ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17862, 7 September 1923, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

♦ ; ASHBURTON CLUB. ! ILe annual meeting of the Ashburton j Ami tear Cycling and Athletio Club was j held last night in tho A. and P. Asoocia- j tion's rooms. Mr Fred. Seldon presided ! ovor a good attendance of members. The annual report said the past season i from ail points of view w«a a moßt suo- ! cessful one. Regarding tho Anniversary Day I meeting, this was the only l«rge undertak- j j ing entered into by the club during the , } ear. At this meeting no fewer than seven ( Canterbury championships -wars held, and from an athletic standpoint it was most successful, but, owing to ileth- I vtn holding a gala on thai day, tho attendance w.'i3 not ail that cotud be desired, and consequently the undertaking was cot a success financially, the balimoe-fcheet showing a debit balance ot £l7 3a sd, which has been debited to the club. This year tho club decided to run ©velars; meetings, on a dLaerer.; principle from the puat, with a v;c.v to promoting more keenness amongst competitors. Instead of providing email prizes' lor each event it w»3 decided to aj> rungo to hold a complete athletic piogramme, of which four events would be held at each evening meeting. Judging by the keenness shown by the competitors, the club was cor- 1 tiumy justified in its alteration. Tho posi- 1 tion of the cycling members is still far trom i satisfactory. With a visw to securing more l support from these members a Bpecial gene- j raj meeting was called, and the whole posi- < tion placed before them. After a great deal of discussion it was decided they should Appoint a committed from among their own ' ' number and endeavour to instill a better ] spirit of membership. This committee was £ to appoint a representative to the executive I oommittee of the club. Immediately after < the commencement under thia new arrange- ■( ment the cyclists did realiy well, but towards the end of the season they fell back I into their old ways. It w.ia most pleasing I , to note tho keenntsa shewn by several of the younger members, and the great im- 1 provement that mamlcated itoeli in their 1 performances during the season. Tho first 1 three in the aggregates were M. Farrell 10 i points, W. S. McCiymont 9 points, and G. xi. Mcoll S points. The Bpecial prize for ; tho most enthusiaatio runner was awarded j to J. B. Meeking with 7i points.' Begarding points aggregate of cyclists, the points 1 prizes wore awarded as foliov.-s:—J. Arnst ' liist, I?. (Biggart second, G. Olds third. The 1 committee wishes sincerely to thank all J officials who gave their 6crvices during the < Beacon. In thia connexion the oommittee , particularly wishes to thank Mr D. Wood (starter) and Mr J. G. Sounoss (handicap- ' per), Jlr W. H. Woods (auditor), and Mr •' K. Vincent (handicapper foi< cycling events). 1 The membership of 75 shows a decidod in- ' crease on that of the 1921-22- season, which 1 amounted to 52.- Owing to the large loss ] incurred on the Anniversary 13ay meeting ( tho financial position had fallen back. Tho ( committee, however, pointed out that they had created the nucleus of equipment, and expended £7 6s 3d in purchasing both a high : jump and pole vault. It was hoped to - gradually add to these until a full range of equipment was acquired. A further cxpanso was ground rent £3 3s, which had • never been charged before. Taken on the whole, it was considered the balance-sheet showed s, very satisfactory position. At the 1 present time the club had two thai- 1 lenge cups—tho Polo Cup for athletio®, and • the Cycling Cup for cyclists. The past season was started withj a bank balance of j i' 39 17s, and subscriptions and donations brought this up to JE7i> 7b. The expenditure . for the year was £6B 17a 3d, tho chief items being the loss of £l7 3g 5d on the Anniver- ' 6aiy Day meeting, and £26 6s 6d spent on ' trophies. The balanco at the bank at tho end of tho season wa3 £lO 9s 3d. Tho ; assets amounted to £37 16s. Outstanding subscriptions amounted to £8 2a 6d. There ■ were no liabilities. The chairman said the secretary was to be congi-aiulated on the report and balancesheet. Compared with other clubs, tho Ash- : burton Club was in e really good position. 1 With regard outstanding subscriptions, the majority were cyclists, who had shown a i good deal of laxity in connexion with tho ] club. Tho chief business oi the new commit- • Joe would be to take a stand with regard to the cyclisU. Ho would adviso the committee to look into the question of giving prizes to i the winners of tie different evehta is the points aggregate.. ( The leport and balance-sheet were adopted. Officials for the forthcoming season were elected as follows:—Patron. Mr J. C. N. Giigg; president, Mr H. F. Nicoll; twenty vice-presidents were elected; hon. secretary, I Mr VV. B. Thomas; hon. treasure!, Mr J. Meeking:; club captain. Mr H. L. Trcoidder; vice-captain. Mr \V. S. McCiymont; hon. auditor. Mr W. H. Woods; committee, Messrs E. Easterbrook, W. J. Batstcfcie, G. H. Nicoll, "W. K. Foatherstone, A. McCiymont, N. Kobilii&rd, M. Fanoll; starter. Mr D. Wood; delegate to Sports Association, Mr A. L. Tresiddtr; delegate to Canterbury Centre, Mr W. Anderson. The cliairman referred to Mr Sotmees, who , had left tho district, and moved that a letter of appreciation be sent to him. ( Tho motion was carried unanimously. The chairman brought up the matter of the running of amateur tfrenta at tho gala day meeting. The club had been aoked to , support -the meeting financially. ' Mr Tresidder also spoie _ I There was a, great deal of discussion on the question of prizes, the. consensus of. opinion j being that members £>hould hand back their trophies, and, if any outside runner won prizes the club should stand ths los£. The secretary said tho button suggested by < Mr Tresidder would be quite a good idea j instead of awarding t'.ophiea. t Active mtmbois eaid they would be quite prepared to forego their prist money, seeing . that it would bo going to the Advance Asn- _ burton cause. It w©a thought that thd cluo < would benefit in tho long run by its sacrifice. 1 On tho motion of Mr Tresidder, it was ' decided that a letter be sent to the Gala Com- j mitteo thanking them for the allotment of piiize-ruoney, and saying that, the club would hand bacK any prizt-raonej won The secretary brougUt u>p the matter or the ( laxity o£ tho cvclista. There was not one * present that night, and tho riders had been J like a stone lound the neck of tho club. He \ did not think tiie club should stand for men who had cJoaiied up all the amateur prizes j and then turned professional. > Mil Easterbrook supported Mr Thomas a re-mai-KS. , ; . ; Mr 'Xrecidder Bngsrcsted toiAt tho cluo * should test the cyc.lst3 b7 offering them a l silver button and finding out who were the c real entnuftiast3 oi the oycling branch. t * The chairman said he thought the cyclist* should be temporarily dropped. Cash cycling , had a hold on some men, but it was quit© i possible it would blow out, and then amateur cycling would ccmo into • its own. < It was decided that the chib would not snp- ; port the cyclists in the meantime, but would j be quito i.-ropared to help them when they ] became aeU-supportiTig^ It wab decided tj write to tho Canterbury Centra taking- for the championship, and also to apply for permits to hold meetings on October 22nd and December 16th. Eight new members were elected.