ATHLETICS AT HAWERA

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1933, Page 11

ATHLETICS AT HAWERA

SHORTS FOR TWENTY YEARS GREAT EVENT OF THE DISTRICT. PROMINENT NAMES RECALLED. For nearly 20 years the annual athletic sports meeting held at Okaiawa was the event of the year, and with the presence of a large sporting community the. sports were well contested and provided much enjoyment. On January 31, 1908, a meeting was held, Mr. R. Johnstone being chairman, and it was decided to form the Okaiawa Athletic Club. Mr. F. McGuire was made patron, Mr. T. L. Joll president and Mr. T. Wells secretary. The vice-presidents were Messrs. W. Belloe, A. O. Buehler, E. O. Chivers, C. and J. Murdoch, J. Meuli, W. Carroll, A. J. Jury, F. A. Bremer, Pou, T. Wells, G. Betts, T. Ross, H. Black and J. Heslop. The committee consisted of Messrs. R. White, B. Harris, J. O’Sullivan, R. Johnstone, J. Crowley, C. Capel, W. Belloe, J. Baxter, W. Ross, E. Betts, H. Crocker, G. Scott, J. Bland, F. Farr and W. Rawson. On April 8 the first sports meeting was held in Bremer’s paddock, “Gordon

Parle.” Mr. J. Crocker was judge of the horse events, Mr. J. Heslop judged the athletics, and the running events were judged by Messrs. T. Joll, F. A. Bremer and A. O. Buehler. I The club prospered and each year a substantial profit was made or donated to some worthy object. After- six years the club had nearly £5O in hand and each year a similar amount was distributed in prizes. The wounded soldiers fund was aided considerably twice during the war years. By 1927 interest in the sports had waned and it was decided to suspend the fixture until more interest arose. The funds were divided between the hall committee, the park committee and the school, each receiving £2O. There is still £6 to the credit of the club. As horses gave place to the motor-car the chief attraction was lost and motor-car events in the way of driving and acceleration tests were provided, but these had not the same appeal as the horse events. , Mr. "W. Belloe was one of the prime movers in the formation of the club. Messrs.: R. Johnstone, A. Christiansen, H. and N. Crocker were other enthusiasts, and for many years they gave the club support. Claude Capel was a noted runner at that time and he made a good “clean-up” of the running events at the first meeting. Hunia, W. Minninhick, Toro, Dick Roberts, Will and George Baker and Charlie Foreman were other good runuh ners. ' ■ In horse jumping some of the successful competitors were Miss A. Watkins, Messrs. H. Washer, H. Crocker, F. R. Nicholson, F. AtkinST D. Crocker, C. Paterson, J. McCarty, E. Astbury, Rangi Rae, Mua Carr, W. T. Bailey, A. Crocker, H. L. Vine, N. Crocker and W. King. In hacks and ring competitions some of the successful riders were Messrs. J. Oughton, A. Mitchell, J. Kiley, C. Rye, T. J. Hurley, R. Penny, Koru, H. Washer, J. O’Donnell, H. Mace, Ruru Sam, Mawae, Pokere, C. Radford, C. Wood, W. Cleaver, C. Murdoch, Bryant and Miss Briggs. In utility horses Messrs. A. McCracken and J. Johnstone were consistent winners,.while other successful place-gettters were Messrs. J. Kiley, A. Stace, T. McVinnic, C. A. Clarke, M. McDonagh, T. J. Hurley, P. Collins, A. Duggan, W. Bradford and M. Langlands. - In 1916 Mrs. F. A. Bremer, now living in retirement at New Plymouth, donated a cup for competition in spring cart horse classes, and this was named the F. A. Bremer Memorial Challenge Cup. Among the holders of this are Messrs. R. Hams, J. Sharp, S. Hunwick, M. Langlands, W. Muggeridge, H. Barr and A. Griffin. When the club became dormant the cup was returned to Mrs. Bremer and is now given for Ayrshire classes at the New Plymouth show, Mr. Bremer having been interested in this breed of cattle. Among those who have judged the horses at the sports are such well-known horsemen as Messrs. J. Bailey, E. R. Hastie, J. Crocker, John O’Sullivan, J. Crowley, A. McCracken, R. P. Morrissey, A. Hunter, J. Grant, J. Blair and W. McL’Dowie. For a time wrestling was a feature oi the sports, Mr. J. Heslop taking a keen interest in this. He was often appointed to judge these contests. Messrs. J. Patterson, G. Ford and C. Clarke also acted as judges. Among the prominent competitors were P. Murphy, T. Harris, R. Harris, Heki, W. Ranui, M. Malone, G. Kidd, J- Hammersley, C. Waugh, J. Johnstone, D. Paterson, E. Norman and B. Cameron. Swiss wrestling was also put on the programme and attracted considerable competition, Ottermatt, Uttinger, Herman and Holdener being among the prominent competitors. Mr. A. Lees was the second chairman, others being Messrs. G. Betts, L. Walsdorf, J. E. Meuli and W- Williams. Other secretaries were Messrs. H. Mace, L. Walsdorf and H. R. Penny. Several life membership were created, these being given to Messrs. J. Groves, H. H. Mace, J. C. Wood, T. Wells ana J. F. Kiley.