N.Z. AXEMEN'S ASSOCIATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 309, 28 December 1908, Page 3

N.Z. AXEMEN'S ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP CARNIVAL. r This popular gathering, the eighth i championship carnival under the New i Zealaad Axemen's Association, opened j at Elilmm uu Saturday under ideal weather conditions. The rain which . threatened ill the forenoon held off, , and a line cool afternoon ensued. The • attendance constituted a record, and the total gate receipts will probably be | about .I.2UU, representing between four and live thousand spectators. The fields were large in all events, and the sport exciting to a degree. No exceptional times were registered, but the timber was not "fast.' The features of the meeting were the magnificent exhibitions of uxemaiiship given by Dave Pretty and tile comparative failure of Miley, the Australian crack, to reproduce his 'other side" form. Of the outsiders, lh« surprises of the day were Sam Johnson, oi Gisborne, who nearly defeated Pretty in the World's Championship, and d'uklowski (from the South hland), who alter finishing third in his heat annexed the £SO Underhand Handicap in the good time of lmiu 11) 3-dsce. Some capital cycle racas were contested, but the two-mile event was .marred by the management despatching too big a held instead of running the race in heats. The Eltham Brass Baud discoursed an excellent programme of music on the lawn, and an unusually large number of sideshows provided plenty of diversion. The ollicials, as usual, evinced a thorough grasp of their duties, and every event was got oil' to time without hitch. Appended are file results: MAIDEN CHOP, prizes £o, £llos, and 10s, 15iu standing blocks. —First heat: J. Richardson 1, R. Bradley 2, B. Newstroski 3. Also competed: C. Eichstaedt, S. Smith, G. Jiricksen, and O. Donovan. Time, lmin 15'/ 2 see. Second heat: C. Sturzaker 1, T. Smith 2, J. Wisnewski 3. Also started: T. Lines and O. Isaacson. Time, lmin 21sec. Final: J. Richardson 1, B. Newstroski 2, C. Sturzaker 3. Ml qualified started. Time, lmin 4 1-osee. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION CHOP, 12in standing blocks, prizes ,£0 (medal), £3, and £l. [ First Heat: Dave Pretty 1, J. Newstroski 2, G. McCauley 3. Also competed: P. J. Ford. Time, 38sec. Second Heat: C. Miley 1, E. Pretty 2, C. Sturzaker 3. Also competed: J. Richardson and A. Sullivan. Time, 41 1-Sscc. Third Heat: J. Hartuctt 1, J. Harwood 2, G. Puklowsky 3. Time, 55 1-5 see.

