TERRITORIAL GYMKHANA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 22, 26 June 1913, Page 7

TERRITORIAL GYMKHANA.

j A BIG TOURNAMENT. Arrangements are well in hand for the big military gymkhana to be held under the auspices of the Kgmont A. and P. Association on the Showgrounds, Jlawera, to-day. The tourjiameut is the ; first of its kind in Taranaki, and from | the entries received this year promises to deveto;) into an animal fixture of im- | portanee. following somewhat on the lines of the big military tourney held annually at Palnierston North. 'Territorials and cadets, both mounted and infantry, will be present from the majority of companies throughout Taranaki, anil the Wanganui military areas and the competition in the several evcnls promises to ho keen and of a high or.der. (rack teams from New Plymouth to Wanganui and the back country will provide strong contests. The gymkhana was adopted for the purpose of encouraging skill with arms, discipline and genera! efficiency, fostering "esprit de corps." and to act us an incentive for the individual Territorial ami cadet to improve his training. The teams events will he highly interesting, and probably no competithm is more .entertaining'than the Lloyd-Lindsay, teams of 4, where mounted jumping and the Victoria Cross dis- i phns are. brought, into evidence, (iold medals are to be awarded to the winning team. In addition to the military . events, those on the comic side will be well worth going a long wav to see. No ■ -' enters into the spirit of '■fun" more i .'.'.: the limitary nun, and he will have <':'iity of variety to-dav. Tilting the h..cket means a shower hath to the'man missing his target, as a bucket of water will remind him that, he "went wide." fu the- boot race, the fun Commences when each man gets the wrong boots, and much excitement prevails while every man is after his own. Jn the bun-and-pop race competitors have a mild luncheon, devouring a somewhat ancient bun, together with some fizzy lemonade, and endeavoring to race back to the stalling point "wiser" than when they started. The obstacle race, in'which -10 points are awarded for fancy costume, will he more amusing than ever, competitors going through barrels suspended to a spar, pig net and sheeting. Cock lighting. Balaclava melee, yiiliow lighting" on spar, wrestling on horseback, tug-of-wai', etc.. will add to the day's programme', and of educational value will he tentpitching, tent-pegging, marching, physical drill, bugling, and mounted jumping. Liberal trophies have been provided for. I'll events, and these will be handed to file successful competitors in the evening at the Winter Show building by his Worship the .Mayor. T |„, \i ollnU ,;| '■" ml, the Queen Alexandra's Own 2nd hegimentnl Band and ■ the Taranain' j ipers will bead the massed parade fro'u >hc TTawcra station at ]0.45 a.m.. and will give selections throughout the dansome of the chief items being "The iielle ol Broadway." "Druid's Prayer" f\ Soldier's Life," "|„ ||„, Shadows," ••Revenge," 'Titauia," "Old Comrade's" : in,| "I he Smithy in (| l( . Woods." The ca/cri«iff is in th., hands of Mr. W. MaindomW | ami afternoon tea and luncheon may/be Imd tiiroughoiit. the dav. The 'ljrogramnie commences, at 11. a.m. sharp llMwli.ng al 4 p.ni./-so that visitors may attend the Winter Show either before or after the gymkhana, (liven line wi-a-' ther, an extremely successful and entertaining display is anticipated.