ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1921, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

MANAIA HIBERNIAN SPORTS. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. The Manaia Hibernian Sports Club were decidedly unfortunate as regards weather conditions for their annual sports meeting in the Manaia Domain on Saturday, the fine day of Friday being succeeded by very windy and boisterous weather on Saturday morning, followed by driving rain in the afternoon. It speaks volumes, therefore, for tl-e organisation of the gathering that despite this the long programme, comprising running, field, dancing and horse events, as well as a football tournament, was got through during the day. It also shows that the committee have the support of the public, when it Is shown that tire gate takings on such a day were between £45 and £5O, and that the bulk of the people stayed to the end shows the interesting nature of the gathering. Right from the commencement the committee pushed matters along, event succeeding event without any unnecessary delay. The early part of the day was devoted to the athletic events, in which fields were large and finishes very close, a tribute to the work of the handicapper (Mr. J. O’Dea), and giving the judges (Messrs.* S. J. McKay, E. T. Burke, A. H. Christie, K. C. Innes, M. J. Lynskcy and T. McPhillips) a difficult task in sorting out the winners. As starters, Messrs* J. O'Dea and J. A. Hansen got their fields away well. The horse events were held in another portion of the ground, and some good jumping was witnessed by the enthusiasts, though the downpour prevented a large number from enjoying this interesting sport. Messrs. E. J. Symes and A. McCracken were the judges.

Eleven of the fourteen teams nominated in the football tournament competed, the defections being Waimate Maoris, Okaiawa and Kaponga C. The day was not conducive to good football, a strong wind and heavy rain prevailing during the bulk of the matches, but nevertheless some good play was shown and the matches were keenly followed. The result was a tie between Clifton and Waimate B, both teams agreeing to divide. The matches were contested throughout in a sportsmanlike manner, this being strikingly illustrated m the match between Stratford A and Opunake B. When one of the latter was injured, Masters, captain of the former sent one of his men off the field so as to even up. Messis. E. Burke, F. Guy, G. Meuli and J. S. McKay were the referees.

The Highland national dancing, which was held towards the close of the day when the weather cleared a little, attracted considerable attention, the music being provided by the Eltham Pipe Band. Mr. D. Ross, of Opunake, was judge. The arrangements for the gathering reflect great credit on the officials, the joint secre- 1 taries (Messrs. W. J. Badley and C. A. Burke) deserving a special word of praise for the complete attention to every detail, which contributed towards the smooth running of the gathering. Tke officials’ badges were beautifully worked on white silk by the Sisters of the Opunake Convent. The catering arrangements were in the hands of a committee of local ladies, under the supervision of Mrs. Landers, and their marquee did big business, handling the sum of £33 13s. Detailed results:—

ATHLETIC FIELD EVENTS. Maiden Race, 100 yards.—Piri Nuku 1, H. Phillips 2, Murphy 3. Seven started. Won easily by three yards. Time, llsec. School Boys. 100 yards.—C. O’Dea (Auroa) 1, J. Hansen (Manaia) 2, S. Phillips (Manaia) 3. Time, 13sec. Hibernian Handicap, 100 yards.—First Heat: D. W. Anderson 7yds 1, A. W. Kirk Syds 2, D. J. Tempero 9yds 3. Also started: C. W. Abbott 11yds. Time, 10 l-ssec. Second heat: E. Pullins 9yds 1, C. S. Rye 9yds 2, B. Wilson 6yds 3. Also started: E. J. Hickey 9yds. Time, lOsec. Third heat: J. Jones Byds 1, W. Minkinnlck 9yds 2, H. C. Phillips 11 yds 3. The only starters. Time, lO&see. Fourth Heat: E. Beckbessinger Syds 1, M. Wright lOydk 2, K. R. Lye 10yds 3. Also started: R. Skipper 11yds, Rau 11yds, T. Gardiner 11yds. Time, Final.—Pullins 9yds 1. Rye 9yds. 2, Beckbessinger Syds 3. All qualified started. A great race, inches separating the placed men. Time, lOsec.

Youths’ Race, 100 yards,—W. Bradford 1, Nuku Plri 2, M. White 3. Won by a yard. Time, llsec.

880 Yards Handicap.—J. Kerr 45yds 1, V. R. Pennington 38yds 2, T. E. Taylor 30yds 3. Also started: L. Aroa 35yds, R. Ferguson 50 yds, D/ Vickers and S. L. Byers 60yds, F. Scheweiters, A. Laurent, A. Wells, W. E. Spray and H. A. Bartlett 65yds. Wotf easily by 1-5 yards, Taylor just getting third ■ position on the post. Time, 2min. 6sec. 220 Yards Handicap.—First heat: C. S. Rye 19yds 1, S. Julian 23yds 2, E. J. Hickey 19yds 3. Also started: B. Wilson 14yds, D. J. Tempero 17yds, O. Roberts 21yds, C. W. Abbott 23yds, R. H. Murphy 23yds. Time, 22 3-ssec. Second heat: E. Pullins 20yds 1, E. Beckbessinger 18yds 2, D. M. Anderson 15 yds 3. Also started: A. W. Kirk 17yds, H. C. Phillips 23yds and W. Hubert 24yds. Time, 22sec. Ttird heat: J. Jones 16yds 1, H. Ahearne 21yds 2, J. Minhlnnick 21yds 3. Also started: J. Kerr 18yds, and K. R. Lye 22yds. Time, 23sec. Final: E. Pullins 20yds 1, E. Beckbessinger 18yds 2, E. J. Hickey 19yds 3. All qualified started. Another great finish, the placed men being only separated by a foot. Time, 22 sec. Sack Race.—Moses 1, A. Langford 2, Herbert and D. Price dead heat 3. Youths' High Jump.—J. Hansen 3in 4ft lOin and Plri Nuku scr 4ft lOln equal 1, Bradford 4ft 7in 3. Twelve starters. Girls’ High Jump.—D. Bauchop scr 3ft Ilin I, Gladys Aroa 2. Publicans’ Handicap, of 440 Yards.—S. Jullian 45yds 1, H. A. Bartlett 45yds 2, J. Jones 30yds 3. Also started: B. Wilson k.B yds, T. E. Taylor, V. R. Pennington, J. Kerr 30yds, D. W. Anderson, K. R. Lye 35yds, D. J. Tempero 37yds, A. W. Kirk, E, J. Hickey 38yds, R. Ferguson 40yds, H. Ahearne, D. Vickers, A. Rumball 42yds, A. Wills, H. A. Bartlett, A. Laurent, H. C. Phillips and E. Beckbessinger 45yds. A good race. Julian was never headed and won by a couple of yards, with the third man close up. Time, 53sec. Forced Handicap, 100 yards.—J. Jones, M. Wright and E. Beckbessinger dead beat. Ten starters. The run off resulted: M. Wright 1, J. Jones 2, E. Beckbessinger 3. Youths’ 440 Yards.—Plri Nuku 1, E. Hansen 2, White 3. Nine started. W’on by 2 yards. Time, 62sec.

