The Autumn Carnival

Perfect weather and an entertaining programme drew a good crowd to the A and P Association's annual Autumn Carnival at the showgrounds.

The carnival committee suffered an unfortunate blow to their original plans when the team of trotting horses from Waikato could not travel to Gisborne because of the treacherous condition of the Waioeka Gorge highway, but they overcame this problem admirably, to provide their patrons with a variety of entertainment of excellent quality.

The dog and budgerigar shows drew large entries from local and outside breeders to make them among the most successful yet staged.

Highlight of the ring events was the display dy the international aerial acrobatic team, the Diavolos, pictured performing atop their swaying poles before some of the spectators.

Helicopter with patient on stretcher flying over the showgrounds

A helicopter demonstration by Mr Frank Mettner, of Whirl Wide Aviation, was staged for almost an hour. Proving its versatility, the aircraft made fence-post lifts, laid powerlines, and re-enacted its dramatic stretcher rescue of an injured man during the recent Opotiki floods. "Patient" John Harrison is seen strapped onto the stretcher lashed helicopter's landing skids as Mr Mettner < unclear >prep ake</ unclear > off.

Mr M. Mewett, of Auckland, with his dog Impetuous of Everlie, which won the Best Dog in the Show award.

Tarna, a beautiful white Samoyed, watches proceedings in the dog show.

Motorcycling brothers John and Phillip Hough racing around the showgrounds circuit

The Go-Kart races were keenly contested

In the opening motorcycle race of the day, a young Gisborne rider, Mike Jones, suffered a fractured arm and grass burns when he lost control of his machine and took a heavy spill. He was rushed, unconscious, to Cook Hospital by the St John Ambulance Association.

Immediately prior to his accident, Mike Jones races into the straight

"Bent bike"

Unconscious on the ground, he is attended to by St. John Ambulance men and Dr J. W. McKay.

St John Ambulance men race from the arena with their unconscious patient

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 118 : April 23, 1964

The Autumn Carnival