ATHLETICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8790, 18 April 1907, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

Marton Sports,

It certainly looked first thing yesterday morning that the weather, upon which everything depended, would be anything but suitable for the postponed annual gathering of Marton Athletic Club's sports. A heavy downpour of rain continued the whole night and the morning opened cold and unpromising but a strong easterly wind sprang up and the rain held. off. The cold wind that blew, however, kept a good number of people away but it did not seem to have the" effect of spoiling the day's outing. Yesterday's meeting was quite a success, and the number of entries received for the different events were, if anything, in of any previous year. Among the competitors in the cycling andjruuning events wore several with New Zealand reputations and one at least who has gained what might be termed an Australian reputation, viz, Mr L. 0. McLachlan, who holds a fine record as a sprinter. Then there were others who have succeeded in capturing some of the colony's most coveted honors.- When, therefore, sucli men appeared on the programme., it was only to be expected that considerable interest should be taken by athletes and the general public in the day's events. Added to t'.iis there was the attraction ot the horse leaping competitions—always popular events—and perhaps proved the greatest draw to tiie average person. Hitherto there lias been nothing seen in Marton to approach such fine all round sport. Some of the cycling ovents were very good, particularly the Two Mile Wheel Race which ended in a grand finish. A. E. Parbesjrat up a praiseworthy performance in this race and rode with success in the other events. It is a matter for congratulation that not a single accident occurred and a most striking feature of the meeting was that every.event started right on time —there was not a dull moment

during the whole atfernoon. A notice of tho meeting would not le pomplete without a reference to the whole-hearted manner in which the officials of the Club worked. Thev ware all at their posts .when wanted aid to all of them praise is due and if the true factor of what is called fclie lurk of tho Club was wanted tj be found, the seeker would not have to go much further than the officials, who,-' one and all hive their hearts thoroughly in their work, and to whose efforts the unprecedented success of the Club is due. Special mention should be inade of the Secretary, Mr A. Way, Who did yeonian's work. Mr W. L. tittle", as supervisor of the sports, assumed active control of the gathering and was ably supported by officers in charge of the departments of whom Mr H. Hunt, referee, D. Henderson, starter, Mr Max Bornhold, timekeoper, Messrs P. G. Hilton, A. W. Woolloy, T. Ross and J. Mcjjouafd, judges; R. Woodhouso, result board steward, and Mr W. R. fcfuellgrove were'conspicuously energetic. The Club is indebted to Messrs R. Aid worth and J. Coombe for their valuable services as judges jn the horse jumping events. Mr Ooonibo made a special trip from Wayerlcy to attend tho sports. Other promiuont and hard-working officials in charge of tho horse events were Mr A. Eijnston, secretary, Mr A. Eddie, assistant, Mr E. Jolly, clerk to judges, and Mr R. Goebei, clerk of scales. These officers are to be complimented on getting the great number of entries through with such smartness. The duties of gatekeepers were capably carried out bv Messrs A. H. Knigg'e, T. C. Trott F. Dunne and A. Bishop and the ajftitip-guessing competition was in fhe'hands of Messrs C. Moore and B. Signal, who secured a satisfactory Sale of tickets. The excellent music tiiaoqursetl by Marton Band added materially to the harmony of the jjEo'ceedings. A refreshment booth was 'ln charge of Mr and Mrs Lightbourne, who are to be complimented gn their' successful efforts. Results';— " ,; "" RUNNING Ey-BNTS.

Maiden Race, lQQyds: AY- Slarnes 1, g.~ J. Toy 3. Time, 11 3-ssec. 75 Yards: Ist Heat: L. 0. McLachlan, scr, 1; O. Goraer, 4yds, 2; time Bsec 2ikl heat; T, Bess, Oyds. i ; 0. W. Mextod, 2yds, 2; time", 7 4-5 aeo. Brd heaj;; W. H. Scally, 4yds, I,G. Kinsyy, SvdsJ 3'; time Ssee. iffli-jieafo Q. 'Stratford, 6yds, 1; W. B. Barries, 7yds, 2} timeSsec. Final iiO. : Gomerl T, Begg : 2, 0. Strat-

