RESPECTED SPORTSMAN DIES

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1934, Page 8

RESPECTED SPORTSMAN DIES

WELL-KNOWN HAWERA RESIDENT. MR. ROBERT HICKS OF TANGAHOE. Well-known and respected as one of the earliest settlers of the Hawera district, as a breeder of good racehorses, and keen rifle shot and a capable bowler, Mr. Robert Hicks, Tangahoe, died after a three years’ illness yesterday, at the age of 79. "i Mr. Hicks was bom at Wanganui in 1855, and in 1875 settled at Tangahoe, where he lived for the rest of his life. Mrs. Hicks was a daughter of Mr. Quintin Muir, a settler in the district. Throughout his career Mr. Hicks was a keen sportsman. In his youth shooting was his accomplishment and coursing another hobby, while he also took an interest in sheep dog competition work. It was as a racehorse owner and breeder, however, that Mr. Hicks was best known. Mr. Hicks was an Egmont Racing Club steward for 40 years and a. life member.

For 26 years he had J. Brown as trainer. Two of the first horses raced by Mr. Hicks were Gledhill by Gladiator, and Merman by Vatator, who won several hurdle races. Later Mr. Hicks acquired Climber by Vanguard, who won a Patea Cup in the Hicks’ colours. The St. Leger-Clematis mare Creeper was the foundation of Mr. Hicks’ breeding operations and many useful performers were bred on the farm and raced successfully, among the more notable being Smilax, who won a York Handicap at Ellerslie, Complex, a useful performer both on the flat and over hurdles, and Styrax, who won the Century Hurdles race and Opunake Cup. His best horse, however, was the Bisogne mare Bisox, who won the Parliamentary Handicap, Winter Cup and Avondale Cup in one season. Carfex, the winner of the Taranaki Cup last February, was owned by the late sportsman.

Later in life Mr. Hicks was a foundation member of the Hawera Bowling Club, and for some years was one of the only two surviving. To commemorate the success of Bisox, five or six years ago, he presented a cup for annual competition to the club. He was the patron of the club, a past president, and he skipped the rink that won the South Taranaki Easter tournament in 1926. He was a past singles champion of the Hawera club and on at least four occasions was a member of the winning championship pairs. Mr. Hicks is survived by his widow, three daughters (Misses Ava and Joyce and Mrs. I. Jacks) and four sons (Messrs. Lionel, Raymond, Morris and Darcy Hicks), one brother (Mr. John Hicks), all of Hawera, and three sisters, Mesdames McCarten and Mason (Auckland) and F. Old (Hawera). Three brothers, Messrs. William, James and Richard Hicks, pre-deceased him, FRASER ROAD DISTRICT NEWS. SCHOOL BASKETBALL CONTEST. A basketball team from the Ararata school visited Fraser Road on Friday afternoon. After a very evenly contested game Fraser Road won by 13 goals to nine. Considering that it was the first match either team has played this season the standard of play was very satisfactory. Fraser Road owed its win chiefly to the greater height of its players. After the match the teams were entertained to afternoon tea. The return match will be played next term. At the euchre party in aid of the hall funds on Friday the prizewinners were: Ladies, Mrs. E. Gibson 1, Mrs. F. Dunlop 2, consolation Miss E. Death; men, Mr. L. Newall 1, Mr. A. Low 2, consolation Mr. M. Death. Music for the dancing was played by Mrs. A. Campbell and Messis. A. Low and L. Newall. PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr. J. McKee, service officer of the Automobile Association (Soutl Taranaki) left Hawera yesterday on a tour of inspection of the roads in theUrewera country.