. Burke (300yds) 2, G. C. Tuffery (325yds) 3. These were the only finishers and rode a good race. A length only separated the three. Time Bmin 9 2-ssec,