WITH THE AXEMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1921, Page 5

WITH THE AXEMEN.

GOOD SPORT AT URENUI. B. SHBWRY DEFEATS W. GREEN. Chopping and sawing as a, sport lias a strong appeal to all young New Zealanders, and before the war there were some noted gatherings in various parts of the Dominion. That there has been a distinct revival in this sport, in common >with mother forms of sport, has been evidenced by the interest that has been taken in the chopping events put on at recent sports meetings, and this was further evidenced yesterday when a programme of chopping and sawing events was decided at Urenui. Despite cold and bleak weather conditions the sports attracted a good attendance from all parts. There were large entries in each event, as many as 29 competing, necessitating three heats in some of the events. Competition was keen and finishes very close.

The presence of Shewry and Green, who met on four occasions, added greatly to the interest in the gathering. Chief interest was taken in the challenge match 1 for £5O aside between W. Green (the challenger), of Mokau, and E. Shewry, the world’s champion. Both men appeared to be in good form, though the champion's style in the heats of the T2in. open pleased most. Green appeared to be slightly nervous as the pair awaited the starter's signal, and Shewry was first to enter the wood. Green did not dwell long over his first cut, getting round Ifls log very quickly, whilst Shewry, on the other hand, put in a good deep first cut, and this showed his generalship, for his opponent ran out of wood at the back and had to come round to his first cut again. Just as he did so Shewry’s log fell in 59 4-ssec. He was accorded an ovation for his performance. Green won the 15in. handicap, in which each started off the same mark, but Shewry easily won the 12in. championship, and was placed in the open 121 n„ while Green failed to get a place. The officials all worked hard, and though the changing of the blocks took considerable time, the events were got off without unnecessary delay. Messrs. R. H. Pigott, A. H. Halcombe and E. Putt, as judges, gave their decisions promptly. Air, L. Rattenbury, as starter, got his men away well, whilst Mr. C. Wilson made an efficient marksman. The handicappers (Messrs. W. Fuller and C. Rumball) got through their difficult task very creditably, as the closeness of the finishes show. The secretarial work was again in the capable hands of Messrs. C. Fuller and D. Tate. Detailed results are :

12in. Maiden Handicap Chop. First £4, second £l.—First heat: A. R. Shewry lOsec 1* A. Smith lOsec 2, Topine 13sec 3. Also started: E. White Gsec, AlcCoad lOsec, R. W. Larsen 13sec, A. Kapinga 13sec, Nuku 13sec, W. Alurray 15sec. Won with a little to spare. Second heat: P. M. Shewry lOsec 1, V. Larsen 13sec 8, E. J. Ekdahl 13sec 3. Also started: 'Levandowski 6sec, J. Bertrand lOsec, AlcLeod lOsec, D. Rumball 13sec, D. Whitehead 13sec, C. Rogers 15sec, T. Alurray lusec. Dean 15uec, Loveridge 18sec, J. Waite 15sec. A close,flnish, the three placed men's blocks, with Waite’s and AlcLeod's, falling close together.

Final—E. J. Ekdahl 13sec 1, Topine 13sec 2, A. Smith lOsec 3. All qualified started. Won with a little to fepare. Shewry Bros., as a protest against their handicapping in the open event, retired after putting in one blow. 12in. Open Handicap. First £5, second £2. —First heat: E. Shewry scr 1, D. Rumball 20scc 2, G. Jensen 14sec 3. Also started: R. A. Shewry ssec, H. Burkett 12sec, J. Brough 14sec, W. Bertrand 14sec, D. Whitehead 20sec, A. Kapinga 20sec, Topine 25sec. Shewry hoed out his wood in great style and won with a little to spare. Topine was very close up fourth. Second heat: J. Bertrand 17sec 1, R. W. Larsen 20sec 2, B. Neustroski Ssec 3. Also started: C. Eickstadt 12sec, S. Erickson 12sec, J. Levandowski 14sec, McLeod ITsec, Loveridge 30sec. A close finish. Third heat: T. White 20sec 1, W. Green scr 2, W. Dowman 12sec 3. Also started: R. Waite 12 sec, E. Mouatt 14sec, Tamaki 14scc, Nuku 20 sec, V. Larsen 20sec, Ekdahl 20sec, W. Alurray 22sec. A close finish.

Final.—T. White 20sec 1, W. Dowman. 12sec 2, E. Shewry scr 3. All qualified started. The limit man had got well around before the scratch men touched their wood, and going on won by almost 7sec, Bowman's block fell well ahead of Shewry, who just beat Green by a blow. Green again rar. out of wood.

15in. Double-Handed Sawing, two cuts. First £4, second £1. —G. Jensen and W. Dowman 4sec 1, E. and R. A. Shewry scr 2, H. Burkett and J. Brough 4sec 3. Also started: Larsen Bros. Bsec, and Raumati and D. Rumbali Bsec. Won by a couple of seconds, the scratch men just finishing In front of Burkett and Brough. lain. Chop. First £lO, second £3 10s, third £1 10s. First heat: E. Shewry scr 1, W. Dowman 24see 2, V. Larsen 40sec 3. Also started: B. Neustroski 16sec, H. Burkett 24see, W. Bertrand 30sec, Tamaki 30sec, .1. Bertrand 35sec, Kapinga 40sec, and D. Whitehead 40sec. Won with a few seconds to spare. Second heat: W. Green scr 1, Levandowski 30sec 2, R. Waite 24sec 3. Also started: Eickstadt 24sec, G. Jensen 24sec, J. Brough 30see, Mouatt 30sec, AlcLeod 35sec, R. W. Larsen 40sec, and D. Rumbali 40see. A close finish. Green winning by two or three strokes.

Final.—W. Green scr 1, W. Dowman 24sec 2, E. Shewry scr 3. All qualified started. Green struck a beautiful bit of wood, and profiting by experience put in a good first scarf. Cutting strongly, he ran out a winner by a couple of seconds from Dowman, who just beat Shewry. Time, 55sec. West Coast Championship, 12in. block. Sweepstake of £1 with £5 added.—E, Shewry scr 1, W. Green scr 2. The only starters. Shewry was first round, and chopping well, ran out an easy winner. Time, 27 3-ssec.

Tug-of-War.—ln the light-weight, 11 stone and under, Uruti (Larsen 2, Alurray, Telfar, Jones, Curdis and Klrkby), beat Urenui (Ruenball, Fitzgerald, Stephen, Rogers, Waite, Loveridge and Sheard) in two out of three pulls. In the heavy-weight, Uruti (Dowman 2, Shewry 2, Burkett, Erni, and Jensen), beat Urenui two pulls out of three.

The chop of the day was the concluding item, in which the three judges gave an exhibition. This was won by E. Putt, witb R. H. Pigott second. A. H. Halcombe started well but could not stay the distance. Time. 65sec.