SATURDAY'S GYMKHANA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 51, 22 February 1944, Page 8

SATURDAY'S GYMKHANA

A. AND P. SOCIETY'S EVENT POPULAR HORSE SECTION The horse show and gymkhana which was held oh Saturday under the auspices- of the Wliakatane and llangitai'ki A. and P. Society was ii marked success,, tlieve. being between two and three thousand spectators present. The ground, was in very good condition,, and the whole programme: went through to time without a hitch. On the main the CA*ents were well contested, and younger riders competing with the same enthusiasm as their elders. The grand parade led by the pipe band consisted ol' over eighty horses entered in show and ring events, and received great acclamation from the spectators. The judges were unanimously of the opinion that the standard of the horses and events on Saturday was equal to that of any previous gymkhana held in this district.

In the show events. Mr L. Sisam swept the. field with his team of horses, taking fourteen first, prizes, including the champion ribbon out of the sixteen events competed for. In the children's ring events, the same names turned up time and time again in the first and second places, although all the events "were hotly contested.. In the best groomed pony event, the judges had a difficult job in front of them to decide, the winner. They finally selected H. Paterson as having the best groomed, pony, and his mount was certainly a credit to lvim. The event enjjoyed by the public j as much as any was the exhibition trotting match of three rounds which was open to trotters and pacers in the. saddle. Quite a number of the riders found difficulty in keeping their horses from breaking, but the winner, owned by J. Dunstun completed the three rounds in Derby style. The jumping events were, as usual, the main events oh the programme. Fortunately, there Avcre no accidents in these, only one horse falling, the rider being unhurt. In the boy rider under fourteen years over three 3ft. hurdles, quite a number of the contestants, to the amusement of the public could not get their horses to jump at all although it was certainly not for lack of trying. One contestant in particular made two forced landings in succession when his mount stopped dead before the hurdle, although on both occasions lie landed on his l'cct. The winner of this event, G. Black, had the sympathy of the public with him all the Avay, as in seA'cral preA'ious events he comj)etexl successfully against men much older, and Avith much more experience than himself. He even managed, much to the delight ol the public to carry away the Maiden Jumper cAent in the lace 01. still opposition. Certainly success seemed to be riding Avith the more youthful entrants on Saturday as the final event on the programme, the bending race Avas awarded to 13. Symmons, a champion in'the "under fourteen' class.

Un the weight judging competitions, interest ran high especially among the farmers. The pig did not co-operate in the guessing of his weight at all by .showing off his form, but instead scooped out a hollow in the earth for 'himself and slept till it was time to be weighed. The lamb on the other hand was most willing to help, and stood upright in, one corner the whole afternoon, while various men oi the land, summed up his fat content in pounds and ounces. The turkey "sras the easiest of the lot. because as it was dead, the public could test its weight by lifting ot as well as looking at it. although this was not encouraged. The contest for tossing the slieal as usual drew a large crowd of farmers ready to match their skill against that ol' their neighbours, and some very good heights were attained. At times the locality of this competition Avas definitely dangerous, such as -when some visiting American servicemen, rather taken with the idea, tried their hand at it. Shades of Pearl Harbour followed as 110 one not even the sailors themselves, knew where the sheaf was going to land once : t left the fork. The public were forced to protect themselves as best they could. The results w r ere as follows: — SHOW EVENTS

Entire, any L. Sis;im, Brood mure. with, i'oal at foot L. Sisam„

Best foal, heavy draft: L. Sisam. Two year old gelding or filly: L. Sisam 1. Yearling colt or lilly, medium draft: L. Sisam. Two year old gelding or lilly, me-, dium draught: L. Sisam. Three year old gelding or lilly, medium draught: L. Sisam. Marc (dry) four years and upwards: L. Sisam 1; A. Stewart 2; L. Sisam 3. Pair medium draughts, irrespective of six, 1 owner: M. Gamble. Pair heavy draughts, 1 owner, irrespective of sex: L. Sisam. Farmers' team, three horses, heavy: L. Sisam. Best all round farm mare or gelding: L. Sisam. Best draught gelding, four years and upwards: L. Sisam. Spring cart mare or gelding up to lOcwt: L. Sisam. Spring cart mare or gelding up to loewt: L. Sisam. Best marc on ground (champion ribbon) 2 year old and upwards: L. Sisam.

