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HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS. !

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HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS. ABERGAVENNY'S GREAT PRO. ] GRAMME. MILITARY TOURNAMENT. SPORTS & FETE. I Tlie Abergavenny Attractions Association arranged another great programme for the final holiday of the year. Previous attractions had very good, but the August programme surpassed them all in point of interest and pro- dded a fitting conclusion to the season's outdoor operations. The Association had not stinted expense in order to provide a good bill of fare, aad. the result was that no finer attraction* were i to be seen anywhere in South Wales during the I August holidays. This enterprising and pro- gressive organisation can claim with all due modesty to have accomplished a really excellent year's work and to have laid the foundation oi htill greater triumphs in the future. The reputa- tion of Abergavenny for doing the thing well has Row been thoroughly established among the industrial population oi South Wales, and in all future events run by th-o: Association the stamp oi the Three A's will be a sufficient guarantee of quality. The first year's eSort has entailed a lot of spade work and there has been no time to rest between the various holiday events, but the enthusiasm and energy of an earnest body of members have cafried through to a successful issue a variety of ideas. It was not to be ex- pected that in the first year's working, with such a stupendous amount of work to be done, the organisation could be perfected in every detail. No perfect organisation was ever built up hurriedly, but it should be possible, before next year's operations commence, to take stock of the working arrangements and to remedy any little defects which may hamper the smooth running of the machinery of the organisation. r,?.Irii i n g of the mac h in.-i The Castle Fetes. The outstanding feature ei the three days' events—a feature which will always appeal to the spectator—was good value for money. There has never been staged in the Castle such a fine programme as that arranged for the Monday and Tuesday. The horticultural show, which i- dealt with in another column, was a big attraction in itself, and the artistes specially engaged for the fete were among the best to be obtained in the country, for the Association have jiot spared expense in order to provide the best possible programme in this respect. There was something distinctive about each performance and the audience on both, days were delighted with the fare provided. The following were the artistes who contributed so largely to the success ot the fetes from the point of view of the specta- tor :-The Adams Trio, in a clever, novel, and comedy cycling act Valeria, in an original performance on the rolling globe C. J. Saltley, cceentric on the light wire, and his lady assistant; the Great Jaskoe, daring hand and foot balancer, assisted by Jakes the famous de Gonzas, in their comedy juggling scena Casca and Florence in their comedy acrobatic speciality Miss Caino and Partner, balancing entertainers featuring the breakaway chair and the popular Nuggets Concert Party of seven talented performers. In addition, the Borough Silver Band, who are making good progress under the "Jnductorship of their new bandmaster, Mr. S. H. Russell (late bandmaster R.N.), played selections and also provided the music for dancing. Councillor A C. Graham was the superintendent of. the Castle arrangements, and special mention should be made of Mrs. NA-, Evans aad her lady assistants iu organising and taking ,lharge of the games. The Tournament andISports. The venue of the greatest attractions, however, was Bailey Park, where the military tournament and sports were held. Here were two great attractions for the one admission, and the arrangements for both wen admirable. Mr. Llewellin, who had charge of the previous military tournaments at Abergavenny, was in his element in making the arrangements for the c,ne on this occasion, aud it was through his instrumentality that .the services of the 1St lifeguards were secured A capital programme of tournament items had been arranged, which were interspersed the sports events, and the whole programme was carried through like clockwork. Mr. F. Mansfield was general super- intendent for the Park and the organisation left nothing to be desired Mr, Percy Fraser was the sports secretary Mid worked indefatigably not only in handling the entries but also in getting the ground ready, and, without any desire to make invidious distinctions, was ably Assisted ig the ground work by Mr. Basil Evans. -The track has never looked better, and the com- petitors, who ought to knovr wilaí â ground should be like, were loud in their praise ot