ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 15

ATHLETICS.

INTER-CLUB SCRATCH RACINOr

81-MONTHLY MEETINGS MOOTED

Mr. H. L. Towers, secretary of the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, speaking last night at a meeting of the Papatoetoe Club, outlined proposals for the inauguration of inter-club scratch racing competitions among athletic clubs affiliated with tha centre. Mr. Towers said the centre believed that the grouping of clubs in a competition on a basis similar to football and cricket would be welcomed, and _ would tend to increase enthusiasm and raise the standard of performance. It was not proposed to enter upon the entire scheme this year, but bi-monthly meetings would be arranged during the season, at which all clubs could compete. The full scheme would invdve all clubs meeting each other, as in other sports competitions. Speaking on the seeming obstacle of having all competitors running from scratch, Mr. Towers said that this would assist competitors in acquiring experience. "When you start a man from the limit handicap he may see nothing of the field until the last five yards from the tape, and then he sees it all pass him," remarked Mr. Towers. Young runners, following on the heels of men like Savidan, even for part of the course, would learn more than by running ahead of him on handicap. PAPATOETOE CLUB. Over 100 members of tlie Papatoetoe Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club attended its fifth annual meeting last evening. The annual report showed that the club had passed through a particularly successful year. I Mr. H. Ij. Towers, secretary of the Auckland Centre, congratulated the club on its rapid progress during the past three years, and stated that it was due in no small measure to the facilities provided by the Papatoetoe Town Board. The club competitive membership had risen to 107, while the balance-sheet showed that the club had over £14 cash in hand. Officers elected :—Patron, Mr. W. W. Massey, M.P.; vice-patron. Mr. J. Franklin; president, Mr. R. MacLeod; vice-presi-dents. Messrs. W. J. Nicholson, W. A. Nesbit, \V. .T. Docherty. A. A. Civil, G. J. Kelly. J. C. Burrows, Dr. J. .T. Valentine and Dr. Gilbert; secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. C. Webster ; delegates to Auckland Centre, cvclists, Messrs. Ij. A. White, H. C Webster and R. McLeod; athletics, .T Gow McLeod. Webster: assistant secretary, Mr. J. Gow; handicappers, athletics, Mr. O. Benny; cyclists, Mr. H. A. Sanderson : Press steward, Mr. C. Francis; committee, Messrs. B. Hounslow. H. A. Sanderson. A. Gulland, A. .T. Collings, N. Goddart. O. Bennv. T. McGowan, Ij. A. White, TO. Moffitt, -S. Pinfold. G. Gordon, J. Gow, J. Valder and D. N. Rae.