HIKUTAIA SPORTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4367, 18 January 1922, Page 2

HIKUTAIA SPORTS.

ENTRIES THE BEST YET.

RUNNING AND CHOPPING CHAMPIONS. A COMPELLING PROGRAMME. (“Gazette” Staff Reporter.! The members of thte Hikutaia Sports Club arc jubilant over the quality and quantity of the entries for their annual fixture, .which takes place atHikutai.a oh Monday, January 30. On both counts the entries constitute a •record in the annals of the club. For instance, in the 100yds race thbre. are , already ten entrants, comprising some of the best athletes in New Zealand, among them being P, D. Mclvor, tne South Island champion. All the big fields are well patronised, the mil 6 cv.ent, for instance, claiming np fewer than seventeen names. A number of winners of cups of last year will be present to defend their trophies, the fleet-footed Ellison being among them, THE CHOPPING EVENTS. The full flavour of the success‘’in entries received is tasted when the chopping list is scanned; the competitors undoubtedly comprise the. , cream of New Zealand’s axemen, including the redoubtable Dave Pretty, A. Fisher, Allan DuffuTl, J. E. Ricnardson, W. Costello, B. Herkt, and F. Patterson. Such a bunch of prominent axemen would not be found on many sports grounds in the Dominion. Mr Pretty will defend his cup of last year, and the contest should be an exciting one. Profiting by the experience of 1921, the executive has made arrangements whereby the public will get a much better view of the chopping events; «t least three times the number of people will be able to get a good view in comfort. The Hauraki Band will be in attendance, and, given a fine day,the meeting should be the most enjoyable outdoor fixture of the season. - The refreshments booth will be in the experienced hands of Mr Manson, the well-known Auckland caterer, who, by the way l , had charge of the Auckland A. and P. Show booth. It - may. therefore, safely be taken • for granted that there will be nothing lacking in- the way of nourishment. The events will start at 11.30. after the arrival of the Paeroa train. A special train will leave for Thames at 6 p.m.; the Paeroa Crain leaves at 5. The programme is so arranged that the public will be able to see the last chop without having to hasten off to . the Paeroa train before the completion of the event