FINAL: J Dave Pretty ... .. L ._.. 1 J. Newstroski 2 i E. Pretty .. .., ... 3 ( J. iiiley .. ... ..4 IlartueU and Harwood also com- ( pcted. Won by two seconds in 33 2-5 V sec. DOUBLE - HAND SAWING CHAM- i PIONSHIP OF AUSTRALASIA.— f< First prize two gold medals value £4 G eacli, second £3, third £l. Is First Heat: Johanseu and Johnston 1, J Hewlett and mate 2, Bilski and mate 3. g' Also competed: Volzke Bros, and Lines and, male. Won with something to spare in 21 l-jscc. Second Heat: Beckham and Osborne 1, Casey and Pretty 2, Harwood and Bunt 3. „ FINAL: \ Johanseu and Johnston .. 1 JSeckuam and Osborne .. 2 1' Casey and Pretty .. .. 3 The latter were generally considered to have a "moral" in this went, but " they tired perceptibly. Won by three seconds i u the capital time ol 23 4-ssec. * The same pair'woli this big event last « year in 25scc. WORLD'S CHAiIPION CHOP, 2ft 11 standing Mocks, Oft 4iu girth.—First prize £l2 and gold medal value £3, second £5, third £2., fourth 1. Dave Pretty (Hamilton) ..1 ti Sam Johnson (Uisboruo) .. 2 j.; 0. ileCaulcy (Taumarunui) 3 u J. Newstroski (ilidhirst) ..4 Also competed: E. Pretty (1007 chanipion), ilorrinsville; Chas. iiiley (elmm- e ; pion of Australia), Victoria; J. Harnett ?' (winner ,£IOO iliandicap, New Zealand J 1 Exhibition), Ohakune; P. J. Ford (Tui- " hiipe), P. Thompson (Ruahine), and A. a E. Sullivan (Koruj. This was the big H and most trying event of the day, aud * was contested amidst great excitement. ' All eves were concentrated on Pretty J Bros/and iiiley. The latter struck fe some tough wood, and was soon out of I the running. Putting in his fast scarf, •■ D. Pretty struck a vicious knot, which " was cleverly 'negotiated. As the nnisele- E racking contest proceeded, attention be- " came attracted to Johnson, who was " chopping in great style in a fast but D ■'knotty" block. He was first round. V With powerful and splendidly-directed & blows. 1). ll'relty forged his way through P his .second scarf, cutting through above C! tile troublesome knot a blow or two V ahead of Johnson, who had splintered two axes and linished with a third. Although Pretty would probably still have won, Johnson's performance stood out as a line one, as lie must have lust J> three or four .seconds at least in the ' process of changing axes. The winner n received an ovation. Time, liniii 48 2-5 h sec. s L'NOEUHAaU HANDICAP, ISlii logs.- v First prize £)5 and special of £25, h second Cli, third £3, fourth £l. a First Ileal: Sam Johnson, .'Usee, 1: I 0. Jolly. 40sec. 2; J. Deegan, 23sec, 3. b Also competed: J. Bunt 28sec, T. Wes- 8 ton 32* cc, W. Schischka 35sec, C. Eich- o staedt 35, sec, 0. Isaacson 40scc, J. t O'Connor 40sec. Won easily in the good e time of luiin 47sec. t Second Heat: .1. Neal, 35sec, 1; W. | Herold, Jllsec, 2; P. J. Ford, 25sec, 3. t Also cunipetcd: 0. Hewlett 30sec, A. „ Reynolds 35scc, C. Nelson 40sec, A. Eas- r par 40sec. Time, 2miu loscc. a Third Heat: D. Pretty, 23soc, I; I'. Duinphy, 40sec, 2; 0. Puklowski, ,'iOsec, 3. Also started: C. ililcy scr, U. Puklowski aosec, JJ. Newstroski 35sec, V. r Williams 3Jsec, D. Johnston 35sec, E. - Home 40sec, C. Sturzaker 40sec. iiiley wa.i handicapped out of this event, which was won by about a second. ' Fourth Heat: E. Pretty, 2Usec, 1; J?. Smith, Msec, 2; J. Hartnett, 35sec, 3. Also competed: A. Suiiivau 28sec, J. O'Neill 38sec, S. Smith 40sec, C. Marsh ■Msec, K, Bradley 40scc. Time, lmin Msec. FINAL: 0. Puklowski .. .. :..: 1 0. Jolly ... ... ..a • J. Neal 3 All started. Time, lmiu 19 3-sscc. SINGLE-HANDED SAWING IIANDI- 1 CAP, 2ft logs.—First prize £7, second £2, third £l, A. E. Sullivan, 20se t .. 1 (.!. A. .Puklowsky, 20see .. 2 D. Pretty, 15sec .. .. 3 Also competed: J. Harfuett scr, C. Volzke scr, CI. Vincent Ssce, J. Poyutua Ssec, 0. Johauscn Bscc, J. iiattson Bscc, (I. Johanseu 15sec, C. Volzke 20sec. Time, lmin 2lisec. CYCLING EVENTS. Half-mile Handicap, prizes £4, £1 10s, and 10s,—First heat: W. D. Parkes, 05yds, 1; D. Scott, 40yds, 2; J. Williams, 75vds, 3. Also computed: il. Julian OOyds, J. Doduiiski 05yds.. A. Orecnlees 70vdsi Time, lmin Hi l-ssec. Second heat: W. Vincent, 03yds, 1; J. Sanko, 05yds, 2; G. Pnlfonl, OOyds, 3. Al-o competed: A. 0. Parkes 05yds, 11. Sharp 70yds, G. McDowell 75yds. Time, lmin IS 4-ssec. Final: VT. D. Parkes 1, C. Pulford 2, D. Scott 3. All (jualifed started. Time, lmin 11 4-ssce. Two-mile Handicap, prizes £5, £2, and £l.-L. Wan, 130 yds, 1; W. D. Parkes, 2l)()vds. 2. Also started: D. Scott OOyds", if. Julian 180 yds, A. 0. Parkes 200 yds, 11. Sharp 200 yds, J. Daw- ' son 200 yds, W. Vincent 200vds, (!. IPuI- , ford 200 yds, W. F. Koeliuck 200 yds. J. Sanko 210 yds, J. Doduiiski 210 yds, A. , (ireenlees 225vds, J. ilcDowell 225 yds, S. Parker 225 yds, J. Williams 250 yds. The held was too big for the track, and in the first lap Sharp fell, bringing down all the six riders in the middle division. , Wau .shot ahead in the last lap, after riding a well-judged race, and won by . Iwo lengths. Only lour linished. Time, om'ni ISsee. Five-mile Handicap, prizes £5. £2 and £l.—L. ,11. Wan, 150 yds, 1: W. D. Parkes, 330 yds, 2; W. E. lloebuck, 350 ~ yds, 3. Also competed: il. Julian 325 \ yds, 11. Sharp 350 yds, J. Dawson 350 yds, ~ 0. Pulford 350 yds, J. Sanko 350vds, A. f (ireenlees 400 yds, G. McDowell 400ydq, s S. Parker 400 yds. Wan caught the field !j after going a mile and a-half, and the'i I rode a waiting race. Sharp paced the I field for the last two miles, sprinting j the nineteenth lap under the mistaken , impression that it was the last. A. O. 0 ' Parkes, wobbling in the straight, ( i brought (Pulford down heavily in the s last lap but one, and extinguished any 0 chalice the latter might have had. Wan t shot out entering the twentieth lap. ~ and won after a splendidly-ridden race ( > by two lengths, Itoolmck a good third. Y Time, Hrnin ISsec. < One or two riders, notably W. D. y Parkes, adopted the dangerous practice [. of looking round during the racing, and j the officials would he studying the best [.' interests of the sport were they to in- < llict the stipulated fine or disqualify ridel's so offending.

TO-DAY. To-day the carnival will be continued, tin' principal event lieing tlie Axemen's Cup (,6150 casli) event. The cycle races will l>e even more interesting, as Hie crack riders A. E. Parkcs, Campion, i Jones, and others, who were competing at raiding on Saturday, will be present.