GALA OPENING NIGHT

Chronicle (Levin), 9 November 1948, Page 4

GALA OPENING NIGHT

Athletic And Cycling Season Ushered In The athletic and cycline season opened in Levin last riight. More than 700 -people attended the gala track meeting held by the Levin Combined Auiateur Athletic and Cycling Club on the Levin Park Domain. • The proceeds from the meeting Were in aid of the health stamp' campaign and in this respect it- will benefit to the extent of £41 0s 9d. 0 The programme opened with a procession from the Levin Primary School of bands, marching 'teams, guides and scouts, led 'by a float on which 1 near ly 50,f boys from the Levin Training -Ce.ntre formed a living pyramid. The float ' was deeorated with health stamp posters, and the boys in their grey trousers and white shirts made an impressive spectacle as they performed variouS gymnastics on the moving truck. They were well trained and full credit must go to the resident housemaster, Mr. L. S. Abbott, who was in charge of them. As the procession passed slowly through the town,' the float received deserving applause from the fairly large crowd gathered there. On Teaching the domain two circuits of the oval were made. The presidenf of the club, Mr. W. Cribb, welcomed, the competitors, visitors and spectators. He thanked the visting competitors. and also all bodies and . organsations which had taken part in the nrocession. He made special comment on the display by the boys of the Training Centre, and said that they had, also put in a considerable amount of work on the' cycle track and were responsible for its fine condition. Mr. Cribb then called on the patron of the club, the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, to open the 1948-49 track season. He would like to join with Mr. Cribb in -thanking all those who had taken 'part in the procession, said Mr. Burdekin, in his opening remarks. He'was quite sure that the club would have a successful season and one that would bring to light new athletes. He then welcomed all present, extending a special welcome to any visitors. Introduced by Mr. Cribb, the Levin postmaster, Mr. A. V. Morgan, who was in charge of the sale Of the health stamps at the gates, thanked all present on behalf of- his department and the health staftip organisation for their attendance. Ate the present time the effort had resulted in just on £600 worth of health stamps being sold. The auota was £266 7s ,3d and with what was collected at the various gates, this ShGuld , ,be , trebjed,, _ he. . addedr He thanked all taking part and expressed the wish that they would have a successful 'season. x The first event on the programme then took place. With visitors .present from many outside ' cl'ubs, amorig them eight cyclists from Palmerston North, competition was keen. Points commenced from the opening night and were allotted in the ratio of five for first, three for second and one for third. Detailed results of the ^ various events were as follows: — Cycle Events Junior half mile.- — ^First division. D, Smith 1, Ross Harper 2, Wilton (Otaki) 3. Time, 1 min. 3-h secs. Second division: Mudgway 1, Taylor 2, S. Bonner 3. Time, 1.2-!. Senior half mile: N. Parker 1, R. Harper 2, D. Yeate^ 3. Time, 1.3. Junior two-lap.— -First division: S. Bonner 1, R. Harper 2. Wilton 3. Time, 1.14. • Second division: G. Julius 1, N/Vertogen (Palmerston North) 2, W. Walsh (Palmerston North) 3. Time, 1.50!. Senior three-lap: osman (Palmerston North) 1, Bloomfield (Palmerston North) 2, N. Parker 3. Time, 1.58!. Visitors' three lap: C. Hollows (Palmerston North) 1, Bloomfield 2, Smith (Otaki) 3. Time. 1.59 3/4. Senior miss and out: Bloomfield 1, Parker 2, Vertogen 3. Junior miss and out. — First divison : Butcher (Palmerston North) 1, Pratt 2. Second division: Smith 1, Hollows, 2. Athletic Events Girls, under 14, 75 yards.— First division: Beverley Jeilyman and Lena Rolston 1 (equal) . Gwenda Huston 3. Time, 9 1/5 secs. Second division: • Audrey Rose 1, Marie Bovey 2, Pat Sciascia 3. Time, 9! SGCS. Boys, under 14, 75 yards. — First division: David Lee (Shannon) 1, Trevor Bayliss 2, Max Grainger 3. Time, 10 secs. Second division: Rex Spicer 1, W. Waitere 2, Jack^haw 3. Time, 10 secs. »J Open handicap, 75 yards, first division:- B. Lind (Shannon) 1, P. Maher 2, D. Lambert 3. Time, 8 1/5 secs. Second- division: B. Lee (Shannon), 1, J- Goodwin 2, A. Lee (Shannon)' 3. Time, 8 secs. Women's 75 yards open handicap, first division: Mi's$ Joyce Bifdsl, Miss S. Rose 2, Miss Adrian 3. Time, 9 secs. Second division: Miss Dawn Williams (Otaki) 1, Miss N. McMinn 2, Miss A. Rose 3. Time, 9% secs. Junior 75 yards open: D. Hakaraia 1, Goodwin 2, B. Lind ,3. Time, 8 secs. ~ " Open 100 yards handicap: D. Hakaraia 1, B. Lee 2, B. Lind 3. Time, 10 1/5 secs. 1 Open 440 yards handicap: A. Lee 1 H. Sayer (Shannon) 2, Mudge f (Otaki) 3. Time, 53 1/5 secs. A. Lee's win in the 440 yar$

open handicap was one of the most spectacular of the night. One of the scratch men, he moved . right' through the* held and as it went along the back stretch, passed all eomers to lead the way home. > • In the cycle events, miss and out races were both novel and excitmg. The whole field Started together and at the conclusion of each lap, the last man had to drop out until oply three were left. These then made a further lap and raced for positions. / During the evening, the three marching -teams, Alpine, Shamrock and Caledonian, each gave a display and the Municip^l Band played two selections. One of these, a modern waltz entitled "Follow the Band," was enthusi..astically received, especially by'tlie

younger members of ithe crowd. The Horowhenua Pipe Band also assisted with the programme. Members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade were in attendance and were called on to attend to, minor casualties. _ The Foxton Club will open its season on Thursday night and all competitors are reminded that a free bus will leave the bus stand at 5.30 p.m, As many as possible are asked to maka the trip and support the Foxton Club in. its first, night of the season.