ford 3; tiin'e 7 4 : ssec.' : ''tjjffl! '"Yards Handicap :' Ist heat—T. Begg, *9yds, 1; 0. Gomer, Oyds, 2 ; Hirst, Byds, 3; time 10 1-osec. 2nd heat—W. B. Barnes, 10yds, 1; W. H. Scally, 6yds, 2 ; 0. Stratford, Byds, f?; time 10 2=5500. Final—Barnes 1, ftomei 2, Scally 8; time iOsec. t22Q Yards: Ist heatAO. W. Mex£efl,' Syds," 1 i "L". 0. McLachjan, scr. gjOi'lStratford, 12yds, 8 j time 2r gees, 2nd heat—W, H. Scally, 12vds, 1; W. B, Barnes, 18yds, 2 \ O, Gomer 11yds, 3; tinie*23 2-osec. Final—o. W. Mexted 1, L. O. McLachlan 2, W. H. Snails K . fi™~ "^cec ■ Laaio7^Sn?S ds ! & 1setvi syds^-i; W. B. Barnes, 16yds, 2 ; W." H. Scally, 10yds, 3. ~ govs'"Hurdles, 100yds: Mexted, get, 1; Christeiiseu, 11yds, 2; Stafford, 3i tipie 18 1.-ssec, oirls'Race, 7£yds: Doris Little, DC?, i, ' t Girls' Race, under 15, Doris Little. CYCLING EVENTS. One Mile Novice: A. Greenlees, 30yds, 1; A. Signal, Gsyds, 2; E. F. Boyce, 30yds, 3; won fairly easily.

Time 2min 38sec. ' One Mile: Ist heat—W. D. Parlies, 110yds, 1 ;J. Kenney, 80yds, 2; A. Harvey, 120vds, 3; time 3min 3sec. 2nd heat—A. E. Parkes, 90yds, 1; M. I'Anson, 45yds, 2; S. Hunt, S.QydSi" 8: time : 2min 32sec. Final—'A'; B. Parke's 1, Kenney 2, M. I'Anson 3'. ' Won easily; time 2min l=4ec. I Half Mile: Ist heat—A. E. Park»s, 55vds, 1; S, Hunt, 45yds, 2; R. J. Jones syds, 3; time, lmin 14 1-rosea 2nd heat—W. D. Parkes, 65yds, 1; J. Kenney, 50yds, 2; R, Harvey, 5(5 vds, 3; timo lminl 7sec, Final—A. E. Parkes 1, J. Kenny 2, W. D. Parkes 3; time lmin 12sec. g Two Mile Wheel Race—A. E. Parkes, SOvds, 1; H. Hondersou, 50yds, 2; R. J. Jones, 50yds, 3. Won after a fine raco by three yards j time smin HORSE EVENTS. r Maiden Hunters—Mr H. Westland's Erin-go-Bragh, owner, 1; Mr F. Mc-Lean's-Dick Roake2; Miss E. F. Smith's Griselda 3. Also started— Iron Bark, Linger Not, Nellie, iEsop, Pakapoo, Huntress, Haimoe, Golywog and Stilts. ■ Open Hunters' Competition—Mr W. J. Bartlett's Utah, owner, 1; Mr H. Watt's Quartermaster 2, Miss E. ■F. Smith's Griselda 3: Also started iMsto, Gone'Away, Eriu-go-Bragh, Pakapoo, Spec, Spider, Westward Ho, Fill, Hailstone, Moana, Goly■wcg. Pony Jump—Mr Peter Hammond's Little' Wonder, owner, 1; Mr E. Domrnett's Little Marvel 2, Mr James Campbell's Linger .Not 3. Also started—Black Bess, Blue Light, Outlaw, Nightgown, Jauet, Mischief. Rata, Shandy, White Eye, Killarney, Woka. ■ Mr H. Cameron's Woka won the Bending Competition after deadheating with Mr A. R, Brycc's Socks. Other starters were Bella, Qneeno, Tom, Outlaw, Blue Light, Dolly and Killarney,

Ti e Concert.

The concert hi the evening was a great success, and reflected alike great credit on each and all of the performers and the management Committee who aro fortunate m having a real live secretary m Mr A. Way, -who was instrumental in bringing forward such a line class ol artists. The audience was a large one and evidently thoroughly, appreciated the entertainment. The opening overture "La Consolation by Crozier's orchestra—-Messrs A. i<. S. and W. Crozier, L. and E. Jones and C. Gomez was— a splendid item aud was followed a selection 4; Erin's Melodies," tastefully arranged by Mr A. E. S. Crosier. In this Miss I. Paton, of Ashhnrst, sang " Terence's Farewell" in pleasing style, and Master Frank Lound was successful in his song '-'The Minstrel Boy." Mr C. Stewart gave an Irish jig and was recalled. Miss Jessie Cameron, of Palmerston North, a singer new to a Mar ton audience, wis undoubtedly the most popular vocalist'of "the evening. She has a wonderful range and her enunciation was beautifully clear. Her song "Come back to Eriu" v,as a tieat. and she received a flattering ovanoi. singii'g in response to a reran '■You'd Better ask Me." Later in tho evening f»he created a furore with her rendering of 'The Last Muster" aud, much to the delight of the audi-fi-ice sang tho last verse iu respopFO |o a vociferous recall. Tho evergreen elocutionist Mr G. Swan was }n flne form, his recitation "Me and Bill", a rather pathetic pioce, being quite up to hia usual high standard. Of course he was recalled

