TOKO SPORTS-PICNIC.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 92, 24 March 1916, Page 3

TOKO SPORTS-PICNIC.

AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. Ideal weather favored tJio Toko sectiers for their annual picnic and sports, which were held in the Toko Domain yesterday. In these times of stress, it is only to be expected that the young man blood of the community is away at the front "doing its bit" to help on the great work and. in this respect the attendance suffered in comparison with previous years. The "Toko Settlers' Sports Association" came into existence when the original Toko Athletic Club became defunct, and the present is their eighth annual gathering. The Association's patron, Mr J. B, Hine, M.P., who has held the office since its inception, is one of many instances of Toko's loyalty to the Flag. In his absence, his brother Mr Edgar Hine, as President, was the head man for the day. An enthusiastic committee, headed by Messrs Mfix Gernhoefer (Vice-President and Chairman of Committee, and "bellman"), and Mr G. E. Bocock (in his fifth year as secretary), were responsible for the unqualified success of the day's entertainment. The various races, and competitions were well contested by large fields ( and the sports were carried through with an amount of vim and hilarity that is frequently wanting in similar gatherings in the larger centres. The entries were a long way above the expectations of the committee, and well ahead of last year's. The trophies and prizes weve good, and special mention must be made of those presented by Messrs •T. R. Hine, M.P. (Patron), Messrs Ste-,fart i Dawson and Co. (Wellington), C. E. James and M. C. Aagaard (Stratford), G. Morrison, E. Robins, and J. Kilpatrick (Toko), and Borthwick and. Sons (Waitara). A vevy pleasing feature in connec-j Hon with the sports was the manner | in which the committee provided for the entertainment of the children., Their races and lollie scrambles were under the supervision of Messrs Geo.! Morrison, E. Marfell, Chainey, and L. Milne, and the result was absolute success. The open steeplechase proved a great event, and was undoubtedly the feature of the days' sports. The course lay from the track proper, once round, down a steep ten foot bank, through a twenty foot creek, over a haystack, and thence over three fences and through more creeks,

until a two mile course wound up with a couple of stiff hurdles and a short run home. The winner turned up in the man who cleverly negotiated the haystack at the first try, and was a field away before anyone else had managed to scramble over the obstacle. ' The second man owed his place to judgment—coming along the flat on the way home. A glance over his shoulder showed the third man fifty yards behind, and he assisted his socks to come right off (they had been only half off), and then, free of the encumberances, he was just able to score a second. The chain-stepping competition was contested by close on 200 "pacers,'- the winner being Mrs McTvor, who made the exact distance, with J .Kilpatrick a quarter of an inch short. Out of 165 sheep-weight guesscrs, Mr J. White (Douglas), proved nearest with a guess of .292 i lbs., the correct weight of the two Lincoln ewes being 2921b5. A great factor in the running events was the handicapping of Mr J*. Kilpatrick, himself an old veteran of the track, who has handicapped for every meeting since the inception of the Club. Mr Lucena, as starter, proved an adept at the game, and the services of Messrs Doran and Algie as lion, gatekeepers should iSpt lie overlooked. Mr Geo. Bradley (Stratford) erected a side show on the ground, which provided both fun and finance for the day. A social' was held in the local Hall during the evening. A splendid dancing floor and excellent music by Mrs Biancbi's orchestra provided those present with the material for an

enjoyable method of finishing the day's festivities. The result of the day's effort will result in a sum of between £7O and £BO being realised in aid of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The fallowing are the results of the various competitions:— School Boys' Pace (local).— Kay Chainey 1, Alton Downs 2. School Girls' Race (local).—Pawea Mclver 1, -Aland Paulger 2. 100yds Handicap (open),—G. Mather (Huinga) 1, W. Linn (Toko) 2. Nine competitors. A close finish. School Boys' Pace, Half-mile (local).—Allan Boyd (Rua'pahu School) 1, William Gernhoefer (Toko) 2, A. Downes (Toko) 3. Another good finish. i School Girls' Race (local).—Frances Jones (Toko) 1, Mary Smith (Toko) 2. Single Ladies' Race.—-Miss Myrtle Divehali (Toko) 1, Miss Hewson (Huinga) 2. Nineteen started, finished in a bunch. Three-legged Race (open).—Burgham and Caskey (Toko) 1, Marfell Bros. (Huinga) 2. Boys' Bicycle Race.—Jack Jones (Toko) 1, George Neilson (Kahouri Bridge) 2. Ladies' Bracelet, 600yds. (local).— Harry Johnston 1, W. Linn 2. Fifteen entries; an excellent race; won by inches. Boot Race (open).- W. Pratt (Toko) 1, L. Marfell (Huinga) 2. Ladies' Bicycle Race (open).—Miss R. Boyde (Huinga), 1, Miss M. Divehall (Toko).'2 , : Mrs Aagaard (Stratford) 3. Farmers'/ Race (local).—Don Smith 1, Leu Milne 2. Distance 135yds. lime, 9 .l-o!-"a great race. Sack Race (open).—Don Smith 1, M. J. Mclver 2. Ladies' Nail-driving competition (open).—Miss "N. Leydon 1, Mrs J. B. Hine 2. Proved to be the two best carpenters out of some 100 competitors. 440yds Handicap (open).—H. Neilson i, N. Linn and H. Johnston, dead heat. A 'fine race, contested .by a big-field. Two-mile Bicycle Race (local).—W. Sharrock 1, L. Leydon 2. Steeplechase (open).—G. Mathers 1, R. Garlick 2. A close finish. Rest of big field bales away. Committeemen's Race. —Joe Caskey 1 Pat Butler 2. Eight starters. Won in last stride. Stepping Chain.—Mis Mclvor stepped tne exact chain, and Mr J. Kdpatrick won second place, a quarter of an inch away. Others were chains out! J6O competitors. ' Sheep-guessing.—Mr J,. White (Douglas), 292£lbs, 1; Mr. J. ,A. Ferguson and Mr J. Caskey, :290}lbs, 2 . Weight of two Lincoln ewes. 21*2 lbs.