RAHOTU AXEMEN'S SPORTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 157, 2 January 1912, Page 7

RAHOTU AXEMEN'S SPORTS

A SUCCESSFUL MEETING. I The Kahotu Axemen's Carnival was favored with beautiful weather yesterday. and consequently there was a big attendance, visitors being present from all along the coast, as well as from New Plymouth and Eltham. The action of the Club in cutting out running events , and specialising in axemen's and cycling events, was a good move. The committee had more work to do in getting the blocks ready, and of course had fewer intervals, but nevertheless they worked liked Trojans, and ran the events off without much delay. The fields wore very good' in the chopping events, and some fine finishes were witnessed. The presence of such noted exponents as D. Pretty, S. Johnson, E. Shewry, Amos' and others, competing against the best of the local men, lent additional intereft to the events, and the action of the club in giving prize money sufficient to attract such men was heartily endorsed. The Club has made great improvements. The chopping arena is fenced off, and the public, thanks to the firmness of the committee, backed up by Constables Kelly and Clouston, were kept outside. The judges witnessed the events frorp an elevated platform, and as a result their decisions were never questioned. Indeed, Messrs. J. Phillips, F. Newport and J. Ward are to be complimented on their worfc in this respect, as is also the starter, Mr. J. Rothery, and Mr. W. Willoughby in the cycling ' vents. From the public point of view matters would be much improved if the dummies were numbered, and the competitors in the correct card also. Then the spectators could pick out who's who without difficulty, thereby increasing the interest taken. The drawing of the heats might have been improved, the system adopted being to place all the scratch men in the first heat and the limit men in the second.

Pretty won the underhand chop easily, his first win in an underhand event.

The single-saw event was won by Amos, and both double events by Amos and Collins.

The cycling events did not draw very big fields, but created some amusement. The Opunake Brass Band, under Bandmaster Bishop, was present, and provided a programme of music. Mr, R. Thomas had charge of the refreshment booth, which did good business. Too much praise cannot be given the secretary, Mr, T. E. Parsons, for the completeness of the arrangements. Though this was his first year, and a; particularly difficult meeting to manage, everything went like clockwork. The chairman (Mr. S. J. Childish) was also prominent in controlling affairs. Results:—

CHOPPING EVENTS. Novice Chop, 12-inch log. First prize 30s. —V. L. Warner 1, A. McLeod 2, S. H. Jones 3. Also started: J. F. Mortensen, W. Conroy, H. Jacob, J. Coombes, R. Kahiii and J. Rangi. Won by a few blows. Time, 53sec. Maiden Sawing, 15-inch log; first prize 30s, second 10s.—Collins and Amos, 2sec, 1; Johnson and Honey, 3sec, 2. Also started: Beck and Julian 2sec, Joblin Bros. 2sec. Won easily. Time, 12sec.

Maiden Chop, 12-inch block; first prize 40s, second 10s.—S. H. Jones, lfeec, 1; P. Letheby, 12sec, 2; MeLord, 16sec, 3. Also started: S. Coombs lOsec, M. Beck, P. Joblin 12sec, J. Mortensen, F. Kahui J. Rangi, W. Conroy, 11. James, H. Jacob, Colnian Msec. Won easily, two or three blows between second and third. Time, 50sec.

