FAMOUS ATHLETE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1935, Page 8

FAMOUS ATHLETE

DEATH OF STEPHEN MINHINNICK. UNBEATEN RECORD ON THE TRACK One of the most famous athletes of his day, Mr. Stephen Minhinnick died at Normanby on Wednesday at the age of 75 years. He was buried at the Fraser Road tribal ground yesterday, a tangi being held. In track and field events Mr. Minhinnick had an outstanding career, and it has been stated that he was never beaten. The most outstanding record of Mr. “Steve” Minhinnick, as he was familiarly known, was at Hawera on New Year’s Day, 1881, when he “scooped the pool,” winning nine events, all off scratch. He accounted for the 100 yards and 220 yards cup for points, valued at £35, 120, 200 and 440 yards hurdles, pole vault, hop, step and jump, running long jump and forced handicap. , His winnings totalled £94. He beat his elder brother, Mr. William Minhinnick, on that occasion, both being off scratch. This was the only, time they met in public, and William Minhinnick in a speech from the grandstand announced his retirement from the track in favour of his younger brother. For many years afterwards Mr. Minhinnick was a regular competitor in Taranaki at Waverley, Patea, Kakaramea, Hawera, Normanby, Manaia, Opunake, Eltham, Kaponga, Stratford, Inglewood and New Plymouth. He was invariably on scratch, and he never lost a cup race at any meeting. He claimed 9 2-5 s for 100 yards, beating one of the world’s record holders, giving him a yard. He was never beaten over a level 100 yards, but the track on which he achieved 9 2-5 s was not laid off and measured with steel links by a surveyor, so that his time was not allowed. The Minhinnick family first came to South Taranaki about 1875 from their previous home at Manukau harbour. They resided at Oeo and of late years they made Normanby their home. Mr. Minhinnick leaves an adult family. Messrs. William and Jim Minhinnick, also of Normanby, the former himself a noted athlete in his youth, . are brothers. WAIMATE FOOTBALL CLUB. NEW MEMBERS ELECTED. Members of the Waimate Football Club elected at the annual meeting were Messrs. J. Bourke, Lye (2), C. Willis, C. Watson, J. Mahar, D. Bertie, K. L. Clegg, W. Wann, B. Trott, T. Blackstock, E. Gulliver, A. Hart, J. v Pettigrew, J. Dykes. In recognition for her generous assistance it was decided to make a presentation to Miss B. Paterson, who washed the club’s jerseys during the season. PERSONAL ITEMS. Nurse Benton, of the Hawera hospital staff, recently suffered an injury to her wrist, which she fractured as the result of a fall. Mis. C. Benton, Auroa, has been reappointed an honorary welfare officer by the Education Department. The death of Mrs. Downs, wife of Mr. G. A. Downs, occurred at Waverley on Wednesday. Mrs. Downs leaves a husband and a family of six. She was buried at Wanganui yesterday. FRASER ROAD PERSONAL NEWS. Mr. and Mrs. R. Scown are paying a holiday visit to Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Jennings have returned from Wellington. Mi«s Ina Campbell has returned from the north. WHAREROA PERSONALS. Mrs. Sargent, Makomako, Pahiatua, is the guest of Mrs. W. W. Nicholas. Mrs. Maude has returned to Whareroa after undergoing aji operation. She is making a good recovery. Mr. Darcy Hicks is slowly, recovering from his recent illness. Mrs. Alexander, New Plymouth, is the guest of Mrs. R. Hicks, Tangahoe.