Canterbury Centennial MORE THAN 1000 PIGEONS RELEASED TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE GAMES

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 December 1950, Page 6

Canterbury Centennial MORE THAN 1000 PIGEONS RELEASED TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE GAMES

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night (PA).— A word from the Gover-nor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., a fanfare of trumpets, the clap and whirr of wings on which more than 1000 pigeons took the air, and Canterbury’s Centennial Games were picturesquely launched at English Park today with all the auspices pointing to a resounding success. On the arrival of His Excellency and Lady Freyberg, the GovernorGeneral’s standard was broken out Ou the mast on the grandstand to a march played by the Woolston Band. The compc'<j' teams marched on to the ground, the leader of each team carrying his team's national standard and followed by a Rover Scout carrying the name of the country the team represented. After passing the official dais, where each team leader lowered his flag in salute, the teams drew up in a line facing the grandstand to hear His Excellency declare the Games open. Six trumpeters then sounded a fan fare, the signal for the release of more than 1000 pigeons, which leapt into the air with a roar of wings and wheeled above the ground while picking un their bearings for home. Before a crowd of several thousand people at English Park this afternoon, Canterbury’s Centennial Games were launched with a series of amateur and professional cycling events. A strong representation of New Zealand riders competed with visitors from Australia, the United Kingdom, Holland and Denmark, and the honours were well distributed during the afternoon. Although one Australian cyclist had had to return home and one American had not arrived in time to compete today, there w<*’e several riders of international repute. There is not a doubt that the crowd was most thrilled by the daring and determined riding oof Arif Van Vliet. of Holland, who won two of the professional events, but was beaten into third place in the five mile event. CYCLING Quarter-mile international amateur scratch race (first two of each heat qualified for final). First heat: A. Bannister (England) 1, F. L. G. Hughes (Auckland) 2. Time, 32sec. Second heat: T. C. Godwin (England) 1, D. H. Olive (Auckland) 2. Time, 30.5 sec. C. Dickinson (Wanganui) was a starter. Third heat: C. M. Simpson (Auckland) 1, C. Hansen (Denmark) 2. Time. 31.6 see Final: Bannister 1, Hughest 2, Godwin 3. Time, 29.95ec. Quarter-mile A grade cash handicap (first two of each heat qualified for final).—First heat: A van Vliet (Holland) scr. 1, R. Knight (Canterbury) 10yds. and N. Mills (Christchurch) 20 yds., equal, 2. Time. 29sec. Second heat: J. Derksen (Holland) scr. 1, A. Tomson (Canterbury) 10yds. 2. Time, 29.8. Third heat: S. James (Australia) scr. 1, J. Blance (Christchurch) 20yds. 2. Time. 29.95ec. Final: Van Vliet 1, Blance 2, Mills 3. Time, 28.5 sec. 1000yds. international amateur scratch race (first four of each heat qualified for the final).—First heat: A. Bannister (England) 1, C. Hansen (Denmark) 2, F. L. Hughes (Auckland) 3, D. H. Olive (Auckland) 4. Time, Imin. 20.4 sec. Second heat: T. Godwin (England) 1, L. Lock (Canterbury) 2, P. Larsen (Denmark) 3, M.

Wylie (Canterbury) 4. Time, Imln. 23.25ec. C. Dickinson (Wanganui) competed. Final: Bannister 1, Lock 2, Godwin 3. Time, Imin. 23.8 sec. Half-mile A grade cash handicap (first three of each heat to qualify for final). —B. Wood gate (Horby) 40yds. 1, S. James (Australia) scr. 2, R. Knight (Canterbury) 20yds. 3. Time, 59sec. Second heat: A van Vliet (Holland) 1, J. 81-nce (Christchurch) 40yds. 2, T. Voice (Hornby) 60yds. 3. Time, 57.8 sec. Third heat: N. Mills (Canterbury) 40yds. 1, P. Doyle (Christchurch) 50yds. 2. W. Whiston (Dunedin) 60yds. 3. Time, 55.8 sec. Final: Van Vliet 1, Blance 2, Woodgate 3. Time, 56.65ec. Five miles international cash scratch race.—S. James (Australia) 1, J. Dereksen (Holland) 2, A. Van Vliet (Holland) 3. Time, llmin. 16.5 sec. Five miles Canterbury centennial amatur scratch race.—T. C. Godwin (England* 1. A. Bannister (England) 2. F. L. Hughes (Auckland) 3. Time, llmin. 40.5 sec. C. Dickinson (Wanganui) competed. One mile international amateur teams’ race Italian pursuit.—New Zealand (D. H. Olive, C. Dickinson, C. M. Simpson, L. Lock) 1, Overseas Team (A. Bannister, T. Godwin, Engand; C. Hansen, P. Larsen, Denmark) 2. Times, 2min. 7sec., 2min. 8 sec. SWIMMING. 110yds. women’s freestyle: Miss I. Schumacher (Holland) 1, Miss B: Hicks (Australia) 2, Miss N. Bridson (New Zealand) 3, Miss von Zalenski (New Zealand) 4, Miss M. Wellington (England) 5, Miss J. Hastings (New Zealand) 6. Time, 66.75ec. 110yds. women’s backstroke: Mis s G. Gaillard (Holland) 1, Miss J. J. Davies (Australia) and Miss H. Yate (England) equal 2, Miss M. Pascall (Australia) 4, Miss J. Stewart (New Zealand) 5. Time, 78.2 sec. 110yds. men’s breaststroke: D. Hawkins (Australia) 1, R. Sharpe (Australia) 2, J. Shaw (New Zealand) 3, A. Peters (New Zealand) 4, G. Pratley (New Zealand) 5. Time, 75.75ec. 220yds. men’s freestyle: J. McLane (United States) 1, W. Heusner (United States) 2, A. Gilchrist (Canada) 3, B. Keeleway’ (Australia) 4, J. Jarvis (New Zealand) 5, P. McNally (New Zealand) 6. Time, 2min. 14.5 sec. 110yds. men’s backstroke: W. Wolf (United States) 1, L. Beaumont (Canada) 2, R. Gibbs (New Zealand) 3, L. Hur ring (New Zealand) 4. W. Paisley (New Zealand) 5. Time, 70.4 sec. Water polo: Australia beat Canterbury, 7-4. NATIONAL EVENTS Centennial Games. Programme for the Canterbury Centennial Games. December 27: 2 p.m.—Athletics, at Lancaster Park; 7.30 p.m.—Swimming at Olympic Pool. December 28. 2 p.m.—Swimming at Olympic Pool; 7.30 p.m.—Cycling at English Park. December 29: 2 p.m.—Athletics at Lancaster Park; 7.30 p.m.—Swimming at Olympic Pool. December 30: 2 p.m.—Athletics at Lancaster Park. January 1,2 and 3: 11.30 a.m. Rowing at Kerr’s Reach. January 1 and 5: 8 p.m.-—Boxing at King Edward Barracks. January 1 and 2: Centennial Games Athletes compete in a special meeting at Timaru Caledonian Ground.