MILITARY SPORTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2272, 5 October 1914, Page 6

MILITARY SPORTS

A GREAT SUCCESS

THE SOLDIER CHAMPIONS

OVER 3000 ENTRIES

The military sports meoting at Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon was a great success, both financially and as a means of providing the troops with an afternoon's excellent entertainment. Iho troops had a half-holiday for the occasion, and soon after 1 o'clock began to assemble at the park. The large number of entries received and the numerous events made an early start necessary, .and tho first item on the programme, tho three-mile walk, was started a few minutes after 2 o'clock. That hour was rather early for tho general public, but by 3 o'clock it was estimated that tho public attendance was about 3000. The two bands of the Expeditionary Forco and the Otago Bine Band were present, and enlivened tho proceedings' with popular items, "It's "a Long, Long Way to Tipperary," being a great favourite.

The day was beautifully fine. During tho afternoon His Excellency tho Governor, accompanied by the Countess of Liverpool, attended the gathering, and watched with interest tho athletic events. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) was also present, and the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs.. J. P. Luke). As many Headquartcrß Staff officers as could get away were in attendance.

So popular had the idea of the meeting been with the soldiers, and so keen were they to. show their athletic prowess, that some 3000 entries were received. The large number of names got beyond the limits of tho programme of events issued, and as post entries were allowed in many cases, it would bo hard to , say exactly how many contestants thero were. Notwithstanding this, the events wore run.quickly, and the sports ended by 5_ o'clock. As many as four items were in' progress at ono time, and the heats were quickly dispatched. A large committee worked very hard on tho grounds. Mr. T. W. Leslie was a prompt starter. In tho 220 yards championship ho had two sets of runners on the track at the ono time, and so quickly did tho hents end that tho judges had tho utmost, difficulty to keep up with the running;. Ten heats were needed to get tho 100 yards flat championship off, and the firstman in each heat was in thti final. Tins lyas one of the best contested flnals of the day, and ivns wop by Private W. Darby, in the excellent time of 10 2-ssec. The tug-of-ivar went on during the whole afternoon. Twenty-four teams were entered, and some excellent pulls were recorded. Tho final took plac between the 13(81 (North Canterbury) Infantry and the 10th (Mounted) Regiment teams, the former winning. The open events, such as obstaelp racs, sack race, wheelbarrow race, etc., in.which tho men-o'-warsmen took part, wero very amusing, so the public' had plenty of entertainment, apart from the more serious athletic events. Many good runners came to light in the different races, and tho | whole athletic showing reflected credit on the Expeditionary Forco.

