TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 246, 16 October 1937, Page 16

TAIHAPE

PIRATES FOOTBALL CLUB. SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATED. With an attendance in the vicinity of 200 the Pirates’ Football Club celebrated their silver jubilee at a highly successful “smoko” in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening. The gathering was indeed a memorable one and included a strong representation of both past and present players, many of the former having journeyed considerable distances to attend the event. Although classed as a smoke concert the reunion might well be termed a banquet, for, when the toast list was well advanced, a halt was called while the “waiters" brought in a large selection of dishes containing food fit for a king. After this sumptuous repast, the entertainment continued and was brought to a happy conclusion shortly after, midnight. The function itself was redolent of good fellowship while the organisation left nothing to be desired, reflecting much credit on the social committee. The first item on the programme was a roll call to which players and past players from the birth of the club in 1911 to the present day responded. Among the “old stagers” present were Messrs. R. J. Gibbs (1911), G. Maher (1911), J. Collier (1916), B. Donovan (1918), Tierney (1918), Kilkolly and Sinclair (1919) and many others. The Mayor (Mr. L. B. H. de Lautour), who presided, read out numerous telegrams conveying congratulations and good wishes from those unable to be present. The first toast of the evening, that of the "Pirates’ Football Club,” was in the hands of Mr. John Quirk, president of the Taihape Rugby SubUnion. “It is appropriate at this juncture,” he said, “to make reference to the fine playing record of the club. During the past 25 years the senior and junior teams have won the championship no less than 11 times, which is indeed a splendid record. And from my associations with football in this district I would say that the success of the Pirates’ Club has been almost entirely due to members’ loyalty to one another. Two former members of the club, Messrs. E. A. (Moke) Beiliss and Cliff Porter, have both captained New Zealand Rugby teams and I think that is something of which any football club in the Dominion might well feel proud. I want to congratulate the players on the high standard of play over such a long period and I hope they will maintain it in the future.” (Applause.) The president of the club (Mr. C. Quirk) responded. “The club started with a handful of school boys,” he said, “and as a junior team they acquitted themselves very well indeed. The following year they went up to the senior grade and further distinguished themselves by winning the senior cup. Since then the club has continued to grow and establish for itself an excellent reputation. Owing to lost records we cannot mention all our past players but a few of the shining lights were Beiliss, Porter, the McLennans, O'Connell, McAuliffe, and others of the same period. I should like to pay tribute to the fine sportsmanship of our opponents throughout the past season. They have given us some pretty hard tussles but I think I can say that the Pirates have always come up smiling.” Among the other toasts honoured were: “Kindred Sports Bodies,” “Taihape Rugby Sub-Union,” “Taihape Referees’ Association,” “Sister Clubs,” “St. John Ambulance Association,” “Present Players and Supporters,” “The Ladies,” “The Chairman,” and “The Press.” During an interval Mr. Ryan took the opportunity to present the junior championship cup to the junior captain (P. Derbidgc).

A pleasing ceremony then took place in the form of a presentation of trophies 1o the club for the most improved players in the senior and junior grades by Mr. J. Bradley on behalf of his mother, in memory of his late father, Mr. T. Bradley, who had been an enthusiastic supporter of the club. On behalf of the club Mr. Quirk expressed deep gratitude for the generous donation. He hoped that the teams would make themselves worthy of such handsome trophies. LADIES’ GOLF NOTES Playing superlative golf, Mrs T. C. Kincaid went round the Raukura golf links in 79 last Thursday to shatter all previous records. She completed the lirst nine holes in 38, taking the regulation two putts on every green except one, so it can be seen that her long game was excellent. At several holes her seconds to the green found their mark with unerring accuracy, while her approaching at the holes that could not be reached in two was of a high standard. Mrs Kincaid took 41 for the second round to give her a total of 79 for the 18 holes. There was nothing fluky about her recordbreaking round. She did not hole long putts from the edge of the green or anything of that sort, but obtained her figures by superlative play from tee to green, followed by steady putting. Her card read as follows: Out: 4 4 6 5 3 4 4 3 5—38 In: 4 5 5 5 4 5 3 5 5—41 Total 79 Mrs Kincaid was playing a "Forgan” Cup bogey round when she broke the course record, and incidentally linished 5 up on the colonel. A Stableford bogey competition was played in conjunction with the “Forgan” Cup round, and Mrs Kincaid scored 42 points, to carry off the prize for the Stableford. She played to a handicap of 4. Her partner was Miss Townsend, who held the previous course record of 80. She and Mrs Kincaid will meet In the final of the ladies’ senior championship, and members can look forward to a battle rolay between two very good golfers.