THORNTON SPORTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 48, 13 February 1945, Page 5

THORNTON SPORTS

DISAPJ»OINTING ENTRIES

DISTRICT'S INITIAL VENTURE ATTENDANCE ONLY FAIR On the whole it would not be correct to describe the first sports meeting to be attempted at which took place last Saturday as a great success. Sucth was not the case anjd though the gate realised nearly £70 ? the entries for the actual events' were most disappointing. District support for the Gymkhana was generally speaking, poor, Fortunately the Thornton people themselves are reaping the benefit of their own unremitting toil In the returns from their produce/cake and goods stalls, whilst there was a good deal of interest in various competitions and raffles which are never absent from such gatherings. The sports themselves were well conducted and on the whole reached a high standard which never failed to win tlie appreciation of the enthusiastic crowd. This was in no small measure due to the sprightly commentary by Mr F. Burt who was once again on the loud speaker, and kept things moving in his own inimitable way. The ring though they drew far less entries than usual were well worth seeing. Athletics could likewise have seen much improved fields. From the sporting side however the gatherings can be honestly described as being well up to expectations, though numerically the contestants were few, making it in some cases difficult to decide whether it was worth while running the event or not.

The committee arc to be warmly congratulated on their spirit and enterprise for nothing was Jel't undone to launch and run a gymkhana "which would have been second to none. The secretary and the chairman must be singled out for special mention for their unremitting effort and enthusiasm i} whilst the •committees ladies and gentlemen are to be complimented on the manner in which they carried out their various tasks. Details of the prize winners are .as under: — HORSE EVENTS Best School Pony (riders under 10 years): G. Smith 1; G. Magee 2; A. Adams 3. Best School Pony (riders over 10 years): B. Symons 1; S. Eivers 2; .J. Berg 3. Best Boy or Girl Rider under 10 years: G. Magee 1; L. Moore 2; G. Smith 3. Best Boy or' Girl Rider under 14 _years: B. Symons 1; S. Eivers 2; H. Patterson 3. Best Boy or. Girl Rider under 7 ye.>ars: G. Magee 1. Gretna Green: Haslam \\ A. Hyland 2. Bending under 14 years: J. Baty 1; A. Hyland 2. Best Boy or Girl Rider under 15 years over 3 3ft hurdles: J. Cradwick 1. Lady's Hack (for riders and horses who have never won a prize): B. Tocker. Maiden Hunter: Davis and Dixon 1; Moko 2; T. Eivers 3. Ladies' Hack (lady rider): Davis and Dixon 1; B. Tocker 2; J. Berg 3. Pony Jump, 14.2 and under: B. Knight 1; Summerhayes 2; Matehett "3. Draft Horse Derby: Metai 1; Peeki 2. Best Pony 14.2 and under: B. Symons 1; J. Berg 2: H. Patterson 3. Lady's Hunter over jumps: Dixon and. Davis 1; E. Pattie 2. Best Cob 15 hands "and under: J. Thompson 1; T. Eivers 2; J. Pattie 3. Open Jump (hunter's style): T. Eivers 2; Dixon and Davis 2; J. Thompson 3. Best Hack: Dixon and Davis 1 and 2; R. Machett 3. Dual Jump: Dixon and Davis 1. Cleverest Jumper: J. Pattie 1; E. •Pattie 2. Consolation Jump: J. Pattie 1; G. Hill 2; J. Thompson 3. Turning Competition: Haslam 1; Metai 2. Stockwhip Competition: J. Pattie 1. RUNNING EVENTS A varied programme of races was ararnged for the children, from toddlers to 13 year olds. These events were popular and keenly contested. Primary School Boys Championship: D. Dawson 1; H. Branch 2. Single Ladies' Race: B. Mexted 1; S. Doidge 2; C. Mexted 3. Single* Men's Race: L. Newdick 1; R. Daj\v§on 2; A. Osbaldiston 3. 100 yds Open Handicap: A. Topp 1; R. Dawson 2; Corner and Salvidge 3. (Continued in next column)

Married Ladies' Race: Mrs Burgess 1. 220 yds Handicap: B. Salvidge 1; R. Laurie 2; L. Newdick 3. 440 yds Handicap: R. Dawson 1: B. Mexted 2; R. Laurie 3. Married Men's Race: W. Arbuckle 1 . 880 yds Handicap: H. McDonald 1; F. Davidson 2; B. Mexted 3. CHOPPING EVENTS Novice 12!n Standing: S.* Gordon E. Peterson 2; J. Cameron 3. Maiden 12in Standing: C. Agnew 1; S. Gordon 2; E. Peterson 3. Handicap 12in Standing: Kinnard 1; Agnew 2; Savage 3. Handicap 14in Standing: Savage 1; Agnew 2; Hodge. 3.