HORSE EVENTS. Open Pony Jump.—C. Paterson’s Bonita 1, C. Paterson's Flora 2, J. Bauchop’s Shamrock 3. Five starters. Maiden Pony.—C. Paterson's Doris 1, F. Atkins’ Shamrock 2. Three starters. Maiden Leaping.—R. P. Fleming’s King 1, A. Parsell’s Wakeful 2, L. Lander’s Lady Webb 3. Eight starters. Open Jump.-—R. P. Fleming’s King 1, A. Mitchell’s Hazelwood 2, H. Brewer’s Utility 3. Consolation Jump.—A. Mitchell’s Hazelwood 1, C. Paterson’s Glen Royal 2, A. Mitchell's Beunos Ayres 3. Seven starters. J. D. Mitchell's points prize for the boy rider was won by G. Paterson after a tie with L. Whalen. DANCING. Highland Fling.—Miss J. Rae (Eltham) 1, Miss Walker 2. * Irish Jig.—Miss J. Rae 1, D. Duncan 2. Subsequently the judge, Mr. D. Ross, of Opunake, and Miss Rae gave an exhibition of Highland dancing, and Mr. D. Duncan danced the Sailors' Hornpipe. / FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT. First Round. % Kaponga A (McCarthy, Lynskey (2), Malone, McCracken, Fitzgerald, J. Klssick) beat Opunake A (Duffy, Bradford, Rye, O’Rorke, Hickey, Walshe, Lusk) by 3, a try scored by Fitzgerald to nil. Clifton (Taylor (2), Campbell, Ross, Colman, Goodwin, Young) beat W’aiunate A (Bashford, Cargo, Sole, Landers, McKay, Phillips, Rogers) by 10 points (Goodwin two tries both converted by G. Taylor) to nil. Waimatb 3 (Winters. Bir-haK. MaKay,

Burke, Hughes, Langford Haynes) defeated Te Ngutu (Martin, Graham, Cameron (2), Jones, Wright and Hammersby) by 3 points (a try scored by Blrchall) to nil. Stratford B (Sharrock, Smart, Kivell, Vickers, Gray, Lamplougt, Coulton) defeated Kaponga B (Man, Scott (2), Hanimersby, Evans, Taylor, Dimock) by 5 points, a try scored by Coulton and converted, to 3, a try scored by Scott.

Stratford A (Hampson, McCullough, Masters, Ryan, Sullivan, Kerison and Mouatt) defeated Opunake B (Bayless, Ferguson, King, Graham, Brophy, Troller, O'Brien) by 11 points (two tries by Hampson and one by Sullivan, the latter converting one) to nil. Kaponga hockey teaun (Nicholls, Briggs, Humphries, Priest, Guy, Toumlne, Binnie), a bye. Second Round. Kaponga A defeated Kaponga hockey team by 3 points (Fitzgerald a try) to nil. Clifton defeated Stratford B by 3 points (Goodwin a try) to nil. Waimate B and Stratford A drew, Blrchall scoring a try for the former and Wilson for the latter. Waimate B won on the toss. Semi-Final. Clifton, 10 points (tries by Goodwin and Ross, each of which was converted by G. Taylor), defeated Kaponga A nil. Final. The final was very keenly contested, and resulted in a draw, Clifton scoring a try, whilst W’almate B obtained a penalty goal. The teams agreed to divide the prize, which consisted of 15 jerseys. MAHOE SPORTS. A good deal of Interest is being taken throughout the district In the second annual sports meeting of the Mahoe Sports Club, which is to be held on Thursday. Splendid nominations have been received in the open, athletic and chopping events, and hanificaps should appear In to-morrow’s paper. There is, in addition, a programme of varied events, nominations for which are post entry, and they should create considerable interest and amusement. An energetic committee, of which Mr. S. Kemp is secretary, is leaving no stone unturhed to ensure the success of the gathering. The gathering will be followed by a dance in the hall In the evening. OPUNAKE TUG-OF-WAR. A final reminder is given that nominations for the tug-of-war competition (five a-slde) which is to be held in Opunake this week, close with the 'secretary (Mr. Jas. Freyne, Opunake) at 8 o’clock to-night. Already a number of teams have entered and are in keen training, so that the public can rely on witnessing some goW contests. The heats will be decided on Wednesday night, the semi-finals on Thursday, and the finals on Friday night in the Opunake Town Hall.