THE RESULTS. The results were as under— 100 yds. Championship.—First heat: Trooper Bates, 10th Regt. Second 'heat: Private W. Darby, 7th Regiment. Third heat: Sergeant K. Messenger, Headquarters, Wellington, and Private J. AV. Holmes (tie). Fourth heat: Private A. H. Corlett, Headquarters, Wellington. l'4fth heat: TrooDer C A. Gray, C.Y.C.. Seventh heat: Private E. C. Stanley, 11th Regt. Eighth heat: Private G. F. Bertrand, 11th Regt. Ninth heat: Trooper W. Proctor, 10th Kegt. Tonth heat: Trooper H. C. Bridge, A Squadron, Wellington Mounteds. Final. Private W. Darby 1 Sergeant R. Messenger ' 2 Private A. H. Corlett 3 Time, 10 2-ssec. Three-mile Walk Championship.-Chap-lain-Captain J. W. Ross, 2nd (West Coast) Mounted Rifles, I;' Trooper J. S. Mcock, 2nd Mounted Rfles, 2; Private A. B. Stewart, Ist (Canterbury) Reft., 3. Half-mile Championship.—Private C. H. Pugh, Wellington Machine Gun Section, 1; Private W. T. Huxford, Bth Regt., S; Private W. H. Harris, Ist Regt., 3. 120 yds. Hurdles Championship.—First heat: Private W. H. Barnes, 7th Regt., l;Trooper R. Topp, 10th Mounted Rifles, 2. Second heat: Private A. Studdeloy, Wellington -Infantry,' 1; Trapper. E: F. Bates, 10th Mounted Rifles,? 2. Third heat: Private H. White. Wellington Jlounted Gun Section, 1; Private D. Blaokie, 14th Regt., 2. Fourth heat: Private E. C. Stanley, 11th Regt., 1; Trooper S. Sullivan, 12th Mounted Regt., 2. Final. Private W. H. Barnes 1 Private H. White 2 Private E. F. Bates 3 Time, 19 l-ssec. Tug-of-War.—First round: 10th Mounted.Rifles beat C.Y.C. (No. 1); C.Y.C. (No. 2) beat Ammunition Column; Mounted Gun Section beat H.M.S. Psycho; A. Squadron beat H.M.S. Torch; Ith Platoon (A Co.) beat Ist Battalion N.Z.F.A.; 6th Regt. (South Canterbury) beat ith (Otago) Regt.; 13th Regiment beat 9th Wellington Mounted Squadron; Base Debail beat D Co. Ruahine Regt.; No. 3 Battery beat Base Infantry "Detail; B Co. (Southland) beat Engineers; Signallers beat Military Police. _ Second Round.-lOth Mounted Rifles beat C.Y.C; A Squadron (Otago). M.R. beat Wellington Machine Gun Section; Gth (South Canterbury) Regiment beat ith (West Coast) Regt.; Signallers beat No. 2 F.A.; 13th (North Canterbury) Infantry) Regt. beat Baso Detail; B Co. (Southland Regt.) beat No. 3 F.A. Third Round.—loth Mounted Regt. (C Squadron) beat Otago Mounted. Rifles; 13th Regiment beat Bth M.R.; Signallers beat B Co. (Southland). , Fourth Round.—l3th Regt. beat Signallers; 10th M.R., a bye. Final. 13th (North Canterbury) Infantry beat 10th Mounted Regiment. _ One Mile Championship.—Private C. H. Pti"h, Wellington Machine Gen Seohon, lj'Troper W. T. Huxford, .Bth Mounted Rifles, 2; Private W. E. .Brown, fth Regt., 8. Time, smin. 1G 3-sseo. "20yds. Championship—TrooporW. Proctor Otago M.R., 1; Gunner Cornajo, Ist (Auckland) Battery, 2; Lieutenant E. M. Gabites, Bth (Southland) Regt., 3.. Time, !Bsec. ' , . „ . One Mile Walk Championship—Capt.Chaplain J. AY. Ross, 2nd West Coast M.R., 1; Trooper,J. Hoatson, C.Y.C, 2; Pte. B. Dyke, oth (Wellington) M.R., 3. Long Jump.—Trooper R. Smith, C.Y.C, 17ft. Sttin., 1; Gunner J. B. Holmes, N.Z.F.A., 17ft. Sin., 2. 410 yds. Hurdles.—Sergeant T. C. Pattereon, 10th (Nelson) M.R., 1; Private W. H Barnes, 7th (Regt.), l 2; Trooper J. J. Austin, Headquarters M.R., 3. Time, 75 3-ssec. , . - . ' , ~. Throe Milo Championship—Bombardier C. Murray, Ammunition Corps, 1; Private A. Bonnin, Mounted Ambulance, 2; Private P. F. Shields, 17th Regiment, 3. Time, 18min. 2 2-ssec. 50yds. Dash.—Private C. Scinscia, 7th Regiment, 1; Private A. Cochraue, 7th R<wiment, 2; Gunner A. Cornago, Ist (Auckland) Battery, 3. Wheelbarrow Race.—Privates Stringer and Tapping, R.N.Z.A., 1; Troopers Black and Burt, 7th (Southland) Mounted Rifles, "'Half-milo Relay Race.-C.Y.C, 1. Hop, Step, and Jump.—Trooper A. G. Snavrow. 10th M.R., 30ttf, 1; Private R. H. Smith, 37ft. oin., 2: Trooper D. Devon, Bth M.R.. 37ft. Sin., 3. High Jnmn.—Private Hughes, B. Co., Canterbury Regiment, 4ft. lOin., 1; Private AMridsc, B. Co., Canterbury Regiment, 4ft. 9in„ 2. Blindfold Barrel Race—Biip'lcr F. de Lisle, H.B. Reriment, 1; Seaman S. Brown. H.M.S. P<vehe, 2. One Mile Relay Race.—A. Co.. 7fch Regiment. 1; Oteso B«nd, 2: C.Y.C. 3. Pillow Fight.—Serjeant-Major N. Cuff, Oteeo Mounted Rifles, 1; Private H. W. Joslin, Canterbury Infantry, 2. k Obstacle Raoe.-Privatq A, ,C. Burns,,]

oth Regiment, 1; Bombardier C. Murray, Ammunition Brigado Col., 2. Potato Race.—Lance-Corporal ,A. J. Forsyth, Hawke's Bay Co., 9th Regiment, 1; Farrier Prussing, Brigade Ammunition Col., 2; Corporal Farrier P. M'Grath, 3. Putting the Shot.—Private Dawson, 3rd Cattery, Machine Gun Section, 32ft; Gin., 1; Private, M'Kenzie, 14th Infantry Regiment, 30ft. 4in., 2; Private Abbott, A.S. Corps, 30ft., 3. Sack Race.—Private Patching,' South Canterbury Infantry, lj Private Little,' 17th Rogiment, 2. Tho prizes will bo presented at the concert in tho Grand Opera House on Wednesday night. Additional offers of trophies have been received from tho following:— Messrs. J. E. Evans, J. Dwyer, J. M'Donald, W. S. Wallace, Wallace and Gibson, Hymnn, C. H. Perrott, R. Brown and Sons, Geo. Fowlda, Ltd., Len. M'Kenzie, F. G. Castle, the Silver Grid, and tho Grand Pharmacy. GATHERING AT DUNEDIN. (By Teleerapli-Pres3 Association.) Dunedin, October 3. A sports meeting in aid of the ■Patriotic Fund was held to-day. There .was a large attendance, and the events proved interesting. It is anticipated that as a result of the meeting nearly. £200 will bo added to the Patriotic Fund.