GRAND CALEDONIAN SPORTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 68, 3 January 1947, Page 5

GRAND CALEDONIAN SPORTS

NEW YEAR’S DAY EVENT

GALA AT OHOPE . RECORD CROWD ASSEMBLES Perfect weather favoured the Whakatane Caledonian Society’s third Spelts Meeting and Highat Ohope Beach last Wednesday. Again the Society is to be warmly commended on the success and the high standard of its New Year’s Day Gala, which has once more been warmly endorsed as a popular entertainment for visitors to the beach and for the public of this district. The largest crowd yet assembled, providing a gate of over £2lO, and giving warm encouragement to the numerous athletic, Highland and novelty events. The sports arena with its perfect natural setting and background was once more-the subject of the warmest praise from visitors.

The sports were, the most varied ;yet promoted by the Society and included besides the ordinary sprinting, dancing and Piping events some ■exciting chopping exhibitions and two splendid marching displays by girls teams from Rotorua and Whakatane. The programme commenced promptly to time and ran without intermission until 5.30 p.m. The Scottish section drew pipers from Hamilton, Tauranga and Whakatane • and dancing exponents from Auckland, Rotorua, Hamilton and the ' Bay of Plenty. Standard was fully maintained in these sections and never failed to attract widespread ; attention. In the athletics, the cross-country race was as usual , the most spectacular, the dual between B. Mexted -.. and R. Seeker for first place lending a spice of excitement which is all too rare in field sports. The winner was accorded an ovation truly well- - deserved. The other events drew good fields including the married men and married ladies races which created no little interest. The 100 yards Maori •championship was another novelty which drew a good field. .The field events also found many •contestants. The marching contest was the most spectacular in this respect and resulted in a popular win for the Whakatane Basketball team against a particularly smart Rotorua group. The chopping events were a great novelty for many visitors who had never before seen the competitions and who evinced the keenest interest. Sponsored by the Bay of Plenty Association these items produced excellent axemanship and numbered amongst those taking part several •veterans of many years standing. Mention must be made of the manner in which the Society’s officers once again handled the running of the various sections. There was no hitch of any real moment and from the public point of view - the meeting was excellently conducted. Chief Anderson and the hard-working sports secretary, Mr W. G. Hurst, are to be congrtulated. The ladies who attended the various • refreshment booths must likewise be given full credit for their work. One of the main features of the .day was the splendid commentating given by Mr Fred Burt. Mr Burt .can always be relied upon to give a . good account of himself but on Wednesday last he surpassed himself.

Details of the results were as under:—

Children’s Events Boys under 4 years: R. Roberts 1, .J. Carter 2, M. Harris 3. Boys under 6 years: Tai Kora 1, C. Hodges 2, J. Mitchell 3. Boys under 8 years: R. Arbuckle I,' P. Carter 2, Russel. Shaw 3. Girls under 8: B. Anderson 1, D. Kilgour 2, E. Ross 3. Boys under 10 years: W. McManus 1, J. Arbuckle 2, R. Gordon 3. Girls under 10 years: G. Schorman 1, B. Hobbs 2, S. Koea 3. Girls under 12 years: G. Schorman 1, M. Campbell 2, N. Elliott 3. Boys under 12 years: T. McCarthy 1, N. Barclay .2, N. Hohua 3. Boys under 14 years: S. McKenzie 1, P. Mako 2, J. Mexted 3. Girls under 14 years: J. Brighouse I, S. Schorman 2, B. Halston 3. Boys under 16 years: H. Coker 1, R. Haslam 2, G. Haultain 3. Girls under 16 years: I. Grant 1, J. Brighouse 2, L. Mayo 3. 100yds Boys Open: H. Coker 1, R. Haslam 2, G. Haultain 3. 100yds Girls Open: M. Eivers 1, J. Grant 2, B. Mexted 3. Flat Events 75yds ‘Victory’ Handicap: M. Eiv,.<ers 1, B. Mexted 2, P. Smith 3. 100yds Ladies Open: T. D. Morgan '4, B. Munro 2, H. Matheson 3. 75yds Married Ladies: Mrs T.

