INTER-UNIT SPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1941, Page 3

INTER-UNIT SPORTS

RELAXATION FOR NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS MEETING HELD IN EGYPT. PLEASANT CHANGE FROM CAMPAIGNING. (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, May 14. A day of relaxation in pleasant surroundings was provided yesterday for New Zealand soldiers returned from Greece and from Crete, when an interunit sports meeting was held in the grounds of a well-known sporting club near a New Zealand base camp. Many units were represented in track and field events, and the spirit of the competition was exceptionally keen, calling forth some good performances. The New Zealand boys showed that they had recovered from the strain of their recent campaigns and all were in high spirits and looking very fit. An anti-tank regiment won the day with a total of 45 points; a machinegun battalion. was second with 26, closely followed by a Field Regiment with 23 points. Performances were good, and there was a large field in every event. Great interest centred in the tug-o’-war, and an infantry brigade had to put in some tigerish work to come out winners. Standing pulls on the grass with no cleats were fought to a finish, and the infantry team, with a large representation of Maoris, had to put everything into it to beat 4 Field Regiment in two out of three in the finals. The 880 yards relay went to a machine-gun battalion unit with an anti-tank team second. The anti-tank unit won the medley relay with a field regiment team second.

The high jump went to sft 4in, Whitehorn—-the anti-tank representa-tive-clearing that height with something to spare. Lieutenant McPhail, of an infantry brigade, put up a good effort in the shot-put to win at 38ft 3in. Track times were not exceptionally fast, but every finish was closely fought, and in most events several heats were needed to sort out a field for the final.

The sporting club grounds were in exceptionally good order, and the attractive surroundings appealed to all. The trees and green grass were a pleasant relief from the sands of the deserf camps. Afternoon tea was provided by local women volunteer helpers, and at the conclusion of the meeting Brigadier R. Miles, D. 5.0., M.C., congratulated the boys on the spirit in which the events had been contested and thanked the club members for all they had done to make the day a success. Results of the finals were:— 220 yards: Sgmn. Gosnell 1, Bdr. Dyer 1, Gnr. Jardine 3. Time, 26 3-5 secs. ■ i ISW 440 yards: Gnr. Whitsey 1, Tpr Dyer 2, Cpl. Robertson 3. Time, 61 2-ssecs. 880 yards: Gnr. Whitsey 1, Sgmn. Vaughan 2, Gnr. Austin 3. Time, 2min. 24 4-ssecs. “ 100 yards: Sgmn. Gosnell 1, Pte. Bush 2, 2/Lt. Aldous 3. Time, Usees. High jump: Gnr. Whitehorn, sft. 4 ill., 1; Pte. Phillips, sft. Slim, 2; Dvr. Tarrant, sft. 3in, 3. Hop, step and jump: Gnr. McDonald, 39ft. 3in, 1; 2/Lt. Aldous, 38ft. lOJin, 2; Cpl. Robertson, 38ft. 7jin, 3. Long jump: Pte. Gilmour, 18ft, 3in„ 1; 2/Lt. Aldous, 18ft. lin, 2; Gnr. McDonald.' 17ft. Ilin., 3. Shot put: Lt. McPhail, 38ft. 3in, 1; Pte. Meehan, 37ft. 10in., 2; Gnr. Churchill, 35ft. Sin, 3. Discus throw: Pte. Meehan, 109 ft. 4 in, 1; Sgt. James, 99ft. 7Jin, 2; »Sgt. Opie, 96ft. lOin, 3. Javelin throw: Sgt. James, 115 ft. 7in, 1; Gnr. Carston, 114 ft. Sin, 2; Bdr. Waldic, 112 ft. lin, 3.