AWAPUNI IN RETROSPECT

NZ Truth, Issue 1205, 3 January 1929, Page 10

AWAPUNI IN RETROSPECT

¥N recent years, there has been an endeavor to mode) the Awapuni . course^ oh Ellerslie, and it has now, arrived at the stage where its boosters call it "Beautiful Awapuni,". " : , From a horticultural point of view, Awapuni is beautjfui; what with its drive m a mass of blooms, and the arbors for members to park their cars. b . bb'. '.■'•'■' But from the .point of; view of the ordinary racing public, who supply the' sinews , of war, there are several practical and very; necessary alterations, needed. Fjrst andbforemost?. is the. absolute urgency of some plan being, evolved. to deal with motor trarfic. The arrangements made each Boxing Day for the control of vehicular traffic are positively scandalous. Absolute ohaos prevails and it is a case of the Devil take the hindmcat. Then the bad weather last weeK showed the track up m anything but favorable light. The last day found water; lying m patches all round the course. This state of affairs was -mainly brought about by the too frequent use of the roller. The track was: roffed tiff ii was so solid that it was impossible for the water to penetrate and soak through. y. Out on the lawns, the ground was quite dry, yet only twenty feet away on to the course there were pools inches deep. TheTtime has arrived for the erection of a hew stewards' stand, The present building has long outgrown its usefulness, and from a working point of view is impossible. , ''. Being all but a furlong off the winning post, Press writers, if they wish to see the finish, are compelled to trek across the main stand and

back for each event. ' s 'Awapuni is by no means as perfect as its ardent admirers Would have it, and last week's meeting brought this home perhaps more than ever before. - y „' - V