WOMEN PILOTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 321, 7 September 1932, Page 7

WOMEN PILOTS

A THRILLING FINISH IN AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC EYENT. Sydney, Monday. Ripping the air at 100 miles an hour, Miss Mollie Bowden, in a Gypsy Moth piloted by H. F. Broadbent, won the Lady of the Air Race at Hargrave Park yesterday by about two lengths from Miss Valmai Jenkins, in a Moth piloted by Goya Henry. Mrs. Noela Slessor, in another Gipsy Moth, piloted by A. MurrayJones, was third. The finish of the race was thrilling. It seemed for some seconds that Miss Jenkins would catch her rival. Both Miss Bowden and her pilot received an ovation as the 'planes landed, and admirers dragged the winning machine, with Miss Bowden sitting on the cockpit, to the official stand, where Sir Hugh Denison and Lady Denison presented the trophies. Sir Hugh said it was partieularly appropriate that Miss Bowden, who was most successful in raising funds for the tourney, should win the race. Science and Charity. Tracing the development of transport from the days when the horse was supreme, Sir Hugh said that today we saw science in th'e air linked up in the sacred cause of charity — the( charity in question being the Benevolent Society, one of the finest in the State. The Trophies. It was explained that the tourney had been sponsored by the Aero Club, to meet the growing interest of women in aviation, and to help the Benevolent Society. Lady Denison presented the following prizes and eongratulated the winners: Silver trophy for the Lady of the Air, and trophy for contributing the highest amount to the society, Miss Mollie Bowden; trophy for second in race, Miss Yalmai Jenkins; trophy for third in race, Mrs. Noela Slessor; diamond ring for lady contributing second highest amount to the society, Miss Kathleen Blake; diamond ring to lady contrihuting third highest amount, to Miss Jean Lillyman. Miss Bowden, who had the ch'oice of a free course of flying instruction or a new motor car, as a prize for winning the race, chose the flying instruction.