the arrangements generally. Though there were only five sports events there were record entries, numbering surpassed the excellent field at Whitsun. Practically all the best runners in South Wales were entered, in- cluding the world's champion, C. J. Mears, of Australia, who unfortunately sprained his ankle at Cardiff on the Monday and was unable to appear. The sports events were divided be- tween the two days, the finals of the 60 and 100 vards and the local boys' race being held on the Wednesday. There was some really fine running and the judges had no easy task in deciding the winners in the closer finishes. To return to the military tournament, the i,tieguards exhibited some fine horsemanship, though some of them were but recruits, and the display generally cl. climated the spectators. The M.C. was Lieut. Coggins, the riding master of the i3t Lifeguards. First there was a sword and revolver competition, then a Victoria Cross race, < barging with sword at dummy and peg, display < f bareback vaulting, in which the men showed reftt agility in jumping over the hurdles with their horses and mounting again, sectional tent pegging, water backet race over hurdles, an amusing pig-sticking display with swords (the leader trailing a bladder which the competitors strove to puncture with their swords) The interest in the tournament was considerably enhanced by the fact that a team of mounted police of the Monmouthshire Constabulary, in Charge of P.-S. Spendlove, took part in it. by the Jund permission of t:¡;: Cnief Constable (Mr. Victor Bosaiiqttet They gave an excellent account of themselve:- and both delighted and surprised the spectators by beating them easily in the wrestling competition on horseback and la the mounted tug of war. The police downed their men in no uncertain manner after an musing tussle, and they easily secured, the first two pulls in the tug ct war, though the police agreed to change horses for the second pull. As though this was not a great enough triumph for the police, P.-sergt Spendlove showed the spectators what he could do individually. Though it is some years since he tried his hand at these kind of competitions, he won the Victoria Cross race and the water bucket race over hurdles on both day? and finished up on the Wednesday by giving a clever exhibition of Cossack riding, going round the enclosure stood itp in the shortened stirrups, which gave him almost the appearance of standing on lie horse's back. The judges of ihe tournament ,\ycr". Mr. Victor Bosanquet (Chiet Constable), :.1r B. W. l'owlett aud Col. H. Jliers. TheaTuesday events attracted a great crowd of spectators, but on Wednesday the attendance'.vas only small sports Results. The sports officials were as tollows Kandi- capper, Mr. Ted Lewis, Pontypridd timekeeper, Mr. H. Lyons starter. Mr. H. C. Powell; judges, Messrs.. JI. Hunt, J. P Jones, W. Merriman, T. H. Maxwell, Cvril F.vans aid A. E. Tonkin; referee, Mr. T.' W. Bc-eridge; clerks of the course, Messrs. T. lo'.vnes, F. Johns, J E. 3 oulkes, R. Evans, and H. Bevan competitors' steward. Mr. G. Sketch'.ey telegraph steward, Messrs. A. F. Davies and W. T. Davies chief steward, Mr. C. B. Cornhill The results were as follows — Boys' race (open)—Heat winners R IlMiey, Holly bush (38) and T. W, Griffith, Mountain Ash (10), i>. Williams, Hollybush [36) and Alt Jones, Pontnewydd (44) W. Sullivan, Pontlottvn (26) and Harry Hall, Pontypool (15); Beti iohu, Troedyrhiw (26), and H. Barnes,^Crumlin "(24) Francis Edwards, Pontypool (37) and Joe Taylor. Cwmhrwdoer (44! N. Leadbetter (38), and W. H. Hillier, Abersychan (19) R. tead- better, Haycock. Ponty- pool (25). Final: K- Leadbeter R. Hooley; 3,C. Williams. 60 yards handicap--Heat winners M Wil- liams, Ferndale (14'' -itiq W J- Stone, Bream (a) B. R. Harris, pontnewydd (13; and T. D. Blackford, l'ontvpool of; G. Smith, Cross Keys (rS-J) and H. Williams, Tredegar (13}) R Iritis, Newport (i i) and W. \Mnstonj,Pontlottyu iij T. Rogers, Pontnewydd (11 J) and W. Reed, Pontypool (10V) A. Brown, Crumlin (12; and W. G. Jones, Gilwern (101); John Mills, Cardifi (10 k) and C. R. Sims, Ferndale (>>}) W. H Ridge Gilfach (rol) and C. Jones, Troedyrhiw iii) R, Jenkins, Brynmawr (i if) and W. Siinmonds, Mountain Ash (III) J. Lloyd, Dowlais (IIJ) and W. Edwards, Troedyrhiw (1O;, H. Powell, Bargoed (i3)Jand D. Jones.Abercynon (9), W. J. Jenkins, Ynysddu (12) and W. P. May, Pontnewydd (Ili) T. Carter, Abertillery (24) and Rees Phillips, Pontypridd (ioV>, W. G. Bryant, Abercwmboi (13; and E. Davies, New- bridge (IIi). Semi-final heat winners; W. J. Jenkins and J. Lloyd, W. H. Ridge and O. H. Powell, John Mills and C. H. Sims, M. Williams and Rees Phillips. Final I, M. Williams 2, W. J. Jenkins 3, J. Lloyd. Time, 5 4-5 sees. 100 yards handicap.