ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 178, 13 March 1914, Page 3

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

*"• Mauku's Day Out. The Mauku branch of tire Faimera' Union held their anrual sports ar.d picnic i.i Mr Nobbs' picturesque grounds on Saturday, 7th inst. The site is an ideal' one for a picnic with its beautiful Heck of open native bush providing ample shelter for man or beast ard the paddock adjoining makes an excellent scoits ground. Durirg the afternoon a large crowd wes present, greatly in excess of any previous year. Considerable interest was taken in the numerous events, the natural lav o* the ground providing cxcellei t points of vantage to view the competitions. As all entiies were taken en te ground a lot cf work ftll on the stewards appointed for the different sections, but all worked with a will ard succeeded in carrying throiign a highly-successful programme. Foremost amongst tha busv cneß were Messrs A. C. Davy, E. C. Cuff C. Crispe, whilst splendid service was rendered by Mr and Mrs P. W. Ryburn with the afternoon lea arrangementr. Mr A. Schmitt, provincial secretary ot the Farmers' Union, motored up from Auckland and expressed himself highly pleased with the turn out ard arrangements. Following are the events and results:— Sheaf pitching—K. Quinn 1, E. C. Cuff 2. This year the sheaf pitching was for cistance, not ht ight as hitherto, althouch the sheaf had to be thrown over a bar seme 8 feet high first. A valuable barometer for first prize induced eeme 20 entries and was productive of a very interesting display. The winner's distance was 65 feet 9 , inches and the second man 63 feet 6 inches. Stepping distance—For this event there were no fewer than 48 competitors all bent nn winning a watch prefenttd by Mr J. Henry, ihe exact distance was 114 yards 2 inches, and six tied with 115 yards to their credit. In the step off the exact distance was 74 yards 2 feet 10 inches, which resulted: —Nobts, 74 yards, 1; J. Goldswortbv, 75 yards 2 feet 2 inches, 2. Tilting in the ring, 23 entries— M. Irwin, 6 rings, 1; W. McNally, 6 rings, 2. Stockmen's competition) 20 entiies—V. Rogers 1, G. Forbes 2. Bucket ard ball race, 21 entries— W. Finlay 1, C. Crispe 2. In this • event the competitors had to ride round the course in a given time and drop tennis balls into buckets at different spots. In a great many cases the balls missed the bucket; in others they bounced out again. The difficulty experienced may be judged from the fact that out of the 21 competitors only 4 succeeded in leaving 3 balls in the six buckets provided. 100 Yards, Farmers' Union members only-P. W. Ryburn I, T. Taylor 2. Boot race-E. C. Cuff 1, N. Cotter 2. Sack race—May 1, J. Cain 2. JUL. Throwing cricket ball—N. Cotter, . JO9 yards, 1; R. Quinn 2. Ladies' stepping—This proved a very popular event with the ladies and induced a very large field. There are evidently Eome excellent distance judges amongst the lair sex, for with an exact distance of 69 yards 2 inches three ladies, Misees Wilson, Backhurst and Keddy gave 69 yards as the measurement. The B'ep off, distance 34 yards 1 foot 3 inches, resulted: Miss Keddy, 34 yards 6 inches, 1; Miss Wilson, 35 yards 2 inches, 2. 50 Yards, married ladies-Mrs A. Taylor 1, Mrs Nott 2. 50 Yards, single ladies—Mi-s Knight 1, Miss ijands 2. Nail driving, ladies—Mrs 3, Taylor 1, Mrs A. Davy 2. Girls over 10 and under 1G— Christina Augustina 1, Kathleen White 2. Girls urder 10—Edith Augustina 1, Doris White 2. Boys over 10 and under 16— Wislev Pleydell 1, Ben Cantelin 2. Boya under 10—Norman Gutry 1, Gordon Steensnn 2. Special priz:s were donated by Messrs J. Henty, J. B. Goldsworthy, White. W. H. Bowler, E. C. Cuff, C. Crispe and the Farmers' Union Trading Association, all the rest being provided by the Mauku branch.