Single-handed Sawing; first prize 50s, second 15s.—Amos, Osec, 1; Magon, 3sec, 2. Also r started: Gibson 2sec. Won slowing up, fully half a minute ahead of the second man. Time, 42sec. President's Chop Handicap, 15-inch block; first prize 80s, second 20s, third 10s. F;rst three in each heat to qualify. —First heat: R. Joblin, 22sec, 1; S. Johnson, <3sec, 2; V. Amos, 22sec, 3. Also started: D. Pretty scr, E. Chewry ssec. A. E. Magon Osec, E. Symons 12sec, P. Letheby 22sec, W. Herold 20sec. Won by a few blows. Amos beat Pretty for third place by a blow. Time, lmin. 17 l-ssec. Second heat: W. E. Honey, 18 sec, 1; P. Coffey, ISsec, 2; P. Joblin, 25sec, 3, Also started: M. Coffey 25sec, E. Gibson llsec, M. Beck, N. Morgan 12sec, S. Coombs 15sec, H, Young 16sec, F. Bowman 17sec, W. James H. James 25sec. A very slow chop, with a close finish. Time, lmin 40 4-ssec. Final: W. E. Honey, ISsec, 1; S. Johnson, 6sec, 2; R. Joblin, 22sec, 3. All qualified started. Joblin Bros, were round simultaneously, closely followed by Amos and \Honey, Johnson being fifth to turn. Both he and Honey chopped strongly, but Honey hail too much start, and Johnson pinching enabled him to win with several ; blows to spare, Joblin two or three blows behind. Amos struck a bad block. < Time, lmin. ll%sec. Double-handed Sawing Handicap, 18mch log; fijst prize 80s, second 30s, third 10s.—f)ollins and Amos, 4sec, 1; Clark and R. Julian, 4sec, 2; Pretty and Jonpon, 2sec, 3. Also started: Gibson and Beck 2sec, Magon and Julian 3sec„ Joblin B:os. ssfee. A good event. The winners' saw went through the timber like cheese, and they won with something to spare. A close finish between second and third. Time, 13sec. West Coast Axemen's Chop,. 18-inch block; first prize £l2, second £2, third £1 (first three in each heat to qualify). —First heat: S. .Johnson, 12sec, 1; E. Shewry, 12sec, 2;V, Pretty, scr, 3. Also competed: X. Mo\an, M. Beck, A. E. •Magon 20sec, S. CoMfces 32sec, M. Hill 35sec. Hill got first, but ran out of wood and spoilt his chance, only finishing fourth. S. Johnson, who chopped strongly, won by several blows. Time, lmin 50 4-ssec. Second heat: W. E Shewry, 28sec, 1; R. Joblin,' 35sec, 2; V. Amos, 32seCj 3. Also started; H, Youns 25sec, E. Gibson 26sec, 0. Hill, M. Coffey 35sec, A. Salmon SSsec, C. Coleman 40 sec. Honey struck a bad block, but, nothing daunted, chopped strongly and gained the verdict by two or three blows Time, 2min. 21 2-ssec. Finah W. E. HoH6Vj '2Bsec, lj S. Joiinsoii, I2sea, 2; R. Jbbiiß-, 35sec, 5. All qualified started'. Only the placed meii finished. Honey and Johnson chopped strongly, and it could soon be seen that it was between them. Honey ran out of wood, and liact to go round again. He, however, lasted well, and won by a blow. Time, lmin. 67 3-ssec.

Underhand Chop Handicap, I's-inch log; first prize 60s, second 20s, third Ts Gd.—D. Pretty, 22sec, 1; S. Johnson, 12sec, 2; V. J. Amos, 23sec, 3. Also started: E. Shewry losec, M. Beck IGsec, P. Bowman 20sec, M. Cofl'ey 22sec, A. Salmon 24sec,_ W. E. Honey, C. Ooleman and M. Hill 25sec. Johnson chopped well, but was going away too much, and had to be content with second place to Pretty. Time, lmin. 2 l-ssec. CYCLING EVENTS.

Novice, one mile; first prize 20s, second 10s.—Tapp 1, Billing 2. Also started: Coombes. Coombes went to the front in the last lap, and was winning easily. A hundred yards from home, however, lie came to grief, and though lie remounted he could not secure a place , HUB -Maiden, one mile; first prize 30s, second 10s, —A. 11. Codd, sc?, 1; J. Cross, 80yds, 2. Also started: W. Coombes and F. Billings 80yds. Won liy thirty yards.

Scorcher Cjcle Handicap, two miles; first prize SQfe, second las.—Codd, scr, 1; Cross, 140jBs, 2. Also started: Tapp

140 yds, Coombes 140 yds. Cood caught f his field early, and sprinting in the last I lap won easily. Cross fell, but re-! mounted. GENERAL. J Boys' Race. —A. Duggan 1, N. Kelly 2, j Field 3. About twenty started. Sheep Weight-guessing (actual weight 441b). —H. Hopkins 441b. In the evening a social was held. It had been intended to give a picture show, but a few days ago the committee were informed that the company could not appear.