THE GOOD BROTHERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1941, Page 2

THE GOOD BROTHERS

MADE ATHLETIC HISTORY. (By D.J.H. in the “Taranaki News.”) The passing of Hugh Good, the youngest of the four brothers, recalls many exploits of the quartette. An earlier article referred to three brothers only, and left out the second eldest, "Willie.” who was perhaps the best all round athlete of them all. To chronicle all their athletic careers would fill a book. Harry, the eldest, Jack Hemptoh said, was the best untrained 220yds runner he ever met. It was thrilling to hear the county dialect of the English Stoddart team of non-players when Harry made that memorable run and scored the only points at New Plymouth in 1888. “Looke at un big feller, whar be goin, he be catched, hold un Billy, ha! he got summit naw, Snowy (Anderton) got un,” etc., etc., but Harry shook off Snowy and scored, The hardest horseback rider on this coast, he one day jumped off his horse at the Stratford post office and sent a telegram to Manaia instructing his firm, Budge and Good, to buy a line of fat bullocks at once. He rode pellmell to Manaia and got there before the wire arrived and went out' and bought the cattle himself. Willie, humble, quiet and noble, stood alone as an all-rounder. No man in Taranaki could outbox him, and when Dave Taylor, Waverley, ran across him over in Koolgardie, Australia, he backed him against the best the I Australians could find and Willie beat the best of more 2000 miners at boxing,J running, shot putting and jumping.) One day at Manaia sports he was winning a quarter-mile when he bumped over a big, heavy Irishwoman and sent her rolling. She got up, shook herself and said, “Begorra, that gossoon must have a double backbone?”

Ally, the third brother, had limbs i and a frame like a Roman gladiator, and even in his 60's very few could outpace him. To see Jack Quin and him striding over thousands of acres each day, jumping creeks and valuing West Coast leaseholdings would open the eyes of present-day officials. Hugh, the youngest, was fast, strong, a great jumper, champion shot putter, and the biggest football punter in New Zealand, past or present. He was the only man I ever saw (bar circus riders) who could take a run and jump on a horse behind you as you cantered by. At one time efforts were made to match him against any man- in the world over a course of 120 to 220 yards hurdle race. These four brothers in their youthful days and all through life were thorough gentlemen. Their athletic careers were an inspiration to all athletes. I MR HUGH GOOD’S FUNERAL. Representatives of many bodies and firms throughout Taranaki were present at the funeral of the late Mr Hugh Good at Stratford on July 4. There! were official representatives of the 1 Stratford, Egmont, Opunake and Waverley Racings Clubs, the Taranaki Jockey Club, Taranaki District Committee and the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club, all stock firms and freezing works companies, Taranaki Rugby Union and Stratford Rugby Club, the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs P. Thomson, fat stock buyers, and people from various parts of the province, as well as a large number from Central Taranaki. The pall-bearers were members of the committee of the Stratford Racing Club and the auditor, Messrs R. R. Tyrer, J. C. Robins, W. G. Thurston, H. I Cleland, J. C. Schumacher and T. L. I Penn. I