Taihape Athletic Club.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3375, 2 January 1920, Page 5

Taihape Athletic Club.

NEW YEAR’S DAY SPORTS.

A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING.

The Taihape Athletic Club’s Sports held on New Years’ Day; were, in spite of a series of thunderstorms which

icame thickly from early in the after- ;‘ noon till the close of the programme, ,‘a most notable success. Notwithstand- , ing the falling rain there were some _ 3000 people‘ on the ground, and had . there been no rain it is certain that . the 1920 annual athletic event would pihave proved. an easy record. The arriingements for the gathering were perfect, and too much cannot be said in acknowledgment of the splendid services the committee and stewards irendered from Mr W. McLennan,' the ‘ president, down to gatekeepers. The secretarial work was characterised by promptitude, making the work of those other officers who were dependent on him, easy and pleasant. The various‘ events in the lengthy programme were got off well to time, no hitch occur—. ring in any event The competition was all in favour of visitors and sightseers, as the excellent handicapping brought out large fields and some wonderfully close wins. There were two laccidents to competitors, one Was to .Mr Murphy who rode “Shellrock”’ in loneiof the horse-jumping events. The horse struck the last jump and the pace he was going caused -him to turn a somersault; Mr Murphy Was thrown forcibly, but clearof the horse; which in its struggles to regain its feet kicked his erstwhile rider in the stomach. In addition, Mr Murphy ‘received a shaking, but was not long before he was walking around again as though nothing had happened. The other "misfortune befel Mr J. Smith who on, ‘finishing a footrace fell and injured ‘his foot, eviden_tly not seriously, as, [he was about the ground during the remainder of the afternoon So large a 1 gathering without music cmphasisedl the great need of a brass band; it is indeed regrettable that Taihapeis not able to lboastof as good band, . and these regrets were given voice to "by many ladies and gentlemen present. ]During the dayzthere were severalexciting finishes, the most enthusiasm -being in connection with ‘the mile ‘handicap, which was cleverly won inl zthe last 50 yards by C. McAlinden, a 1 llocal rulln'e_r, from J. Nicholson, a, well-known runner, Scarrow being‘ ithird, some distance away. For an; I famateur Mcalinden disclosed excellenti tact, leadingpto the supposition that She had been schooled by some chain-E pion of other days. The men in the llastf lap, passed rand rqpassec each 1 lother, leaving’ the matter quite doubt-I ful till McAlinden was within a few, lyards of the tape. The 880’yards, ,h_andicap was the closest run of the ‘day, which many thought would be a ldead heat, but H. J.-Clemence beat C'_, McAlinden just on the tape. The Tenlhape Open‘ Handicap ( three distances [75 yards, 100 yards, 150 Yards) was a 3 [well-contestedrace, Mr J. Smith prov-3 ling the most consisent sprinter, win-1‘ ning £8 and Messrs Collinson and] ,»'Gifford;’s Cup for the most points in‘ lthe three distances. In the horse] -events the jumping was averagely good, psomeof it being particularlyl good; but the rain made the ground slippery and somewhat unsafe“ for hurdling. The school championship evoked‘ a good deal of interest amongst the juniors. It was for boys 14 years and under, attending any! ldistrict schools. ‘The distance was 1100 yards and consideringtit was com‘ ‘cred in 13'sec-onds by the winner: Master Hall cannot be thought slow, Master Lawson was second and Heal-ll ey third. Medals for this event were donated by Mr J. F. Thurston, headmaster of the Taihape school_ The ‘winner of the Married Ladies’ Race lwas, in racing parlance, a boil—over,l ithe winner being the most unlikely llooking, evidently in better form than! iappeared. Mrs 11/.[cD‘o_nald, of Rau'rimu,' [first breasted the tape, with Mrs Wilrliams, of Mangaweka, a close runner—i ‘up. A chopping competition will' %bring a crowd of country people to— ' ~gether at any time, and if one,event was more popular than another, it was the 18-inch Standing Chop. Tffe‘ ground was rather slippery for a com. I petitive standing chop, which perhaps accounted for the 01d~time consistent champion, Peck, having to take second place to Bert Herkt who divided his log inV2min. 7 2-ssecs. The High Jump looked an easy win for E.’ A. Bellis, for whom every Taihape resiide'fi€¢.;£e_lt a very hearty welcome, if thy did?-iiiitl have the opportunity to express it‘, as’ -he only arrived ‘Back from the war! very recently. Although a wet afternoon kept many ladies from being present, these who were there gave every indication that thy were thoroughly enjoying ‘Themselves. Following is the prize list___

under 12 years.——Tolly 1; Thurston 2, Kemball 3. _

I‘oo=* YARDS.’ HANDICAP -FOR BOYS under 12 years.———Wrig-11tS0I1 1; Warren 2, O"Leal'y 3. .

