TROOPS AT PLAY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 223, 14 May 1932, Page 7

TROOPS AT PLAY

MILITARY GYMKHANA AT ARAWA PARE The fifty volunteer members -qf A' Squadron, Waikato Mounted Rifles, lwho break biyotiac at Arawa Park to'day, beld a gymkhana yesterday afternoon on the racecourse. To com'plete the programme several hunting events were run by the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt Club, The first event of the afternoon was ia demonstration of squadron drill and tactical training, which gave an interesting exhibition of the various manoeuvres gone through when a mounted force is on the move. The next event was a Lloyd Lindsay.- This was carried out by four men who rode into action jumping obstacles on the way. W^hen firing commenced three men dismounted 'and replied with blank cartridges Vhile the fourth led the horses into 'safety. The whole four then remounted and returned over the obstacles. Another exhibition of unusual interest was a tentpegging competition. A tent peg was driven into the ground and a mounted man armed with a lance charged past it and attempted to secure it on the lance point. The competition was won by Sergeant Laugesen. A demonstration was then given of bringing a Hotchkiss gun into action' and retiring. All the movements were' carried out with a rapidity and precision which indicated a high degree of effieiency. A mounted wrestling ' competition attracted considerable interest and as the teams went into action they were spurred on by the remainder of the troops, who shouted encouragement to the side they fancied. As it was getting late, however, these contests were not eompleted. The events organised by the Hunt Club were then rUn, commencing with a competition for ladies hunters. The ''event was won by Mrs Humphries "Spring Bok" (Mrs McICenzie) with Mr. C. Giesen's "Tangee" (Mrs McKenzie) second. The gentlemen's hunters event was won by Dr. H. Bertram's "Galatea" (owner); Mr. Giesen's "Tangee" (owner) being second. The open consolation hunters event was won by Dr. Bertram's "Darky" Mr. McConnell) ; Mr. Giesen's "Old Sport" (owner) being second. In the last two events, several of the troops took part and all gave very creditable performanees.