ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 226, 22 March 1912, Page 7

ATHLETICS.

SPORTS AT BLENHEIM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim, Thursday. The weather was overcast for the Hibernian sports. Keen disappointment was felt that Postle and Kinsey failed to keep their engagement to run in the sports. Postle telegraphed on the morning of the sports that he was unable to leave Nelson. The prize money totalled £250. The St. Patrick's Sheffield Handicap, 130 yards, first prize £6O, resulted: J. C. Boyd (Hastings) 14yds 1, Hansby (West Coast) 14yds 2, Leahy (Taihape) 12yds 3. BREACH OF CONTRACT. Dunedin, Thursday. Postle and Donaldson were to have ■ reen defendants in the Magistrate's )ourt to-day at the instance of the Otago Caledonian Society for breach of contract, but at the last moment they paid £SO and the case was withdrawn. OAKURA HANDICAPS. The following handicaps have been declared by Mr. J. A. Hansen for the running events which are to be held at Oakura on March 28: — 100 yds Handicap—H. L. Slight syds, A. W. O'Donnell Bvds, R. Davidson and C. Smith 10yds, W. Thompson, F. H. Ma'ee 1 ami B.- McGrath 12vds. 200 yds Handicap—H. L. Slight 6vd?, A. W. O'Donnell 12yds, R. Davidson 20 yds, W. Thompson "22yds, F. 11. Mace 22yds, M. D. Julian 9y'ds, A. McKay 20 yds. Half-mile—H. L. Slight 15yds, R. Davidson 'ssvds. M. D. Julian 50yds, A. McKay 60yds, R. H. Stoddart 30yds, R. A. Allen and R. Lawrence 50yds, R. Parkes and R. Wood 45yds, R. ,Spence 55yds. One mile—H. L. Slight 20yds, R. Davidson 100 yds, W. D. Julian 100vds, A. McKay 110 yds, R. 11. Stoddart 60yds, R. A. Allen I.ooyds, R. Lawrence OOvds, R. Parkes 100 yds, R. Spence 105 yds* A. Watson 100 yds. j The following late entries have been | received for the chopping events:— j Maiden Chop: F. Corbett and S. Car- j rick lOsec, G. Bell 15sec. Cup, 18hv. , S. Carrick 40sec.

[ MAKETAWA PICNIC. | The suppliers of the Maketawa Dairy 1 Company made holiday yesterday. For the nonce Nancy, Poley and Strawberry, and the attendant worries of milking them, were forgotten. The weather, too, was kind, the day being fine and sunny. There was a keen wind blowing outsido, but this was not noticeable in the ideal spot that was selected for the picnic ground, namely, a beautifully sheltered level paddock close to the charmingly picturesque homestead of Mr. A. Marshall, which was placed at the committee's disposal. There was a good attendance. The day passed pleasantly in short and friendly social intercourse. The committee had made perfect arrangements, and the lengthy programme was got through with the smoothness and precision that is the aim and ideal of big sports gatherings, but which the latter often fail to Attain. The committee was a large one, and every member! of it was a worker. Mr. J. Brown was ehairman, and his organising ability was in evidence. The committee comprised j Messrs H. Jones, J. Stephens, K. Corney, G. Arnold, F. Hawksworth, W. Marshall, B. Marshall, J. Hall, J. Burgess, R. j Thomas, W. Brown, and A. Johnston. Too much praise cannot be given to the energetic secretaries. 'Messrs E." Taylor and'FT Brown, to whom is due a large share of the success attained. The principal officials were Messrs J. Brown H. j Trimble, T. Jones, and A. Marshall ] (judges), R. Thomas (starter), R. Thomas, W. Brown and J. Stephens (handi-! cappers), and Mr. J. Simpson (bellman),' all of whom kept matters merrily moving. The ladies must not be forgotten, the commissariat department was in their charge, and that is sufficient to say that the inner wants were luxuriously attended to. Miss Johnstone was in charge of this department, and she was ably assisted by Mesdames Marshall, W. Corney, T. Corney, Grylls, A. Johnstone and Jones, and Misses Marshall, Corney, V. Corney, A. Brown and Stephens, all of whom were kept busy throughout the afternoon.

The sports programme provided was a diversified one, and much amusement resulted. The boys had a good time at pillow-fighting, but the treacle and bun eating competition did not come off, the mothers evidently having too much respect for the boys' clothes. The ladies' races produced keen competition, and right through there was a keen, healthy rivalry which was productive of good sport. The children were not forgotten, as numerous races were provided for them. Altogether the sports were most enjoyable, and those who attended from Inglewood and elsewhere—and they were many—had a right royal time. The results were:— Shareholders' handicap, 100 yards—H. Jones (syds) 1, A. Dombroski (scr) 2, B. Dombroski (7yds) 3. Also started: G. Middlemiss, R. Yeates, A. Bridgeman, J. Butterworth and G. Arnold. Hop. step and jump—fi. Stratford (39ft 10in) 1. Also competed: E. Rustling, W. Laurence, E. Taylor, J. Rustling, and B. Dombroski.

