Sandakan marks Charter Day
Published on: Saturday, March 13, 2021
By: British North Borneo Herald
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Scenes from the past: Sports at the Jesselton Padang in 1915. - Pic for illustration only.
IT had almost become a proverb amongst the complacent residents of Sandakan that “on Charter day it never rains,” but after this year the proverb is no more. True the Water Sports were held in gloriously fine weather throughout, but such weather only made people come down to the land sports on the padang in the afternoon optimistic and unprovided for the downpour that ruined the later events.
The ladies arrived in their summery lovelinesses, and had in consequence to rush for the pavilion as the first proceedings for breaks in the rain to allow them to get to their cars in safety.
Judges and starters also were seen making frantic dashes back to their homes, between the events, for rain coats and changes of clothings. The Water Sports started shortly after 9.30 a.m. when guests went on board the various launches moored near the Customs wharf. The Patron of the Sports, His Excellency Mr C.R. Smith, embarked on the G.M.L• Berhala with a large party. The morning’s proceedings finally finished with the usual vocal flourishings of sirens at 11.30.
Almost all the water events were very closely contested. The day started with the sailing race for boats of under twenty feet and both the first and second prize went to boats from Tanjong Aru, the winning one being that of Bakar. In the second race also a boat from Tanjong Aru was the winner. That of Karim beating Tapa’s from the Sungei Bajau by a narrow margin.
This was followed by the race for gobangs with eight paddles, won by Hajiran’s boat from Mumiang. In the two swimming races, the first three were all natives in the race for boys, the eventual winner being Bili, where-as in the race for girls the winners were Chinese, the shyness of the Malay girls holding them back from competing. The girl or should she be called a veteran who took first prize was Soh Ah Pi who has now won this race for no less than five years in succession.
The tour de force of the morning’s proceedings and the concluding event was the gobang race for twelve paddles. Hajiran, the manager of the sailing crew in the second event, also managed to pull off this race his men from Mumiang paddling their boat across the finishing line ahead of the crew from Kampong Gas in what was also a fairly narrow victory.
The Sports were continued on the Padang at 2.30 promptly, those responsible for the day’s events being already apprehensive of the dark clouds that lined the horizon in the South.
After the heats for the hundred-yards race impressive displays were given by representative teams of gymnasts from St Michael’s and St Mary’s Schools.
The team from the former Mission, gaily turned out in scarlet sweaters, which entered the field first, did a number of pyramids, the team from St Mary’s School, favouring a more individualist display, its members coming up one after another, to do breath taking things on a horizontal bar.
Of the afternoon’s events the one perhaps most deserving of comment was the high jump. Although the height of 5 feet 3 inches is not a record for these sports, considering the fact that the winning jump was made as the rain began to come down, and that the winner was not allowed to make attempts on still greater heights, it was thoroughly good. But it is on their style that Fidelis, who won, and Fu Hon Hoi, the runner-up must be particularly congratulated.
The bicycle race had by far the biggest field amongst the afternoon’s events. No arrangements had been made to have heats for this event but it soon became apparent as the starters stretched on past the end of the starting line towards the edge of the padang that they would have to race in two batches and the winners contest for the prizes in a final. The race was finally won by Chin Vui Shen.
The 440 yards also had a fairly large entry, but the number of contestants was considerably depleted by the time the “straight” had been reached, in the run home also one of the competitors falling out. He was running Hernam Singh of the Constabulary for second place when he collapsed some three yards from the ribbon. Ng Phan Sung won this event, Jimmie Grant following Hernam Singh, P.C. 395, to take third place.
In the Tug o’ War the all Indian team representing the Constabulary carried all before them, their weight and knowledge of tactics proving to be an indomitable factor. The team from Sungei Bajau put up a good struggle in the final but was finally overwhelmed.
The low Hurdles Race was the other race of a recognised sporting event. In the final there was a good race between P.C. Madan, No 381, and Fu Yun Fatt, the latter pulling off the event by a matter of feet.
The remaining three events — the Sack Race, the Obstacle Race and the girls’ Egg and Spoon Race — although we understand they are not being included in the 1940 Olympiad were watched with considerable interest and amusement amongst the Sandakan spectators.
The Obstacle Race with its usual uncertainty was eventually won by Osmund Yapp, and the Sack Race, almost as uncertain, by Lee Sui Yin. In the Egg and Spoon Race, in which the kindly, and perhaps wise, judges did not keep too discerning eyes on the methods of the competitors, the final winner was Miss Lo Nyuk Len, Miss Annie Lye, following closely in the winner’s wake.
Finally came the children’s scramble, still in 1938 as popular as ever, though this year it was a somewhat mixed affair, coolies finding it definitely worth while what with a bag of one cent pieces being thrown to the four winds.
The rain drove the Relay Race and the threading the needle race off the field. This was a great disappointment particularly in the former event for which a large number of teams had entered.
The day’s proceedings finally came to a close with the prize giving, Mrs Smiths presenting the prizes to the winners; one of these, the young lady runner-up for the Egg and Spoon Race, causing some amusement by settling down at the prize table after receiving her envelope for what seemed about to be an evening’s sitting; being finally led back to her kith and kin by the ever watchful Hail Samat.
The rain was pouring down throughout the prize-giving, but this did nothing to quench the three rousing cheers for Mrs Smiths and the final resounding “Tiger”.
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