AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 154, 28 December 1911, Page 7

AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL.

I THE SECOND DAY'S SPORT. The Xow Zealand Axemen's Association boasts that it has never yet had a wet day for the annual carnival at Eltham. Din record narrowly escaped being broken vesterday. The fine morning was suiiicient to tempt the people out almost in the usual large numbers, although old Egmont was looking too close to suit those who base their weather forecasts on his appearance. There was a very good gathering of the public, the gate takings being £OB 2s, a little less than on the second day of last year. The spectators were treated to some fine exhibitions of chopping and sawing by men skilled in the use of the axe and the saw, and including some magnificent specimens of humanity. In uo sport is this so as in the bushmen's sports, where magnificently proportioned men are pitted .against each other, and it is worth noting, too, that these men "play the game" as real sports, often ceasing operations themselves when chances are hopeless to cheer on the man at the neighboring bloek. and turning from their winning block to "barrack" a man into second place. The winner of the big event, J. E. Shewrv, was a young fellow who hails from Tahora, inland from Whangamoinona. He is only 21 years of age, but swings a splendid axe. He had sufficient confidence in his powers to prompt him to pay the additional £2 acceptance fee, and lie lifted £ 100 instead of £SO as first prize. The world's champion in single-handed sawing for the year is W. Weston, a young Victorian, who v -i J the big chop last year at Eltham. O'Rourke won the chopping champ' ship of New Zealand in fine style. 1! • ] a South Islander, hailing from the West Coast. The cycling races were all keenly contested, and the finishes were close. The executive would be doing the public a kindness bv erecting and using a large blackboard for announcing starters in final heats, alterations in handicaps, and handicaps allotted on the grounds. This would prove a great convenience. Yesterday's programme was nearly an hour behind, one event starting 55 minutes after advertised time, and there was still a part of the programme to go at five o'clock, though the last event was scheduled for 4.20 p.m. But an axemen's carnival is a very difficult thing to conduct, owing to the heavy work entailed in fixing and unfixing blocks for the different events. The catering was in the hands of Mrs. M. H. Brooking, and the Eltham Brass Band again supplied a programme of music. Rain fell not long after the finish of the last event. Results:—

New Zealand Axemen's Chop, of £140; 18-inch - standing blocks. First prize, Axemen's Cup (£SO additional if special optional acceptance fees have been paid I)V the winner); second, £ls; third, £10; fourth, £5; fifth, £3; sixth, £2; seventh and eighth, £1 each.—First heat: J. E. Shewry, 30scc, 1; C, O'Rourke, scr., 2; T. Herold, 32sec., 3; J. Poynton, 40sec, 4. Also started: T. West 19sec., W. McCVaith 2Esec., A. McCraith 34sec., T. Leahy 35sec. Won by a couple of blows. Time, 2min. 4 4-ssec. Second heat: G. McCauley, 24sec., 1; A. Twinnie, 27sec., 2; D. Pretty, scr., 3; M. C. Andresen, 32sec.. 4. Also started: C. Coleman 40 sec., P. 0 Connor 40sec. An exciting contest. Pretty put in his first scarf at a tremendous pace, but was not so fast in his second. McCaulev and Twining finished almost simultaneously. Time 2min. 6 3-ssec. Third heat: J. E. Richardson, 32se<\. 1; C. Volzke. 40sec., 2; E. Pretty. lSsec.. 3; J. Dodd, 37see„ 4. 41ca t; Johnson lOsee., G. Hirst 2Ssec., V. Amos 32sec., J. Beban 35sec. Pretty had a log which looked a "terror. and hi> fellow-competitors were in favor of allowing him a change. But it was not permitted. The log, by-the way. cut well, the skilful hewer of wood cutting above the bad spot. The first man had a few blow* to the good. Time, lmin. 54 2-ssec. Fourth heat: E. Home B. Xewstroski, 40see., 3; A. McMahon, 35see., 4. Also started: J Xewstroski 22seo„ D. Mather 32sec„ M. Joblin .'Msec. Honey made things merry from the start, and was amongst the first round. Time, lmin. 55sec. Final heat: J. E. Shewry 1, Twining 2, J. E. Richardson 3, E. Pretty 4. C. O'Rourke aid D. Pretty (dead heat) 5, W. E. Honey and B. Xewstroski (dead heat) 7. All qualified started. Some of the handicap men were into the second scarf before the scratch men got moving. McCauley had hard luck in striking a bad knot when chopping well. Shewry was well ahead at the finish, but the next three blocks fell close together. There was some dissatisfaction amongst the competitors with the judges' decision, but there was no doubt as to its correctness as far as the first four were concerned, at any rate. Time, lmin. 44 3-ssec. The record time was put up by J. Xewstroski in ]00(i, wheri the event was won in lmin. 32