—Heat winners M. Williams, Ferndale J. Stone, Bream (1611, J. Imperator, Cardiff (28) and B. R, Harris, Pontnewydd (23I) T. D. Blackford, Pontypool (1;1) and G. Smith, Cross Keys (34) R. Pring, Newport (194) and J. Donovan, Ponty- pool (20 T. Rogers, Pontnewydd (20) and W. Reed, Pontypool (I8) A. Brown, Crumlin (21J; and G. C. Stephenson, Bargoed; C. J. Mills, Cardiff (19) and D. Aldridge, Beaufort (zil) C. R. Sims, Ferndale (17) and C. Jones, Troedyrhiw (20); J. Jenkins, Ynysddu (211) and K. Jenkins, Brynmawr (2011; O. H. Powell, Bar- goed (24) and W. Simmonds, Mountain Ash (ZOt); Rees Phillips, Pontypridd (igl), C. H. Pitman, Pontypridd and I. Carter, Aber- tillery (13) W. G. Bryant, Abercwmboi (24) and W. Pinney, Cwmtillery (zol). Semi-final heat winners G. Smith and A. Brown, W. J. Jenkins and R. Pring, C. R. Sims and I. Carter, J. Mills and C. H. Pitman. Final: 1, G. Smith 2, W. J. Jenkins 3, C. H. Pitman. Time, 9 2-5 sees. Half-mile.—Heat winners F. Johnson, Cwm- bran (63), D. Blackford, Pontypool (60), and Jerry Shea, Newport (65), George Evans, Tre- harris (75), O. Harris, Rhondda (90) and S. J. Barnett, Pontypool (85) G. C. Stephenson, Bargoed (961, W. Lannen, Newport (120) and W. Hiatt, Pontnewydd (72). Final G. C. Stephenson 2, George Evans; 3, O. Harris. Time, 159 x-5 sees. I WinO-up Dinner. I On Wednesday evening the Lifeguards and Police were entertained to dinner at the Angel Hotel. A very pleasant and convivial evening was spent, which provided an enjoyable wind-up to the season's events. Councillor F. Sadler ably presided over the proceedings and was supported by Lieut. Coggins and members ot the Association. The speech making was brief and to the point. After the loyal toast had been honoured, -Air. W. Rosser submitted the health of the Life- guards, and on behalf of the Association thanked them for coming to the Gate of Wales and putting up such a good show. (Applause). That was their first season as an organisation and they would probably regard the August operations as a land-mark in their year's work. When they looked back on their operations since last Easter he thought they would agree with him that their three holiday fixtures had been pro- gressively good. They started well at Easter, they did better at Whitsun, and he thought that they had excelled that effort this week. In speaking of their friends from London he was not unmindful of their local police. (Applause) They were very happy in Abergavenny in the guardians of the law whom they had to look after them. They all knew that Abergavenny was the training ground for the police of the county and the traditions of the police force in Abergavenny stood very high. They had seen them in a new role that week, and he was more than delighted to see Sergt, Spendlove careering round the ring, especially in his Cossack riding exhibition, The efforts of the Association would not have met with the success they had achieved had it not been for the ready response of some who had willingly and ungrudgingly rendered assistance, He thanked the 1st Lifeguards and the Police and those who had helped them to carry on what he claimed was a successfid venture and a successful year's work, (Ap- plause). He coupled with the toast the name of Lieut. Coggins. The toast was accorded musical honours, and Lieut. Coggins, in response, returnedthaniz6 for the cordial reception which had been accorded the Lifeguards, If it was a pleasure to have the Lifeguards there, it had certainly beeu a great pleasure to tkcm to come-. He thanked them for the kind way they had been entertained that evening and he thought that if the weighing-in had taken place after the dinner they might have won the tug of war, (Laughter). He hoped they would live to renew tfeeix pleasant ac- quaintance on a future occasion, and he called for a toa^t to tit? Association, This was keartfly honoured by the Lifeguards and accorded musical honours, and a similar compliment was paid to the toast of the Police. P.-Sergt. Spendlove, in returning thanks, said that the Lifeguards had given them a brilliant display. When he was asked to get a team together to meet the Lifeguards he thought it was rather a tall order, but they did their best and met them as sportsmen, and it had been real sport all the way through. (Applause). Mr. F. Mansfield proposed the toast of the ladies in suitable terms, and this was duly I honoured, Mr. H. Lyons proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman and paid a high tribute to him for his work on the Council and in connection with the Association. The harmony of tli2 evening was added to by contributions from the Nuggets," Mr. C. O. Marsh, Mr. Reg. Day, Mr, Frank Day and Mr. Basil Evans, all of whose efforts were heartily appreciated. The proceedings concluded with the singiug of Auld Lang Syne." with linked hands,

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