CHAMPIONS AT PAEROA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5212, 5 December 1927, Page 2

CHAMPIONS AT PAEROA.

RECORD SPORT;S entries. “SLATER” HAYES COMING. Still another object lesson of Paeroa as a centre has been shown by the record nominations received by the Paeroa Athletic Club for its second sports gala of-Saturday, December. Last year’s nominations have been completely eclipsed in every way, and in every class will be in Paeroa for the meeting.

The gala points to being the biggest athletic fixture ever presented in the Thames Valley. The cyclists include many of last year’s “thrill” riders, including “Slate;” Hayes, of 'Auckland, the “hero” of Blandfoid Park and a host of sports meetings , Chalies Tippins, 1927 winner of, the Dominion’s biggest cycle race of the year—loo-mile Egmont Road Race of New Plymouth.; H. L. Hammond, the Taur.anga and Bay of Plenty champion ; together with J. H. Harcourt, last year’s favourite, and a host of riders from Hamilton, Auckland, Tnumarunui, Papakura, W.aihi, and, Te Aroha.

The running events have received phenomenal nominations, including Lance Carrington, professional mile champion of New Zealand ; A. E. MOl- - the undisputed long-distance champion of South Auckland and Thames Valley, and other long-dis-tance and middle-distance runners, such as Palmer, of Tauhei, and Peterson, of Onchunga. Special inteiest attaches to the nomination of J. McKean, Auckland veteran runner of 34 track seasons, who, although 60 years of age, still “has a fly” at the halfmile and mile. The sprinting events have drawn such runners as A- Watson, of Piopio ; Northmore, of Huntly ; Tremain, of Te Aroha ; Maloner, of Netherton; and a host of runners from as far afield as Auckland, Ohakune, Rotorua, and Waitakaruru. In all, over 60 runners have noininr ated for the gala. A brief comparison shows the numbers in several of the; events, 1926 figures being in parenthesis : 440yds, 35 (13) ; 880iyds, 23 (14) ; mile, 22 (la) ; Paeroa Handicap, 32 (20).

The nominations for cycling events are also well oyer last year's figures. Keen competition is also expected for the Samuel Cup by teams competing from as far afield as Waihi.