Our Sports Summary

New Zealand Tablet, 6 October 1921, Page 31

Our Sports Summary

TAUMARUNUI.

Arrangements are well in hand for the Celtic sports, which are to be held on Labor Day (writes our own correspondent). A great deal of ■ interest is taken in these sports both locally and in the surrounding districts.

TIMARTJ.

The annual meeting of the Celtic Cricket Club was held in the Browne StreeWHall on Monday evening, Mr. M. J. Hyland presiding oVef: a good attendance of members and supporters of the club. The annual report showed the club to-be in a fairly good financial position, having to its credit about £l7. On the whole the past season had been a, most successful one. Both senior and junior teams acquitted themselves very creditably in the competitions. \ y ln the senior grade the first eleven drew with the Timaru Club, but were . beaten in the play-off. The juniors were the premiers in their grade for the second season in succession. ,The social side of the club was not neglected and both the annual social and smoke concert were a pronounced success. The club was fortunate in having a fully representative following of enthusiastic supporters, especially the priests and Brothers, who by their encouragement rendered great assistance. The chairman commented on the annual report and balance sheet, and after some discussion they were adopted. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: Patron, Rev. Father Hurley; president, Mr. P. F. Roach; (a large number of vice-presidents was also elected); secretary, Mr. F. Geaney; treasurer, Mr. R. Marlow; committee— P. Houlihan, M. Angland, P. Stapleton, M. Houlihan, N. Wildermoth, A. Bently, G. Flett, and F. Pearce club captain, Mr. M. Houlihan; delegates to the Cricket Association, Messrs. .P. F. Roach and F. Bowles; selection committee (senior), Messrs. M. Angland, J. Kane, and M. Houlihan; (junior) C. Dwan, R. Marlow, and F. Pearce; coach, Mr. F. Bowles. It was

decided to enter a senior and junior team in the competitions this season, the subscription-to be 25s and 12s 6d respectively. A vote of thanks was passed to the. ladies' committee for the valuable assistance they had given the club in connection with the social functions. " .:.>-'' .

.. The annual meeting of St. John's Tennis Club was held last week in St. John's Hall, Craigie Avenue, the president (Mr. J. G. Venning) presiding. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted, and evidenced a very good year for the club. The receipts totalled £63 9s lOd, and the expenditure £6l 19s Bd. The assets showed an excess over the liabilities of £l6 17s Bd. The report referred to a considerable expenditure during th# season in excavating round the courts so as to allow more room for play. During the season three friendly matches were played with outside clubs. Miss E. Kane was the winner of the open competition. In the ladies' tournament Miss D. Dennehy won the club's gold medal, and the prize presented for the most improved lady player during the season was won by Miss Nancy Costigan. The chairman made feeling reference to the death of one of the oldest members (Mr. M. F. Dennehy), and a motion of condolence with his family was passed in silence. The work of topdressing the courts is now in hand, and the committee hope to have the opening day on October 15.

The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing season: —Patron, Rev. Father Hurley; president, Mr. J. G. Venning; vice-presidents—Rev. Father O'Ferrel, Rev. Father Barra, Mesdames D. Martin, J. G. Venning, Chas. Hall, Richardson, and Dr. Loughnan, Messrs. T. Lynch, M. Mullin, J. O'Leary, and P. Reilly; committee Misses V. Dennehy, Costigan, McAteer, McGrath, and

Messrs. F. McGrath, T. O'Connor, F. Doyle, and J. Joyce; club captain, Mr. F. McGrath;. selection committee, Miss V. Dennehy and Messrs. Venning arid McGrath hon. secretary, Mr. G. D. Virtue; assistant hon. 3 secretary, Miss

G. Kane.

JACK DEMPSEY'S FATHER.

It is interesting to note (says a. Ballina correspondent) that Attymass, a village about five miles from Ballina, claims to be the birthplace of Jack Dempsey's father Several of his ; relations, it is stated, still live there, and for the past few weeks local gossip .-lias been entirely dominated by reminiscences of the wonderful feats of ; strength performed by a herculean uncle of the champion, who formerly lived in the village. ' . "'■/.'.,,-"''.'.."

A small farmer and migratory laborer each year, he headed a large company of harvesters from this district, who crossed to, 'England for agricultural work, his prodigious strength securing for his party complete immunity from attacks by English hooligans, who frequently at that time waylaid Irish laborers. •; --;*V

On the strength of his local connections Dempsey was heavily backed in the vicinity of Balliria; and his victory was nowhere more popularly received than in Ballina dis" trict. •-' /■'• '"'■ ■ -',-■ . -'-,.. .•<*'•'' .