KEREPEEHI SPORTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5382, 1 February 1929, Page 2

KEREPEEHI SPORTS.

EASTER MUNDAY FIXTURE.

ANNUAL ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Arrangements for the annual sports meeting at Kerepeehi, Which it is hoped "iU bq as successful as its forerunners, were made at the annual meeting, of the Kerepeehi Sports Association which was held at the residence of Mr J. Murdock on day evening. Mr J. M. Thompsioin. presided over an enthusiastic meeting of twenty members. BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet showed a turnover of £358 17s 2d- The; balance brought forward "'as £52 9s 9d. and tlie amount to carry forward £lO2 15s Id. Among the receipts for the year were donations £3l IQs 6d,,advertisements in and proceeds of sale of programmes £32 Ils 6d, dance £2O 18s, booth £B7 Bs, Bd, gate; receipts £B2 7s 3d, entrance fees £42 4s, andi sideshows £7 13s 6d. Major items of expenditure were prize money £lO5 13s 6d, goods for booth £64 10s 6d, printing and advertising £27, and ground ‘expenses £l7 17s. The; auditor, Mr Gi Barnbrook, commented on the satisfactory state of the association’s accounts, and several members commented on the sound financial position. The balance-sheet was adopted. REPORT. Reporting on the year’s operations, Mr J. M. Thompson, the president, congratulated the association pm its successful year and thanked members for the assistance given at tlie last fixture, OFFICERS. The following, officers, were elected '■ Patron, Mr A- M. Samuel, M.P. J president, Mr J. M. Thompson; secretarj' and treasurer, Mr J. E. Smith; committee, Messrs C. J. Barton, A. J. innis, W. Thomson, W. Chick, G. Gray, W. Kidd, J. Hands. A. L. Fisher, F. Rogers, J. Hamill, J. ■Hamilton, D. Shilton, S. Garrett, H. Booth, W. Shilton, J. Lawler, P. G. Pearce, F. Chick, G. Courtney, WWylde, W. Chapman, A. Middleton, JNewman, F. Stephens, J. A. Benncft, W. Green, A McMillan ; auditor, Mr A. Gillespie. HORSE EVENTS. Mr C. Clifford advocated cutting out the horse events from the programme and holding mqre athletic e;vents. He was of opinion that flat race‘s were increasing in pcj>ularity. Mr W. Thompson pointed out that a clause in the association’s rules prevented any horse which had appeared on. any registered lacq course from taking, part in the sports. Tjie district was looking to all horse-qwners in the district to enter for. the Hauraki Plains non-totalisator race meeting, but this would! bar th e h'orse's from the sports. If horse; events were to be continued the clause should be eliminated.

Mr Clifford argued that the events bordered o ; n real horse racep, and he would favour not running the risk but concentrating on foot events. The Minister ofi Internal Affairs, would grant, permission to hold the sports, but the Racing Conference! c.ould disqualify all horses, competitors, and officials from appearing on any race course.

The president explained that legal advice had been obtained some; years ago and the programme had been approved by the solicitors and the polic,e.- A somewhat similar programme had been conducted for some years without any trouble whatever. No registered racehorse ,was allowed to compete, and in .his opinion it would be a bad st'ejp to reduce the horse events, which were the main attraction to the public. Foot events alone would, in his opinion, not prove sufficiently interesting, for the public. Mr*D. Shilton moved that the; previous year’s programme be adopted, with slight minor alterations.

Seconded by Mr J. M. Thompson.

Mr Shilton urged that the motorcar event be cut out and a putting-the-Shot event substituted.

Mr W. Grqen moved an amendment favouring reducing the horse events and substituting foot race!q. Mr J. A. Bennett explained that the Turua Athletic Sport? had been a success, but the Kqrepeehi sports would not be assured of success, if confined to athletic?, as the meeting would clash with the spdrts at Te Aroha. The motion and amendment were; withdrawn, and it was decided to discuss the events in the last year’s programme. THE PROGRAMME. This was done, and the following events as appearing wepe approved : Maiden Hunter, Maiden Chop, Ngatea Handicap (horse event), Turua Handicap (horse event), Standing Chop, Kerepeehi Cup (horse qvent), Flag, Race, Settlers’ HorS;C Race, Ladies’ Chop, Lady’s Bracelet, Underhand Chop, Married Ladies’ Handicap (post entry), and Single; Ladies’ Handicap. The old buffers’ chop was eliminated and a half-mile amateur 'handicap foot rac,e substituted. The 100yds open flat race was altered to a 100yds handicap, with increased prizej-money, Tlie motor-tilting event was deleted in favour of a putting-the-shot event. The log-sawing event, which had not proved attractive, was deleted, and an Hauraki Plains primary schools 100yds boys’ championship for a medal donated by Mr G. Cqurtney, with a sec,ond| prize medal donated by Mr C. Pearce, was substituted. Mr C. Clifford and Mr S. Garrett promised trophies for a Hauraki Plains primary schools (girls) race. The 220yds flat and the 440yds one;n events were made handicap events, with increased prize-money.

To make a twenty-first event a palq vaulting competition was added, bringing the total prize-money to' £ll4.

DUTIES DETAILED. Messrs W. Thomson, c. Clifford, J. Bennett, and G. Courtney were appointed to arrange the events in the' 1 programme.