ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 271, 14 November 1936, Page 21

ATHLETICS.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS' CONTROL

GROWTH OF SPORTS ENTRIES STEADY ANNUAL INCREASE. Tho report of Messrs. A. Bullians (president) and H. C. Mabbett (organising secretary) to be presented at the annual meeting of the Auckland Primary Schools' Amateur Athletic Association on November IS states that the executive considers that the annual sports meeting was a success—the events were well up to standard performance and were run off to time. \arious suggestions made at last annual meeting were adopted <iud proved most useful. Any further suggestions made will be carefully considered by the incoming executive. The number of schools affiliated is 54 (net loss of two, three new affiliations), while the actual sports entries for the last four years were :— 1933. 103-4. 1935. 1036. Boys 3070 liOl'o 12007 3272 Girls 3495 3221 337:2 303-1 Total G574 SS4G 01279 7:200 Teams entered— Oirls 203 238 214 231 Boys 117 115 113 US Total . . . 320 353 327 340 Folk dancing . 33 32 33 27 (1150) The fact that there was no large body of rationed men teachers or experienced trainees available made the problems of ground supervision and grandstand control rather difficult, but these are depression features and are not likely to recur. More help might be gained in ground control by more active participation of teachers, whoso presence on the actual track area Is otherwise hardly justified. FOLK DANCING DISPLAY. This was again a most enjoyable feature of the programme, its spectacular effect being much appreciated, whilst its noncompetitive nature added to its spontaneity. Miss I. D. Earle, convener of the folk dancing committee, and her lady helpers made admirable arrangements, the handling of 11200 girls being carried out most efficiently. Owing to unforeseen circumstances it was impossible to introduce new dances, but the chance to repeat wellknown dances every few years has certain obvious advantages in its favour. A stand was made this year in that late entries were not considered. This led to the exclusion of three or four schools, but your executive felt it was wise to take the stand it did.

The dances for 1037 have beer( already notified to schools in accordance with the recommendation of last year—The Black Nag, If All the World Were Paper, Bellinger's Round.

Mr. L. J. Colgan, programme secretary. | carried out an extensive rearrangement of times and order of events, this proving a help in running events off to time, allowing longer rests and preventing cutting out of competitors. The net cost, owing to Mr. Colgan's canvass for advertisements, was lower than it has ever been. The executive acknowledges its gratitude to those teachers who assisted in the compilation of the programme. After another year's experience of the "three secretaries" system this has been found to work smoothly, though it is considerably more expensive than single control. Liaison between track and records tent permitted in some events collection of points and distribution of finals' cards actually on the track relieved the boys' record tent of the strain usually f<*lt when events are run off simultaneously. CHAMPIONSHIPS. Girls' Shield.—Otaliuliu Primary 120 points, Cornwall Park S5. Owairaka 60, Remuera 54, New Lynn 52. Boys' Junior.—Owairaka _72 points, Remuera 50, Cornwall Park 53i, Meadowbank 3S, Onehunga 371. Bovs' Aggregate.—Owairaka 110 points. Remuera 1112. Cornwall Park 10SJ, Kowliai I.S. 78, Papatoetoe SG. Seven records were lowered and six equalled—a high percentage. POLICY OF ASSOCIATION. Opportunity is taken of reasserting that the association is conducted not for the winning of shields nor as a rather complicated organisation, Uic successful functioning of which is its own reward, | but for the greatest good of all participants In building up character and health in enjoyable sport. To that end the nsso--ciatlon'n -policy is definitely, that of the "open door," no restriction whatever being placed oh- numbers of entrants from individual schools in respective age classes. Moreover, to encourage team entries lower entry fees plus extra championship points in these events were introduced last year. This led to an increase of 23 in team entries: a general increase of entries totalling 027 ; 7206 this year being the peak entry to date. 1 The same encouragement of entries led to 250 entrants in the four jumping events, necessitating a preliminary competition in the groups, championship points being awarded those who qualified to go forward to the Domain. Again, whilst 20 sliver medals were awarded to Individual winners, your executive awarded handsome certificates not only to seconds but also to thirds in finals ill order to spread eiic.iura g<■n) en t oVer a , wider field, and considers the extra cost involved to be well worth while. The schools of team winners were awarded inscribed enlarged photographs of teams.