Better Competition Provided At Weekly Marton Sports Meeting

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 February 1949, Page 2

Better Competition Provided At Weekly Marton Sports Meeting

Some stirring finishes provided plenty of interest in the weekly sports meeting held on Marton Park on Tuesday night by the Marton Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club. Fields generally were good, an encouraging sign after the poor start for the season.

Spectators were treated to an excellent race in the men’s 800yds when the local athlete, W. Towler, and the Ohakea compettor, W. Thompson, filled second and first places respectively. Taking the lead early in the last lap, these two runners drew away from the rest of the field and entering the straight Thompson held a short lead which he retained to the finish despite a desperate finish by Towler. Two Ohakea runners, H. Bennett and G. Bridge, provided a grand display in the men’s 220yds, Bennett coming from the back of the field and swinging wide when entering the straight, challenged Bridge seriously for first place. Results were— Track Events Men's 100yds.: H. Bennett (6) 1, K. Coles (63 2, E. Houlihan (6) 3. 220yds.: G. Bridge (16) 1, H. Bennett (3) 2, -T. Goldsmith (14) 3. 880yds.: W. Thompson (45) 1, W. Towler (14) 2, R. Hauseman (80) 3. One mile: S. Robertson (45) 1. R. Coleman (160) 2, C. Muir (30) 3. 120yds hurdles: GBridge (syds behind) 1, E. Houlihan (scr) 2. Women’s 75yds.: M. Crabb (4i) 1, D. Paterson <4i) 2. 100yds.: D. Paterson (5D 1, M. Crabb (si> 2. Colts' 880ydsJ K. Savill 1, D. Hauseman 2, D. Blackler 3. 220yds.: D. Hogan 1, K. Savill 2, Brown 3. Girls’ 75yds.: Marsh 1. Hauseman 2, Scoon 3. 100yds.: Marsh 1, Hauseman 2, Scoon 3. Cycling Events Half-mile: R. Munro (70) 1, L. Simpson (70) 2, R. Westwood (45) 3. Mile: O. Drury (35) 1, A. Quittenden (120) 2, D. Urwin (170) 3. Three miles: O. Drury (50) 1, A. Quittenden (175) 2. D. Urwin (235) 3. Miss and out: O. Drury 1, R. Westwood 2, L. Simpson 3. Colts’ half-mile: Penn 1, Belve 2, Wapp 3. Old-timers’ event: H. Coles 1, H. Moss 2, R. Belve 3. Girls’ halfmile: L. Hauseman 1, B. Marsh 2/ N. Kan 3. PROGRESS OF VOTING IN BABY CONTEST The sponsors of the Town Queen in the Marton Fire Brigade carnival are at present conducting a baby contest, which will extend over the next few weeks. Each 3d donated counts as a vote, and yesterday the first progress result was released as follows: Baby Cairncross 329 votes, Miles 306, Berry 304, Boyd 276, Pollington 176. Marsh 164, Caulton 139, Worsop 131, Shardlow 103, Apapere 80, Angus 80, Knight 57, Gray 35, Cameron 35, Ellery 35. Hardymertt 32, Sharp 30, Howard 29, Whitfield 28, Payn e 16, Beasley 14. The names of the babies on the barometer in the Spic and Span window will remain in the order named above for the remainder of the contest, but each week the votes will be altered. It was the intention of the committee to place the baby with the most votes at the top of the barometer each week, but this has been found impracticable. ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB PICNIC THIS WEEK-END The Marton Athletic Football Club has now completed arrangements for its first annual picnic to be held on Mr G. Lampp's property, Tutaenui Road, Marton, on Sunday. A free bus will leave the railway station for the picnic grounds at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and will travel via Station Road and Marton- The club has extended a cordial invitation to all residents of th e district to attend what promises to be one of the biggest gatherings of the year. Hot water, ice creams and soft drinks will be available at the ground. There will be fun galore and an interesting programme of races has been arranged. The events include 100 and 220yds. men (single and married), 75yds ladies (single and married), thread .the | needle, Jack and Jill, cigarette race, football club race, sack race, nail driving, tug-o’-war and chain stepping. YOUNG SCHOOL-BOY SHOWS PROMISE AS CRICKETER. Although there have been two or three outstanding individual performances in club cricket in Rarigitikei this yseason, probably none has surpassed the patient batting exhibition given by the youthful school-boy lefthand opening batsman, Trevor Knight, on Saturday, when, playing for the school eleven against Marton, he scored a meritorius 90 before being caught in slips. The Marton attack is recognised as one of tile strongest in the competition and although eight bowlers endeavoured to gather his wicket, Knight exhibited such a stout defence that it was only after a stay of three hours 75 minutes at the crease that his dismissal was brought about. Followers of the game would have liked to have seen him reach his century and so become the second batsman this season to register a three-figure score. S. Finney (Hunterville) scored 101 retired against Ohakea last November. Knight was never ruffled and 4 never at any time did he attempt to score fast. Despite the fast outfield 31 singles were recorded in his total and only 10 fours. Although he did not keep all his shots on the carpet, the balls that were lifted in the air, were always placed out of the fieldsman's reach. Knight provided tire Marton attack with a knotty problem. He is a hard batsman to dislodge and the opposition were relieved when his wicket did eventually fall. Nevutheless Marton would not have complained had Knight been able to add another 10 to his score. Another young batsman to shape well was Peter Smith, who was unfortunate to be run out with his score at 21. He too shows promise. The faste r outfields on Saturday appreciated by the batsmen and scoring was highei- than usual. At Marton 612 runs were scored for 'the loss of 26 wickets, averaging nearly 24 runs per wicket.