Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1904. ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6205, 27 February 1904, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1904. ATHLETIC SPORTS.

A very decided protest should be entered by the Ashburton public against the attainpt, which is evidently being made by a Christchurch Club, to "jump " the date which haa, for several years past, been reserved for the annual sports meeting of the A.A.C. and A.C. Country club 3, as a rule, are handicapped severely enough, without having to stand the stress of unnecessary competition at the hands of the Metropolitan clubs, and as there is always the desire on the part of the former to secure the attendance of crack riders and pedestrians at their nnnual sports gatherings, there is something peculiarly uufair in the appropriation of their dates by clubs of older or better standing, or which happen to be more favourably circumstanced so far as the attractions they are able to oiler to competitors are concerned. In the cape noted by us on Thursday, the Pioneer Amateur Bicycle and Athletic Club, of Ohristohnrch, was arranging to hold its autumn sports gathering on Easter Mondiy, which has hitherto been recognised by Cycling and Athletic Clubs in. Canterbury as belonging to the Ashburton Amateur Cycling and Athletic Club. The intimation received from the latter, of this year's fixture, seems to have had the ellegb of inducing the Committee of the Christchurch Club to either forego or postpone thnir meeting, and making a virtue of necessity they decided to inform the Ashburtou Club ac jordingly, adding, however, by way of inserting their own superior position, that they intended to claim Easter Monday as their day next year. If that intention is adhered to, it is evident the Ashburton meeting will suffer through the divided interest created, assuming that it is found possible to conduct the Club's annual sports gathering on the same day as the Pioneer Clubs sports are held. Yet the Ashburton t-'lub can hardly alter its date, for, on the great holidays of the year, other meetings are in progress, which monopolise public attention, and which claim the attendance of the very competitors, upon whoso presence they largely defend for the success of their meeting. The Pioneer Club 13 thus guilty of a very uufriend lv aot in seizing upon the only date available for the Ashburtou Club, and is, moreover, seriously jeopardising the good feeling which ought to mark the relationship between the two clubs. In the case of the Ashburton Club, ifc has only the one meeting of the year upon which it can depend fur replenishing its funds ; the Pioneer Club, on the other hand, has both a Spricg and Autumn meeting, and ought, there fore, to show greater consideration thau its members are doing to the Club which has so long held the Easter fixture. And, if it really has the interests of athletic and cycKug sports at heart, it ought to give the country clubs a show of raising f uuds, by leaving their recognised fixtures slone. A moment's consideration should show membor3 of the Pioneer Club that there is nothing to be gained by impoverishing the revenues of a friendly club. Thafc this must, be the inevitable result of their appropriating the Ashburcon Club's date is, however, self evident, and we trust to hear later on that the Committee of the Pioneer Club has reconsidered its determination in thi3 respect. Before leaving the subject altogether, we should like to make a suggestion to the A.A.O. and A.C. in regard to the future of Itue Club. Could it noc increase its usefulness by adding swimming to the list of its spores ? The attempt to resuscitate the Swimming Club last year proved a failure, and there is certainly very little to lw» gained by adding another to the many Clubs already ju existence in Ashburton. But good work might be done by the A.A.O. & A.C, if they would take swimming up as part of their programme, and additional interest would bo imparted to their anuual gathering if they wore in a position to add a few swimming events to their programme. Possibly, if the matter was taken tip in the proper spirit, they might even secure a portion of the Government grant for the teaching of swimming, which, ia the absence of other claimants, is this year being apportioned between Auckland and Christchurch Olubp. By including swimming competitions in it 1? objects, the Club could very reasonably expect to infuse new life and interest into its proceedings, and the step forward would certainly be one in the right direction, as the facilities afforded oav young people are none too great in tjiie respect. We commend the matter to the earneat consideration of the A.A.C. & A.C. Committee and members.