100 YARDS HANDICAP FOR BOYS vlmfler"l6' year.s}.~_—Botfield _l, Griffiths 2, La§vson‘3. ' . so YARDS,-HANDICAP FOR GIRLS under 10 years.——Gal-monsway 1, EdHll 2, Graf 3. .

TAIHAPE ‘OPEN HANDICAP; three distances} 75 Yards; 100 Yards and 150 Yards; First distance, 75 3'ards.~J_ Smith 1, H. Eaton 2 R. W. Campbejll_ 3. Time 7 2-ssec. ' MAIDEN JUMPING ' compenTION (Horses).-———B. Jones’ Tommy 1, M. Bryne’s Star 2, G. Mul'phy’s Shellrock 3_ ’ , "A

880 YARDS HANDICAP; - H. J. Clemallce (50ydS) 1, C. McAlindon (50yds) 2, J. Nicholson (20yds), 3. Very close finish. Time 3min. 9s+ec.

MAIDEN. 4 PONY JUMP.—A. ‘K. OVel'ton’s Tim 1, Raufs Tom 2, A. Overton’s Tolby 3. ' _ HOP, STEP AND JUMP.—H. Williams (36ft. 7in.) 1, A. E. Bellis (35ft. 9in.) 2, Tony Smith and W. Pine tied for third place, 35ft. Bin. ' TAIHAPE OPEN HANDICAP (Second' Distance, 100 yards).——J. Smith°Pl, R. W_ Campbell 2, H. Eaton 3. Time 10sec. _ . 25 YARDS HANDICAP FOR BOYS under 7 years.—-F. Thompson 1, Pine 2, J. O"Sullivan 3. ’ 25 YARDS HANDICAP FOR GIRLS under '7 jrea,rs.—-Garmonsway 1, Kilkolly 2, McCombie 3. PONY JUMP, riders 14 years and» under.—A .K. OVel'ton’s Tim 1, Murphy"s Shcllrock 2, Bau’s Tommy 3.

DOUBLE-HANDED SINGLE CUT SAWING COMPETITION (18 inch);Riley and Mate,l, Torry and Clinton 2, Bell and Woodward 3. .Time 13 4-ssec:.‘

TAIHAPE ‘OPEN HANDICAP; 3rd distance. 150 ya,rds.—-R. ‘W. Campbell 1,.H. Eeaton 2, J. Smith 3. Time 15 _2-ssec.- With two firsts and a thirdJ. Smith becomes _the.Winner of C_ollin—~ son and Gifford-’s Cup.. V » HIGIH JUII/_lP.—.—A_ E, Bellis (4ft Sin). ,1 Hammond‘l(4ft 7m) 2. DISTRICT. SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP, 100 :va:rds.—-—Hall 1, Lawson 2, Heale-y 3. MARRIED LADIES’ RACE. —— Mrs McDonald. Raurimu, 1, Mrs Williams, Mangaweka, 2. STANDING CHOP, 18 inch log.— Bert Herkt 1 and Mr R. W. Smith’s gold medal, Peck 2, A. Townsend 3, C. Hutton 4. Time 2min_ 7 2-ssec. -440 YARDS HANDICAP. —H. J. Clemance 1, H. Stack 2, G. E. Norton 3. Time 54 4-ssec. OPEN PONY JUMP. - Margery

|O"Neill’s Flirt 1, A. K, 0-Vel'ton’é Tim [2, G. Murph,v”s Shellrock 3. I RETURNED SOLDIERS’ HANDICAP (120 yara's).—-R. W. Campbell 1, H. Eaton 2. J. Smith "3. Time 13sec. ONE MILE HANDICAP_——I-I. McAlinden Vl§ J. Niefiolson 2, N. Scam-ow 3. Time 4min. 50sec. ’ OPEN_JUMPING COMPET|TION.— V 37. 'vCoogan’s Ginger Mick 1 and the Auctioneers’ Association Gold Cup, P. Troy"s Larry _2s Ham-is’, Trooper 3. 100 YARDS HANDICAP, GIRLS Afivunder 14_——~I-I. Tolley, Mangaweka, 1, P. Skinner, Hihitahi, 2, M. Bosher, Taihape, 3. ” DISTRICT HANDICAP, 150 yards. —R. W. Campbell 1, H. Eaton‘ 2. Time 16 3-ss€'C. Mr A. L. An-o.wsmith’s Cup for most points in Athletic Events and Mr T. V. Morrin’s Cup for ”most points in Regturned Soldiers.’ Events, were both Won by R. W. Campbefl. I Results of the Golf Putting compe'ti~ gtion are not yet available.