Putting the shot.—A. Johnston 1. Also competed: J. Burgess, C. Grant, H. Patterson, J. Rickard, H. Stratford, W Goble, R. Stratford. Old men's race—T. Wheeler 1. M.Jones 2. 100 yards handicap.—B. Dombroski (12yds) 1, W. Lawrence (11yds) 2, E. Rustling (10yds) 3. Also started: Jones, Stratford and H. Taylor, r . Sack race.—Rustling 1. Also stated: H. Hall, B. Domboski, G. Arnold, M. Dodunski and C. Wooding. Single ladies' race.—Miss A. Jones 1, Miss E. Laurence 2. Married ladies' race.—Mrs. A. Goble 1, Mrs. Dombroski 2. Eight started; a good race. 220 yards shareholders.—W. Wheeler ! 1. E. Rustling 2, A. Dombroski 3. Also started: G. Arnold, B. Dombroski, 11. Jones, and M. Dodunski. 880 yards handicap.—M. Dodunski ], E. Thomas 2, K. Rustling 3. Also started: H. Taylor. (!. Arnold, R. Stratford, J. Sutherland, and Thomson. A good . race. Thomas, who was giving away 110 yards, came with a great burst, but the winner just lasted long enough to get home. Stepping the chain (gentlemen).— A. Laurence d. The winner stepped the

exact distance. About 00 entered. \ Stepping the chain (ladies).—Miss K. | Stevens stej)ped the exact distance. I About 20 ladies competed. j Tug-of-war (single v. married). —The i married won the first pull very easily, The other two pulls, after good eon- ' tests, went to the single men, who thus i were declared winners. ' Sheep guessing (actual weight 1541b). — ! Miss Knox and T. Wheeler each guessed | 1531b. | Threading the needle.—R. Stratford i. |J. Johnston 2. About seven competed. j A dance was held in the Norfolk Road School in the evening. MANGATOKI SPORTS. There was a fair attendance at the Mangatoki sports yesterday. The New Plymouth Northern Union football team annexed the medals for the tournament, whilst L. E. Smith won the two-mile bieycle race on a B.S.A. built by Arnold George, of New Plymouth. The results of the principal events were as follow: Maiden Race, 150 yards.—O'Brien !,( Carlsen 2, Hall 3. ' j Mangatoki Handicap, 150 yards.—W. Minhinick 1, H. Blake 2, R. Walsh 3. I Mile Bicycle Handicap.—A. Forb"s I (120 yds) 1, Peter Hill,'Christcliurch (30 j 440 yards Handicap.—Minhinick 1. It. , Walsh'2, W. B. O'Brien 3. j Two-mile Bicycle Handicap.—L. E. Smith, New Plymouth, (160 yds), 1; Peter Hill (50 yds), 2. THE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT. The, Mangatoki sports tournament seven men aside, under Northern Rugby Union League rules, was decided yesterday and proved a great attraction. N«w Plymouth and Mangatoki played first, and the country team proved a surprise packet, fully extending the more -experienced town players, and after a very fast and interesting game, New Plymouth won by 5 to nil. C. Mac Lean scored from a pretty .passing rush and E. Stockman kicked a good goal. In the second round Eltham and Mangatoki played, and after a very tight game, Eltham won by the narrow margin of 3 points to 2. C. Moir scored a try for Eltham and A. Cooper dropped a pretty goal for Mangatoki. In the final New Plymouth and Eltham met. The first spell was very close, but in the second New Plymouth opened the game up and some beautiful passing runs took place. M. Julian, wing-threequarter, scored four tries and Kyle one, and Julian kicked a goal from a try. New Plymouth thus won the seven handsome gold medals presented 1 " by the Mangatoki sports committee. Mr W. J. Perett refereed in a most impartial manner.

The following .players represented New Plymouth: E. Stockman, C. J. Maclean, M. Julian, N. Kyle, 0. Mumby, R. Pukere and T. Smith. The play, considering that it was the first of the season, was a surprise to the spectators, who were roused up to a great pitch of excitement. The winning team' fully deserved their win, all playing exceptionally well. E. Stockman, atfull back, .played well and showed a lot of pace. C. Maclean played a very fine game, making a lot of openings. M. Julian played a great game and bolted on a few occasions. N". Kyle was right up to form and showed a great lot of pace, and handled the ball well. 0. [Mumby, a young player, kept up his, school reputation and shaped will. R. Pukere was playing well when he got hurt, whilst T. Smith, the old war horse, was in his element, and was generally in the thick of it. R. Pukere had the bad luck to strain his shoulder in the first round and had to retire, his place being taken by A, Cooper, of the Mangatoki team, who very generously offered to fill the gap. although he had had two hard games previously.