AWAKERI'S BIG DAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 65, 18 April 1944, Page 4

AWAKERI'S BIG DAY

SPORTS AND GYMKHANA ' LARGE CROWD ATTENDS AMERICAN SERVICEMEN RACE Awakeri's annual Sports Meeting and Gymkhana drew a large crowd to Howell's Paddock last Saturday when a splendid programme of varied' horse, athletic and novelty events took place under ideal conditions. Highlights were furnished by a number of unrehearsed events unofficially attached 1 to the programme in the interests of some 20 American servicemen who visited the sports from Rotorua and! who entered fully into> the spirit of the sports by tackling horse riding (many for the first time) and) who sportingly entered for the flat events. The day owed mufch of its success to the running commentary on all events* whifch was kept up by the mfcam at the 'mike' Mr Fred! Burt. The grounds, which last year lent themselves so admirably for the running of a sports meeting were once again flagged out and marked off to good effect. The. ring itself was wide and spacious and was fringed on two sides by cars and a row of produce, refreshments, afternoon tea and raffle stalls, all of which did a roaring trade throughout. Awakeri presented an ideal pattern for jtust how a gymkhana can be kept bright and animated. There were endless novelty events while the popular Highland Dancing section once again drew a large and interested audience. Our American friends were prominent, mainly in the equestrian events, and the friendly if caustic j commentary put over the air as they lined up to a rugged start was only exceeded by the realistic display as the boys (mostly sailors), stuck grimly to their mounts as they raced down the straight. Many completely forgot what the reins were for! All entered into the sport in a good humoured manner and special cheers were given for the U.S. Nursing Sister who gamely rode with the men. The Wha'katane Pipe Band once again enlivened proceedings with selections and marches. Though entries were well down on last year's events in the horse section, great interest was evinced by the general public in the £25 open jump which went, to Mr T. Summerhayes, with Mr J. Pattie as runner-up. Both contestants belong to Te Puke and are to he congratulated on their good performj ance. In the athletic section the 100 j yards 'Sheffield' Handicap for £10, was won by S. Parkinson who showed a wonderful touch of speed to W. Donaldson who came in a close second. The committee is to be warmly complimented on the event which to all intents and purposes fully justified the means for which it was staged, viz, the raising of money to .offset the district's Patriotic quota. Details of the list of awards were as under: — Adkilt Horse Events Lightweight Hack: Mrs Paviour 1; A. Stewart 2; M. Hennessy 3. Heavyweight Hack: M. Sisam 1; Dixon and Davies 2 and 3. Champion Hack: Mrs Paviour 1. Madden Jump: J. Walker 1; Miss D. O'Brien 2; J. Reid 3. Flag Race: J. Tihi 1; J. Pattie 2: A. Stewart 3. Pony Jumper: T. Summerhayes 1; L. Anderson 2; A. Stewart 3. Best. Gentleman Rider: M. Hennessy 1. Best Boy or Girl Rider: B. Pattie 1; J. Berg 2; R. Haslam 3. Best Lady Rider: Miss Tocker 1: Misjs Abbott 2. Open. Jump: T. Summerhayes 1; J. Pattie 2; G. Fogarty 3. Polo Pony Trial: J. Thompson. Wire Jump: T. Summerhayes 1: G. Black 2. Lady Hunter: Mrs Black 1; Miss Pattiie 2. Open Bending: D. Knight 1; D. O'Brien 2. Steeplechase Style: G. Hill 1; H. Hill 2; Dixon and Davies 3. Dual Jump: Summerhayes and Pattie 1; Stewart and Anderson 2. Cleverest Jumper: B. Paviour 1: J. Pattie 2. (Continued in next column)

Farewell Jump: G. Leggett 1; Dixon and Davies 2 and 3. Children's Horse Events Best School Pony: B. Symmans 1; K. Adams 2; D. Revel.l 3; J. Berg 4. Best Boy or Girl Rider: B. Symmans 1; B. Cameron 2; H. Paterson 3; G. Butler 4.. Best Boy or Girl Rider (under 10): B. Cameron 1; S. Stevens 2; R. Fowell 3; G. Bell 4, Children's Relay Race (Ist team): B. Cameron 1; W. Kelly 2; G. Taylor 3. (2nd team): B. Symmans 1; j G. Butler 2; H. Paterson 3. Gretna Green Race: N. Ecans and J. Jackson 1; R. Fowell and O. Fowell 2. Bending Competition: ,D. Knight 1; N. Evans 2. Home from School Handicap: O. Fowell 1; R. Haslam 2; T. Gardiner 3. Adult Athletics 100 yds Maiden: T. Cameron 1; S. Parkinson 2. 100 yds Open: F. Hutt 1; M. Tiepa 2. 120 yds Sheffield Handicap: S. Parkinson 1; W. Donaldson 2; M. Tiepa" 3. 220 yds Open Handicap: F. Hutt 1; L. McCready 2; W. Donaldson 3. 440 yds Handicap: C. D. Burke 1; W. McDonald 2; R. J. Dawson 3. 880 yds Handicap: W. McDonald 1; K. Sullivan 2; I. Galyer 3. High Jump: J. Cameron 1; K. Kelly 2. Married Men's Race: E. Bell 1; L. Ross 2. Married Ladies' Race: Mrs Sutton 1; Mrs Gibbons 2. Single Ladies' Race: M. Dawson 1; B. Mexted 2. Consolation Race: B. Salvidge 1; L. McCready 2; W. Donaldson 3. School Events Primary Boys' Championship, 100 yds: A. Galyer (Awakeri) 1; D. Dawson (Awakcri) 2; R. Tukuate (Taneatua) 3. Primary Girl's Championship, 75 yds: S. Hoskin (Awakeri) 1; M. Evans (Otakiri) 2; M. Boulcott (Awakeri) 3. Highland Section Class A under 12 years Highland Fling: Margaret Black 1; Barbara Cole 2. Seann Trubhais: Barbara Cole 1; Margaret Black 2. Sailors Hornpipe: Barbara Cole 1; Lois Hawkins 2. Irish Jig: Lois Hawkins 1; Barbara Cole 2. Clasls B, Open Highland Fling: Phyllis Rivett 1; Lennie Butler 2. Seann Trubhais: Pat Ferguson It Phyllis Rivett 2. Sword Dance: Pat Ferguson 1: Phyllis Rivett 2. Sailors Hornpipe: Phyllis Rivett 1; Pat Ferguson 2. Irish Jig: Phyllis Rivett 1; Lois Hawkins 2.