ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5218, 19 December 1927, Page 2

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

SUCCESSFUL PAEROA MEETING.

LARGE CROWD AT THE DOMAIN

All roads led to the de main, op Saturday, when the Paeroa AWiletic Club held its second annual sports meeting. Fortunately the weather was fine until the start of the last race, when light rain commenced to fall. There was a rec rd number of people in attendance, and at about 3 p.m., when the crowd was at its biggest, it was estimated that there were over 1200 persons present.

The heavy rain which fell on Friday took the sting out of the ground, and at an early hour on Saturday the racing track was well rolled, the result being that with a fine morning the track was in fair condition by the afternoon, and the competitors expressed satisfaction. Keen interest was taken by the crowd in each event, and winners and losers alike were frequently warmly applauded for their efforts.

The greatest thrills were provided by the cyclists, and the one, two, three, and Ilve-mile races were keenly contested and proved very exciting. With such well-known riders as Hayes, Harcourt, Tippins, Mason, Randrupp, and others, tiie competition was keen and the public was given some fine exhibitions of track racing. Hayes: and Harcourt, the two scratch riders in all events, were very popular with the crowd. On the dav Harcourt was undoubtedly the better rider, and his power of endurance and trackcraft were admired and warmly applauded. Although he rode strongly and gamely, Hayes did not seem to appear at his top form. Although only IS years of age, C. Tippins, of Fitzroy, New Plymouth, added further to his laurels by winning all the principal events. This young rider won the 100-mile Mt. Egmont road race this year, which brought him into prominence, and the successes which he gained on Saturday stamp him as a rider of stamina and outstanding ability. The only accident of the day occurred in the final of the one-mile cycle handicap, when M. J. Randrupp, who was riding strongly in the third lap, touched wheels witii the local rider V. Hale. Both cyclists crashed, but other than a bruising neither was seriously injured. Later on Randrupp won the two-mile handicap comfortably. The running events were all keenly contested, and evoked much interest. The principal races were won by F. Tremain, of Te Afoha, who was in great form throughout the meeting. The primary schools relay race for the Samuel Cup attracted' tour teams, and ,was again won by the Paeroa. A team. During the afternoon the president, Mr W. Marshall, accompanied by the donor of the cup, Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., presented the trophy to the winning team. In , ongratiilating the lads on. thdir achievement Mr Marshall said the condition attaching to the trophy were that it was to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. The winning team had brought f.uccess to their school, and the cup now became the property of the Paeroa school for all time. The 'statement that Mr Samuel had generously offered to present another cup for competition next year Was received with hearty applause. l The Highland dancing attracted considerable interest, and it is many years since kilts and bagpipes have been seen at Paeroa. The dancing was. of a high order, and the judge, Mr W. Forrest, had a difficult task in placing the competitors. His decisions, however, found favour with the spectators, who in each instance warmly applauded his verdict. Inspiriting music was contributed by the Waihi Federal Band, under Bandmaster F. Carlyon. During the afternoon the local Girl Guides and Brownies, under the command of Captain Emmott, gave an interesting display of, marching and drill. Considerable credit is due to Miss I. Malcolm, who, owing to the illness of Miss Emmott, trained the- children in their work. The precision With which the various evolutions were performed, and the rhythmic marching of the girls, was creditably done ,and spectacular. The Paeroa Boy Scouts, Under the command of Assistant-Scout-master N. Campbell, also gave an interesting exhibition of life-saving from fire, and a Scouts’ cooking test.

That the public thoroughly enjoyed tiie sports was clearly evident, and many laudatory remarks were passed concerning the satisfactory management of the meeting. There was not a dull moment. Events got off strictly to schedule, and the fact that no protests of any kind were lodged is evidence that the competitors were satisfied. Paeroa and district is particularlv fortunate in having a man of Mr Ken. L. Slyflelu’s calibre. As secretary and prgariiser of, the Paeroa Athletic Club' ‘Ken” is the man for the job. Gifted with an ability for organisation, he is progressive and thorough in his methods to a degree, and is deserving of hearty congratulations on the undoubted success that attended his. efforts- A word of praise is .also due to the club’s officials generally, and the section superintendents in particular, each of whom worked enthusiastically and well in the discharge of his duties. Indications are that many of the competitors on Saturday are already looking forward to next year’s meeting, and Paeroa is destined to become one of the most important athletic sports gatherings in the province. Following are the results : — Boys’ 100yds Primary Schools Handicap, under .15 years.—First heat, Smith 1, Braniley 2; second heat, J. Findlay 1, Gleeson 2 ; final, J. Findlay 1, Gleeson 2.

