MEMBER FOR 45 YEARS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22504, 12 September 1938, Page 10

MEMBER FOR 45 YEARS

TROTTING OFFICIAL’S RECORD

MISSED ONLY ONE DAY’S RACING AT NEW BRIGHTON

During his 45 years of membership of the New Brighton Trotting Club, Mr O. von Siera'kows'ki lias missed only one day’s racing on New Brighton course. He has seen the sport there , develop from the days when the horses arrived in the shafts of bakers’ and butchers’ vans. He is the senior member of- the club, of which he is a steward.

Saturday’s meeting recorded a record totalisator turnover for the club, which has recently made a number of improvements to its property, at one time shared by the Christchurch Racing Club. The last galloping meeting was held there 35 years ago. and Mr von Sierakowski recalled on Saturday that the final race was won by A. G. Wilson, who later became a successful trainer of trotters.

Only the opposition of North Brighton residents, who were alarmed at the possibility of losing their horsedrawn tram service, operated by Mr Brightling, prevented the club from moving to a course nearer the city 35 years ago. At the instigation of Mr C. A. Archer (who was president from 1908 to 1915), Mr von Sierakowski proposed the change, which .was adopted by members. A block of land in Buckleys road, just past the Linwood cemetery, was purchased, and so that the property could be extended, the Heathcote County Council gave the club two roads, running along the boundaries. “However, Mr Allan Hopkins, of North Beach, started an agitation,” Mr von Sierakowski said, “and succeeded in convincing the Government that the change was undesirable; the real reason was that the tram service to the beach would have been abandoned if the club shifted, the main revenue coming from the ratio traffic. The Government warned the club that if it persisted- in its change of course, no permit would be granted. That ultimatum decided the future qf the club. “I am pleased now that we did not make the change,” said Mr von Sierakowski. “As it turned out. we have a better course than could have been made on the Wainoni property, and the meetings have continued to grojv in popularity with both owners and the public. New Brighton first introduced the Sanling Stakes, but, being only a small club, we could not continue the classic race.” The Buck l eys road property was subdivided into sections, some of which are now occuoied by houses. At the time the shift was proposed, the New Bfighlon course had few improvements. The totalisator was installed on a cart, and the only buildings were two wooden sheds, used as stands.