LIVERTON CUP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1939, Page 7

LIVERTON CUP

ANNUAL CONTEST LOCAL TEAM RETAINS TROPHY. BY THREE EVENTS TO ONE. Yesterday at the Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club were successful in retaining the Liverton Cup in the annual contest with the Wellington Aero Club. The visitors were represented by Flight-Lieutenant I. E. Lawnsley (in charge), Mr J. Kirkcaldie (captain), and Messrs N. F. Smillie, H. Player, Matt Coxon and G. M. Martin. The Wairarapa representatives were Pilot-Instructor F. J. McDonald (in charge), Mr J. V. A. Reid (captain), and Messrs A. W. Buchanan, N. W. Beetham, J. W. Sievers and W. R. Jaspers. Flight-Lieutenant J. R. Buckeridge judged the events. Flying a Moth Major, a Tiger Moth and a Miles Magister, the Wellington team left Rongotai at 7 a.m. and endeavoured to reach the Hood Aerodrome without being detected. One machine arrived unobserved by the local pilots but the Moth Major was approaching from the Tararuas when intercepted by a local pilot in a D.H. Moth. Thus the honours of arriving at the aerodrome without being observed were divided.

The results of the various events were as follows: —

Bombing: Wairarapa, 497 points, 1; Wellington, 402 points, 2. Message dropping: Wairarapa, 87 points, 1; Wellington, 62 points, 2. Landing: Wellington, 6771 points, 1; Wairarapa, 669 points, 2. . Forced landing: Wairarapa, 472 points, 1; Wellington, 418 points, 2. The aggregate results were: —Wairarapa, 3; Wellington, 1. Points: Wairarapa,, 1725; Wellington, 1559. During the afternoon a large gathering of visitors watched the competitions and a number taking advantage of the good flying conditions prevailing went for short flights. The social committee, Misses J. Betts, J. Hosking, and P. Jordan, assisted by others, entertained the Wellington team and friends at dinner and afternoon tea at the Clubhouse.