Supplementary Underhand Handicap. 18-inoh logs. First prize £lO. second £4, third .£l.—First iieat: W. Weston. Bsec., 1; W. E. Honey, 37sec., 2; B. Xewstroski, 4Gsce„ 3. Also started: S. .Johnson 12sec., J. Xewstroski 25sec., V. .J. Amos .f2sec. Johnson soon had enough of it, and stopped. Weston won with half a minute to spare. Time, *2min Tsee. Second heat: G. Hirst, 27sec.. 1; fv Morris, 25sec., 2; .J. E. Richardson, 2osec., 3. Also started: E. Pretty 20sec., i Jf. McCraith 32sec. O'Rourke struck a hard dry log, and was unable to catch up the field. Hirst and Morris finished with little between tliem, but the rest were away behind. Time, 2min. 4 2-ssec. Third heat: T. West. 27sec., 1; D. Mather, 32scc., 2; W. McCraith, 32sec„ 3. Also started: A. Salmon 40sec., AV. T. Herold 32see. Won with a good deal to spare. Time, 2min. 10 4-ssec. Final: Hirst 1, Richardson 2, B. Xewstroski 3. A well-fought finish. Time, lmin. 39sec. Chopping Championship of Xew Zealand, 12-inch standing blocks. First prize £fi, second £3, third £l. C O'Rourke 1. D. Pretty 2, W. Weston 3. Also started: W. E. Honey, E. Pretty, Joblin. Mather. McCauley and S. Johnson. Weston and O'Rourke were first through the first scarf, but Pretty made it up as he went along. The time was good—3ssco.

Sawing Championship of the World, single-handed, 2ft. logs. First prize £7, second £2. third £l.—W. Weston I.' A. E. Sullivan 2, Kindberg 3. Also started: E. Pretty, C. Volzke, E. Torrv. eston made no race of this event, his Atkins saw ripping off a slab in the record time of lmin. 4 3-ssee. The others finished some time later. The winner hails from Dalesfonl. Victoria, but resides now at Upper Hut. He is 2!) years of age. His first win in Xew Zealand was at this carnival on Tuesday, .itkl this is his first championship win. Visitors' Handicap Chop, 15-incli standing blocks. First prize £6, second £2 10s, third £l, fourth 10s.—First heat: E. Pretty, lOsee.. 1; W. T. Herold. 2550 c.. 2: D. Pretty. ssce.. 3. Also started: S. Johnson Skoc.. M. C. Andresen 25see.. H. McCraith 255e0., J. Dodd 20sec., G. MeCanley lOsee. Time, lmin. 35sec. Second heat: .T. E. Richardson, lOsec., 1; C. O'Rourke. scr.. 2; T. West, lOsec.. 3. Also started: A. E. Sullivan lOsec., V.Amos 2."isee.. A. Salmon 25sec. Won by a blow, and (lie third no further away. Time, lmin. 43.sec. Third heat: G. Hirst. ISsee.. 1: A. McMahon, ISscc., 2. Also started: W. Weston Ssec., W. McCraith 15sec., D. Mather 18sec., W. E. Honey 12sec., J. Beban 25sec. Hirst made no race of it. Time, lmin. 10 l-ssec. Final:

G. Hirst 1, W. T. Herold 2, C. O'Rourl 3, E. Pretty 4. A splendid heat. Hero! rounded first, Ilirst close on his hods. There was little to choose between them at the finis!). Time, lmin 7see. Amateur Handicap Chop, local. Taylor 1, J. McLeod 2. CYCLING. One Mile Handicap. First prize ,£4. second £1 10s, third 10s. —First heat: K. Wall, scr., 1; P. Griffin, 65yds., 2; S. Barker, 120 yds., 3; D. J. Jones, 120 yds., 4. Also started: A. Parkes scr., A. 0. Donald scr., P. Hill 23yds., G. H. Bell 40yds., W. F. Kerr 20vds. The result might have been different had there i been no spills. On entering the last lap Bell fell. The field managed to get past, but the excitement had its effect, evidently, for Parker came down a few yards further on, and Donald went over the top of him. The placed men fought out a good finish. Time, 2min. 34sec. Second heat: W. Roebuck, 35yds., 1; Chapman, 35vds„ 2; R. J. Jones, 20yds., 3; A. White* 120 yds., 4. Also started: Dine 100 yds. A very close finish. Time, 2min. 32 1-osec. Final: A. White 1, W. Roebuck 2, Chapman 3. Interest was i robbed, owing to four of the starters spilling when half the journey had been covered. The finish was close. Time, 2tnin. 30sec. Three Mile Handicap. First prize .C 4, second f 1 10s, third 10s.—E. Wall. scr.. 1; R. J. Jones, 35yds., 2; W. Roebuck. ISOvds. 3. Also started: A. Parkes scr., A. G. Donald scr., P. Hill 40yds., W. F. Kerr 100 yds., G. H. Bell lfiOyds., P. Griffin 100 yds., J. Clarke 200 yds,. Dine 300 yds., E. J. Jones 310 yds. A splendid race altogether. Griffin was unfortunate, suffering a spill. Wall rushed to the front in the last lap and won by a length, the same distance separating Jones, Roebuck and Parkes, in that order. Time, Bmin. 3 l-ssec. Two Mile Handicap. First prize £5, second £2, third £l.—E. Wall, scr., 1; R. J. Jones, 12yds.. 2; A. Parkes, scr., 3. Also started: A, G. Donald scr., P. Hill 28yds., P. Griffin 40yds., W. Roebuck 40 yds., Chapman 45yds., E. J. Jones 50yds.. W. F. Kerr 50yds. Another good race, the .competitors being bunched. Time, smin. 20 3-ssee, i Consolation Handicap; iy 2 miles. For all cyclists who have not won prize money to the value of £4 or over at the meeting. First prize £2, second 15s, third ss.—A. Parkes, scr., 1; A. G. Donald, scr., 2; P. Hill, 25yds.. 3. Also started: Dine 60yds., Bell 60yds. This was a popular win. The two scratch men were very close together at the finish. Time, 4min. 14sec.