RING EVENTS

Girl rider 14 and under: A. Stevens' 1; S. Jenkins 2; J'. Berg 3. Best pony owned and ridden by Maori boy or givl under 10: G. Black 1: T. Anderson 2. Best bona iide school pony under 14.2 to carry two or three children: B. S3 T mmons 1: J. Berg 2: B. Pat Lie, 3. Child's pony 12 hands and under; to be ridden by child under 10 years: j H. Haueslcr '1: B. Sullivan 3. Best groomed pony: H. Paterson! 1; B. Symmons 2; D. O'Brien 3. Pony not more than 14.2 ridden boy or girl under 11: B. Symmons 1; H. Paterson 2; J. Berg 3. Pony not more than 13. 2 to lie ridden by child under 12: H. Pat-j erson 1. ! Trotting pony ridden by boy or j girl 14 and under: B. Symmons 1; T. Fivers 2; B. Pattie3. Hack, 11 stone: A. Doust 1; R. Marsh 2; H. Haueslcr 3. Hack, 13 stone: A. Smith 1; B. Sullivan 2; H. Hill 3. Hack, 15 stone: M. Ilutton 1; J. Hodges 2; Dixon and; Davis 3. Pony hunter over three 3ft hurdles: G. Black 1; J. Pattie 2; D. O'Brien 3. Troop horses: J. Hodges 1; M. Hut ton 2: J. Thompson 3. Cob mare or gelding under 13 hands: J. Thompson 1: H. Paterson 2; B. Symmons 3. Best lady rider: B. Tocker 1: Miss Doust 2; Miss Turnbull 3. Walking horse: G. Leggctt 1; S. Langdon 2; R. Marsh 3. Lady's hack, ridden by lady: Miss Doust 1: H. Haueslcr 2; Miss Thompson 3. Champion Hack: Miss Doust. Boy rider between I I. and 18 years over three 3ft (iin hurdles: G. Black 1; M. Hutton 2; J. Pattie 3.

Maiden jumper: G. Black 1; Dixon and Davis 2: C. Eivers 3. Girl rider between 14 and 18 years, ride horse up to 15 hands: J. Berg 1: D. O'Brien 2; S. Jenkins •j> U • , Boy rider 11 years and under ride ( pony under 14.2 over three 31't hurdles: G. Black 1; G. Haslam 2; B. Cameron 3. Open jump: 11. Hill 1 and 2; J. Pattie 3. Exhibition trotting match: J. Dunstan 1; 11. Sisain 2; 11. Smalley >> O. Heiwyweight hunter: J. Sargcant 1; G. Leggctt 2; J. Thompson 3. Wire juniper: J. Thompson 1; G. Kelly 2: J. Pattie 3. Best lady rider over hurdles: Mrs D. Dudley I: Misses Roberts and Best gentleman rider over hurdBest gentleman river over hurdles: (J. Eoggerty 1; W. Hale 2; A. Smith 3. , Dual jumpers: T. Sunimerliayes 1: Yeoman and Kelly 3: Foggertv; and Smith o. Bending competition: B. Symmons 1. 'I 1 lie results of the tossing the sheaf contest were: K. Te.ua 1: M. Hunt 2.

The pig which weighed. 1 t3ibs ■was won by Messrs C. H. \\ hite and D. Allen who were only eight ounces off the correct weight: The sheop which weighed 741b was won by Mr R. Ruddiek who auctioned it. It was purchased by Mr M. Hunt who donated it. to the Red Cross to lie auctioned again. This time it went to Mr Otley. The turkey was won by Mr S. E. Sinclair while the competition for the aggregate- weight, of the three animals went to Mrs J. R. Bell. ' The. ladies of the Red Cross man- [ aged the afternoon tea in their [ usual capable manner and. their I rooms were kept well filled the whole afternoon.