Girls’ sOyds Primary Schools Handicap.—P. Clarke .1, D. Dye 2.

Boys’ High Jump.—K. Curtis and Gleeson, equal, 4ft 6in.

120yds Local Hndicap; competitors to reside within four miles of Paeroa Post Office. First £3, second £2, third 10s—R. J. Swann (12yds) 1, R. Morrison (9yds) 2, 11. A- Williams (12yds) 3. Time, 12 1-5 sec.

One-mile Cycle Handicap ; first £3, second £l, third 10s. —First heat, O. Tippins (120yds)' 1, 0. Stace (160yds)

2, yf. K. Francis (120yds) 3; second heat, M. J. Randrupp (100yds) 1, P. Lynch (130yds) 2, V. Hale (150yds) 3; final, Tippins 1, P- Lynch 2, Stace 3. Time, 3min 32 3-ssec. Paeroa Handicap, 120yds ; first £lO, second £2, third £l.—First heat, H. A. Williams (12yds) and D. Moiesworth (7yds) dead heat, 1; second heat, R. McPherson (10yds) 1, F. Tremain (12yds) 2; third heat, A. R. Rumbles (11yds) 1, A. C. Hvdei (12yds) 2; fourth heat, R. J. Swann (12yds) 1, J. McQuarters (11yds) 2 ; final, Rumbles 1, Tremain 2, McPherson 3. Time, 11 4-s ? ec.

Basketball and Hockey Players’ (ladies) 100yds Race.—Z. Dye (Waihi) 1, L. Loane (Paeroa) 2. Highland Fling; boys or girls, 7 years to 10 years—Evan Mackay (Waihi) 1, Joan McDuff (Ngatea) 2The pip?, music was supplied by they Rev. J. Charteris, Turua, and Mr E. Mackay, Waihi. Two-mile Cycle Handicap; first £5, second £2, third £l.—M. J. Randrupp (140yds) 1, C. Tippins (140yd5).2, W. K. Francis (180yds) 3. Time, smin 6%sec. Twenty-six started, but only seven completed the distance. Hayes pulled out after travelling sqven laps.

Primary Relay Race ; four laps of 220yds ; competitors to be under 14 years. Winning team to hold A. M. Samuel Cup and receive silver medals.—Paeroa A team 1, Karangahake team 2, Paeroa B team 3. Married Ladies’ Race, 75yds.—Mrs Birse (Waihi) 1, Mrs Perry 2. 220yds Handicap; first £4, second £l, third 10s. —First heat, A. Shaw (22yds) 1, E. Furey (18yds) 2, A. C. Hyde (20yds) 3 ; second, heat, E. Tremain (20yds) 1, A- Zenovich (18yds) 2 ; third heat, J. McQuarters (22yds) 1, A. Woolford (22yds) 2 ; final, Tremain 1, Zenovich 2, McQuarters 3. Time, 22 2-ssec. Five-mile Cycle Handicap ; first £lO, second £3, third £l.—C. Tippins (360 yds) .1, S. Hayes (scr) 2, P. Harcourt (scr) 3. Time, 12min 46sec. There were 20 starters, but only four fin-

ished. 440yds Handicap; first £5, second £l, third 10s. —F. Hubbard (35yds) 1, E. Treniain (30yds) 2, A. Woolford (60yds) 3. Time, 50sec. Highland Dancing; boys or girls, 10 years to 14 years.—Doris Mackay (Waihi) 1, Lorna McDuff (Turua) 2. 880yds Handicap; first £5, second £l, third 10s.—Fred Dye (70yds) 1, A. Morrissey (scr) 2, A. C. Petersen (60yds) 3. Time, Imin 1 3-ssec. Three-mile Cycle Handicap ; first £6, Second £2, third £1 —C. Tippins (200yds) 1, J. H. Harcourt (scr) 2, O. Stace (340yds) 3. Time, 'Bmin 3 4'-ssec.

One-mile Handicap; first £5, second £2, third £l.—E. Dye, (100yds) 1, S. Browne (120yds) 2, A. Morrissey (scr) 3. Time, 4min 35sec. Hop, Step, and Jump Handicap; first £1 10s, second 10s. —F. Hubbard 40ft9%in, 1 ; L. R. Adams, 40ft 6to, 2.

High Jump.—L. McNeil, 4ft 7in, 1; S. McMahon, 4ft sin, 2.