WORLD OF SPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 147, 15 April 1940, Page 8

WORLD OF SPORT

RUGBY FOOTBALL RANGITAIKI UNION MEETS SEASON TO OPEN ON MAY 11th The annual meeting of the Rangitaiki Rugby Union was held in Edge cumbe on Wednesday night* delegates from the majority of clubs being present. In a comprehensive report for the past season Mr F. J. Burt, president, traversed the activities of the Union. The report is published on this page. At the opening of the meeting members stood in silence in respect for the late Prime Minister and the late Mr J. Reardon. Officers for Current Season. The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, Mr J. Pattie; president, Mr F. J. Burt; vice-pre-sidents, Messrs H. Anderson, J. Graham, F. Linseli,. A. Cobden, A. Hyland, R. E. Blair, H. Burch, J. D. Ritchie, W. Marr, C. Eivers, W. McCracken, R. Baskett, A. Jamieson, M. Raymond and Mrs H. Anderson; executive, President, Secretary and Treasurer; treasurer, Mr A. C. Robins; secretary, Mr A. Cum mings; delegates to Bay of Plenty Union, Messrs H. Anderson and T. H. Anderson. It was left to the Management Committee to appoint selectors. Affiliation fees were fixed at £2 2s for Senior teams and £1 Is for Junior teams. Discussion on Teams, During a discussion about the prospects of Clubs fielding teams for the coming season it was suggested that clubs whose ranks were seriously depleted owing to members having gone to camp and overseas should consider fielding a Senior and a Third Grade team, thus bringing young new players into the Third Grade and moving the older Juniorsup to reinforce the Senior teams, the other Juniors going to the Third Grade. It was left to next meeting to get the opinions of clubs on the subject. The opening of the season was fixed for May 11. Remit to be Opposed. A remit from the Tauranga and Te Puke Sub-Unions to come before the meeting of the Bay of Plenty Union, with reference to altering con ditions for the Hurunui Shield was thoroughly discussed. The opinion of the meeting was that Shield games should go on but that the proposition for zoning Shield games should be opposed by Rangitaiki delegates. The first meeting of the Management Committee was arranged for April 24th at Matata, when nominations of teams would be received. It was resolved to ask Clubs to send to the Secretary names of Club members who have gone to the war so that a record may be kept. PRESIDENT'S REPORT RANGITAIKI RUGBY UNION REVIEW OF THE SEASON Mr F. J. Burt, president of the Rangitaiki Football Union reported to the annual meeting of that body as follows:—• This is the firse time that the Rangitaiki Union has shown a debit balance on its sheet and several factors contribute to the loss. One was the long trip to Pukekohe (to play South Auckland) and although this was a great outing, it was also a great loss, the attendance at the match not fillfilling expectations. The Junior's trip to Rotorua for the Shalfoon Shield was also expensive, there being no gate at all for this match. I think that these Junior games should be played on days other than as curtain-raisers to Representative matches and Unions might then get something towards travelling expenses.

The dinner for, and presentation of photographs to, the representatives cost £17. New jerseys and sox cost £15 5s 3d but wc effected a save in this direction. We now have three complete sets, which ought to see us out for this season at least. The items quoted and several other accounts which it was necessary to meet, were the cause of a working loss on the year's activities. The Union, however, is in a very sound financial position. Representative Matches. Representative matches were played against Tauranga, Te Puke (2), Wliakatane (2), Opotiki and South Auckland. All these matches, except that against Wliakatane for the Parata Cup, and a drawn game Avith Te Puke, were won by Rangitaiki, whose representatives were to "be congratulated on their wonderful record in Shield matches. Like other Unions our ranks have been depleted by enlistments of play ers, both Pakclia and Maori. I think it would be quite safe to say thai 95 per cent of these men were footballers or connected with the game in some way. I am sure that they will play the game when it comes to the more serious part. I am sure that the footballers who have gone and are going would like to see the game still going strong when they return. So I Mould urge that yc;i do all in your power to keep the game going in their absence. I must thank the Referees' 1 Association for their great assistance during the past season. Although very difficult at times to find men to do the work we trust that they will again g-ive their co-operation. Finally, I must thank all supporters of the Union for their interest and the delegates and secretary for the close attention they gave during the season.

RACING NOTES (By Zetland) A BULANDSHAR WINNER Indian Sun, winner of the Autumn Plate at the Manawatu meeting Is by Bulandshar, and is a half brother to the Mitchelson and Avondale Cup winner Solarium. Now that he has struck winning form Indian Sun may be expected to register further victories. A NEW HURDLER Messrs O. Nicholson and the Hon. Elliott Davis, of Auckland, who have this season been successful with Gamos, Jack Tar and Te Kawiti have now purchased the Gisborne hurdler, Tetahinga,, from Mr D. J. Barry,, owner of Black Thread. This may be taken to indicate that the partnership intends to participate in winter events. OLD BILL AND BEAU VITE It was only natural to expect that widespread interest would be evinced by sportsmen generally in the meeting of the Wellington Centennial Cup winner, Old Bill, and the run- ; ner-up, Beau Vite, in the Awapuni Gold Cup contest which eventuated last week. There Ave re only three candidates, and the early running was carried out by the Wanganui mare Homily. The pace for the first mile was by no means a cracker, and two furlongs from home Beau Vite hit the front. Halt way down the straight Old Bill put in his claim but failed to make any im-! pression on the leader, who prevailed by over two lengths. The time 2.11 3-5 sees was 6 3-5 sees slower than registered by Classform in the King George Handicap the same afternoon, so the result was very easy money for Mr Stewart, the fortunate owner of the Beau Pere colt, which by his Manawatu win regis tered his sixth consecutive victory.

DISPERSAL SALE At a dispersal sale last week of Mr G. W. Boyd's horses at Palmerston North, Tidewaiter was purchased by Mr J. L. Bennett for 400 guineas. Classform, who registered two victories at Awapuni, was passed in at 875 guineas. ANOTHER DAY COMET Scarlet Runner, nine years old, by Day Comet—Brambletye, has just been put into work by trainer C. McCarthy at Riccarton. He has been following the hounds for the past two seasons and his owner, Major G. F. Hutton, being a leading hunting enthusiast of Canterbury. EUPATRID'S SECOND The Te Aroha bred Eupatrid,, by Hunting Song—Lucky Alice, registered his best performance to date by running second in the Autumn Plate at Awapuni to Indian Sun. He is trained by R. Johnson at New Pl3 r mouth, and during the winter maj r be expected to win races. A CROOKED CROWD The owner of that good colt, Beau Vite, has lately been relating some of his early experiences as an owner of racehorses. The first one to carry his colours was Vinco. It appears that this Vinco was one of the erratic sort, at least he was considered so when he failed to win several races in succession. From Wellington Vinco was taken over to the Nelson meeting. On the eve of the races the owner was a customer at a barber's toilette saloon, and while awaiting his turn had the pleasure of listening to a general talk in respect to the all absorbing topic respecting probable and possible winners. One of the assembly ventured the opinion that he knew of one certainty, Vinco, but his crowd were such a crooked lot, it was hard to know what Avould be doing. The barber followed up the interesting information by saying that he had been told that "Vinco was a cert" but the owner was such "a shrewdy" that the good thing might not come off. After the owner here referred to had received attention, he was asked by the tonsorial artist "Are you going to the meeting to-mor-row?" The reply was "Well I sup- 1 pose so. IVe got a horse running." "What horse?" said the knight of the lather. "Vinco,."' said the customer'who was allowed to leave the parlour without the parting of the hair finishing touches.