ABOUT THE TOWN

Chronicle (Levin), 9 November 1946, Page 3

ABOUT THE TOWN

T. S. D.)

SHANNON SIDE-LIGHTS

(Bv

With the openings of the summer sports clubs all taking place during the past few weeks, it is interesting to look back over the years to the days when these clubs were founded. Cricket' was first played in Shannon in the year 1890, and this- cluo was formed by a group of the first residents, who worked very hard to clear a piece of ground on the main road near where Jingh Lee's shop now stands. This fiat was covered with stumps and thistles, througn whieh the cows made tracks up as far as the old blacksmith's shop, whieh stood on the corner of Plimmer Terrace and Vance Streen These few men used to practice in the evenings on this rough ground until they waited on the late Mr. G. N. Woods, who kindly gave them permission to play in the paddock in front- of his dwelling. One of the first matches played was with the Manawatu Railway Company's stafl of Paekakariki.' After a time the club obtained use'of the ground on whieh the residences of Messrs. Campbell, Perry and Tucker now .stand, just near to the present tennis courts, and quite a good pitch was formed.

It seems that as it was m the past, so it is today. Cricket in Shannon has always had to function under diflicuities. Either the grounds are in bad condition or rhere is a lack of players in the town to make the ganie worthwhile. The oldest players in the club first formed are Messrs. J. Wallace (capt.) , E., R., and H. Butt, W. Ferris, W. Voysey, G. Wallace, D. Harris, H. Knowles, A. Tremewan and E. Rolands. Cricket is on an iqual footing with the football club ;o the honours of being the first sports bodies in Shannon. The Shannon Bowling and Ten- ' iis Club was first started as a limIted liability company, and was promoted by Mr. A. J. Rawstron ou July 29, 1904. Shares were issued at £2 each, and were taken up by early subscribers to the amount of £40. The first directors were Messrs. M. Moynihan, W. H. Gunning, W. A. Trist, S. W. Carter, T. Lind, C. H. Vickers and G. N. Step- | henson. The first secretary was-Mr. I J. R. Stansell. Other early members wero Messrs. A. M. Richardson, J. A. Roach, J. Mitchell, H. E. Lodge, T. Dunkley, E. B. Stevenson, G. E. Hall, J. C. Retter, L. J. Jenkins, S. B. Ambler, E. J. Spencer, A. Cassie and F, Thomson, Mrs- Jane Powell and Miss Helen^Bifnie,

About 1908 part of the bowling club's property was leased to the. ermis club. Early members of this elub were Mesdames S. W. Carter and Doidge, Misses M. and F. Dunckley and . K. Wickliffe, and Messrs. H. Schmidt, A. Mitchell, H. Cook, J. Barclay and C. Dunckley. The latter was the top man player for many years. The Shannon Croquet Club Is somewhat of a- youngster, having aeen opened on October 1, 1924, with Mr. J. Beard (the "one and only man") as president. Mrs. B. Spencer carried out the duties as secretary. The club lawns adjoin those of the bowling club'. Croquet players locally have ne'ver been numerous, but their enthusiasm is unbounded. It is worthy of mention that Mrs. A. H. Morgan, who, with Captain Hartnell, won the 1938 N.Z. championships, learnt her croquet in Shahnon. The sport of Kings was also tried locally and the Shannon Racing Club used to hbld its meetings on Messrs. Wood's property on the Levin Road, just at the top of the hill near the borough boundary on Margaret Street. The club held many successful meetings, but in 1910 when bookmakers were supposed to have ceased their operations in Nw Zealand the club had its final meeting. On that fipal day Shannon experienced the heaviest local rain on record. This no doubt dampened the spirits of the local officials, as well as Ihe bookmakers, for never since that day has any attempt been made to revive the sport in this town. It seems that our old identities were willing to try their hand at anything once, and in 1899 they founded an outdoor rifle club. Foundation members were Messrs. R. Matherson, E. Richards and D. Gardner and the range, was.located

on Mr. Lraraner s property on tne Main North Road. The first target used was a pukatea stump in the bush, but the service rifles supplied were unsuitable and the club lapsed. It was revived again in 1901 by-Mr, J. Hallam, with 16 members- as a beginning. Mr. G. N. Stephenson was president and he held this office during . the club's duration— till 1921.