Shaw 1, Mrs T. Hona 2, Mrs King 3. 75yds Married Men: B. Munro 1, T. Te Kuru 2, A. Mitchell 3. 100yds Maori Championship: T. Te Kuru 1, D. Tawa 2, H. Te Poe 3. 100yds Open Championship: F. D. Morgan 1, J. Haultain 2, B. Munro 3. Cross Country Race: B. Mexted 1, R. Seeker 2, J. Chadwick 3. 220yds Men’s Open: F. D. Morgan 1, ,R. Sax 2, N. Simpson 3. Novelty Events Chain Stepping: M. Whitefield. Nail Driving: Mrs Kilgour, Mr J. Skelton. Weight Guessing: D. J. McGregor. Putting the Shot: B. McGougan. Marching Teams Whakatane Basketball 207 points 1, A.T.C. Rotorua 182, 2.

HIGHLAND SECTION DANCING COMPETITIONS ~ . * Commenting on the dancing section the judge Mrs Gordon, of Ohope described it as very promising and particularly congratulated the junior competitors many of whom were taking the boards for the first time. Details were:— Highland Fling Under llyrs: Heather Meta 1, Colleen Hollis 2. Under 15yrs: Heather Meta 1, Janice Mayo 2. Open: J. Miller 1, C. Anderson 2. Local Fling: Janice Mayo 1, Shirley White 2, Nancy Kilgour 3. Seann Trubhais Under llyrs: Heather Meta 1, Colleen Hollis 2. Under 15yrs: Gaynor Croll 1, Heather Meta 2. Open: J. Miller 1, C. Anderson 2. Sword Dance Under llyrs: Heather Meta 1, Jennifer Forbes 2. Under 15yrs: Heather Meta 1, Janice Mayo 2. Open: C. Anderson 1, J. Miller 2. Sailors Hornpipe Under llyrs: Heather Meta 1, Colleen Hollis 2. Under 15yrs: Gaynor Croll 1, Heather Meta 2. Open: C. Anderson, J. Miller (draw) 1. Irish Jig Under llyrs: Heather Meta 1, Colleen Hollis 2. Open: C. Anderson 1, J. Miller 2.

PIPING EVENTS SHIELD GOES TO HAMILTON There was greater competition in the piping and drumming contests than previously. The judge, Mr G. McKay (Opotiki) commended the young players who took part declaring that there was obvious talent in the district which would make for a very high standard in years to come. Presenting the Patterson Rose Bowl to Drum Sergeant J. P. Forsyth of the winning drumming team from Hamilton, Chief Anderson warmly congratulated him on the excellence of his team’s performance. He also commended Piper P. Martin of Hamilton who had won the Craigellachie Shield. Details were:— (91) 1, G. Smith (84) 2, D. McKenzie (79) 3. March (under 21yrs): R. Hurst (87) 1, D. Verella (86) 2, D. McKenzie (83) 3. March (open): P. Martin and R. Everest (81) 1, G. Smith (79) 3. Strathespey and Reel (under 16): R. Hurst (86) 1, G. Smith (84) 2, D. McKenzie (74) 3. Strathespey and Reel (under 21): R. Everest (87) 1, P. Martin (84) -2, G. Smith (83) 3. Strathespey and Reel (open): R. Everest (88) 1, P. Martin (82) 2, R. Hurst (80) 3. Local Pipers Under 16 (March): B. Thomas (72) 1, A. Murphy (66) 2. Craigellachie Shield For best piper competing under 21 years of age: P. Martin 1, R. Everest 2, D. Verella 3. Anderson Shield For best piper competing under 21 years of age from Bay of Plenty: R. Hurst. Piping Trio: Hamilton (Pipers Everest, Martin and Verella). Drumming Side Drum: R. S. Pearcy 1, G. Paterson 2, L. F. Cameron 3. Bass Drum: J. P. Forsythe 1, K. McCallum 2, G. Tweedie 3. • Drumming Team (Patterson Rose Bowl): Hamilton 1, Whakatane 2.