HUNT GYMKHANA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 27, 24 September 1931, Page 4

HUNT GYMKHANA

SUCGESSFUL MEETING ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME OF STEEPLECHASING AND JUMPING POPULAR INNOVATION The star event of this year's Rotorua "Hunt Week" will go down as the Rotorua Hunt Assoeiation's first point-to-point steepleehase and gymkhana meeting, held on Arawa Park, yesterday. It was in every way a successful innovhtion and one which will well merit repetition in future years. A most attractive programme of steepleehase racing, riding, and jumping events was -etaged -and although unfortunate weather conditions rather militated against the large atteg dance which the meeting deserved, the afternoon was an unqualified success. All arrangements had been carefully carried out by officials of the Hunt Association, and events were run off well np to tiine. Adequate catering arrangements,' and a musieal programme' rendered by the Rotorua Munieipal Band jalso contribnted materially to the success of the oecasion. Some excellent finishes were witnessed in the steepleehase events and although there were two spills which looked dangerous, fortunately both riders escaped without serious injury. Good fields were listed in the majority of the rac'es and the jumping events displayed a very fair standard. Results were: — Heavy weight Steepleehase Heavyweight Steepleehase. About 21 miles. Minimum weight 12st. 71h. Mr. E. Hemming's "Airman" (owner up) 1 Dr. H. Bertram's "Galatea" (T. D. MeConnell up) 2 Mr. J. McLean's "Day Abbey" (C. Giesen up) 3 Also started: Billy, The Sheik, Just Nell, Magpie, Speculator, Pulmona, Mangamate, and Yanity. Won easily, after Airman and Galatea had made the pace from the start. The former wori by an easy three lengths with the field well strung out. Yanity, Speculator and Mangamate fell. Ladies' Steepleehase j Ladies' Steepleehase (lady riders only). Distance about 2 miles. Open weights: — Mr. R. R. Gordon's "Silver Queen" (Mrs McKenzie up) 1 Mrs. S. Bateman's "Skipper" (owner up) 2 Miss B. Bertram's "Sam" (owner up) 3 Also started : Billy Boy and Hawk. Silver Queen and Skipper went to the front early and held the lead all the way round to fight out a great finish. Sam and Hawk came up well, however, and challenged hard over the last distance. Billy Boy had a bad start but finished strongly.

Lightweight Steepleehase Lightweight Steepleehase. About 21 miles. Minimum lOst. 71b. Mr. G. . Peake's "Taha" (owner up) 1 Mr. E. Hemming's "Airman" ' (D. MeConnell up) 2 Mr. G. R. Fleming's "Rotongata" (R. Barber up) 3 Also started: Perhaps, Te Whetu, Billy Hoa, Silver Queen, Galatea, E1 Dorado, Lady Betty, Vanity and Ramona. Taha and Airman with Galatea close up went to the front early and the field gradually dropped back. Taha had a little more pace than the ehestnut and won a good race with a couple of lengths to spare. Rotongata -came up well to run into third place. September Handicap September Handicap for junior owner-riders only. Five Furlongs. T. Rika's "Awaho" 1 D Jones' "Dolly" 2 I. Weigel's "Trixie" 3 A great race ridden at a helterskelter pace all the way. Awaho and Dolly fought out a great finish, the former winning by a head. Riding and Jumping Events Best children's hunter over hurdles. Owner-riders. T. Rika p A. Rika 2 Four entries. Best ladies' hunter over hurdles, hunting style: — Mrs. S. Bateman (Skipper) 1 Mr. M. H. Jolly (Peter) ...... 2 Mrs. Humphries (Springbok) 3 Ten entries. Jumping was good and^ the event was only marred by an injury to one of the riders, Mrs. Randstead of Whakatane, who was thrown at the third jump. Best juvenile rider (16 years and under) : — J. Martin (Ngongotaha) 1 Five entries. Best men's hunter: — Dr. H. Bertram's "Galatea" (D. MeConnell up) l Mrs. S. Bateman's "Skipper" (Smith up) 2 Mr. M. Weigel's "McCluskie" (owner up) 3