and gave response in much lighter vein "Kitty O'Toolo." In the second part of the programme he was recalled for his "Henry V," a Shakespearean pieco introducing an Irishman, Dutchman and English- ''" man and caused a hearty roar of > laughter with his inimitable render- . ing of the "Whistler." Later on Mr r Swan filled a gap, caused by the ill- * uess of one of the performers and v gave a very fine rendering of '' The 1 Game of Life. " (Mel. B. Spur), Mr ? Bert Crozier supplying the incidental >■ music. Mr Jeffrey, Hunterville, a 1 tenor singer of considerable ability, alhough suffering from a severe cold, 1 it once found favour, his rendering 1 of "Afton Water" winning for him " a recall, when lie gave "Hurrah for 3 the Highlands." He was even more ; successful in the second part of the ; programme with the "Death of Nel- ■ -;on,'' a response being insisted upon. Miss Flora Cameron captivated the ' audience with her graceful highland I dancing—rendered all the more appreciable by the excellent bagpipe accompaniments of Mr Gair. Her recall was well deserved. Miss I. j Paton is another singer new to a J Marton audience, and in response to an encore for her pretty rendering of "Tatters," she delighted the audience with '' Going to Market.'' In the vocal duet '' Tell Her I Love Her So,'' Mrs Hebley and Miss Paton wore heard to great advantage, their voices blending splendidly. The Louisiana Coons, Messrs C. Stewart ■ md C. Gomez, scored quite a hit in < their dusky eccentricities, and tho ! boisterous reception accorded them ] showed that they had pleased im- ■ mensely. Much of the success of the 1 evening was due to the fine instiii- i mental work of Mr Bert. Crozier, , who had charge of the musical por- • tion of the programme, and who i rendered all tho accompaniments, f After the performance all who had ] assisted were entetained by the Com- c mitteeat Nicol's refreshment rooms. NOTES. ' * A Melbourne visitor to the Marton x sports yesterday was loud in his 1 praise of the conduct of the meet- } ing. He declared it was the best rj controlled sports gathering lie had attended, and he had witnessed many ~ similar gatherings. < t Tho sheep guessing competition c caused keen interest. The dead- j. weight of the sheep presented by Mr Moore was correctly guessed by Messrs H. H. Hunt and 0, Crabbe, a The correct weight of tiie I lamb presented by Mr J. Follett was f, lOolbs and Messrs T. Latham and D. gl Follett each guessed and ,! divided tiie prize. Mr T. Latham J 1 donated his share of the proceeds of '< tho sale of the sheep to the Club. h The handsome bowl presented by c ' Mrs P. Wotton for the points prize ,j in the cycling events was won by Mr A. E. Parkes—securing the maxf- ° mum points—who .thoroughly de- C served the coveted trophy, his riding s( winning hearty applause. Mr Parkes greatly admired the trophy. ' Mr H. Westland, who rode his ,'

horse Erin-go-bragh, the winner, in the Maiden Hunters' Competition was presented with the whip donated by Mr A. H. Bill. The bending competition resulted

in a very close finish. In the final run Mr A. R. Bryce secured a dead heat with Mr H. Cameyoii's entry and in the run olf the " latter won by a narrow margin. Mr Cameron was presented with a silver cup for his victory.

Visiting competitors were delighted with tho Marton Park and were sur* prised to find the tracks in such excellent order after the recent heavy rains.

Mr Walker, Secretary of the New Zealand Atliletic Union, attended the meeting in the interests of the Union and was favorably impressed with the appointment's and general conduct of the sports. The presence of L. C, McLachlau attracted considerable attention, although rms'tteeessfuf in the events he ran prominently, his best effort being in his heat of the 75 yards sprint and in the 2.30 yards handicap, in which event he" secured second place. This is the last season McLachlau intends to race, It "is his intention to become a handicapper and no doubt he will receive solid support from various c-lubs, The match between MoLaohlau and Day, the Irish professional, is to tako place at Curisbrook Park, Dunedin. A high compliment was paid to Mr W. J. Bartlett by the judges in the Oj>en Hunters'; Conipewtionl He rode liis w'ell known mare Utah aiid her first attempt over the jumps was of such high merit that hei: liroiid owner was'not asked to* go the second time—winning the ovont straight out. This is Utah's last performance as a jumper and is a fitting conclusion to a fine record of successes i? 4 jumping competition:.; The xtnancial res'ultf'of the sports will be satisfactory. Despite the heavy ;expense on''account of the meeting being postponed a credit balance is shown. A meeting will be hold next week when the balance sheet will be presented, The secretary of Mar ton Sports lias received donations of £1 Is from Dr. Sternum, president of the niuij; 10s from Mr E. Read, vice-president.