Inter-School Sports

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28870, 15 April 1959, Page 9

Inter-School Sports

Sir. —In deplore the abolition of the points system. Here, indeed, is a retrogressive step, designed only to reduce what has grown to be one of the leading intercollege contests to the banality of the ordinary Saturday athletic meeting. All the rivalry and excitement which have become part of this contest will be banished. The other effect of this move is to kill all public interest in the event. If only individual results matter, then the Saturday meetings at Rugby Park eclipse anything that is achieved at the inter-school sports. I doubt whether the performances will reach such a high pitch this year as in days past. In my estimation tradition has been dealt a cruel blow by unthinking authorities and if the present system is persevered with, failure is imminent. —Yours, etc., T. April 14, 1959.

Sir, —If your articles have done nothing but draw a hesitant admission from the headmasters that the decision to abandon the points system of the schools’ athletic sports was theirs, then they have been most successful. Would the headmasters say why they chose to make athletics a social occasion ahead of Rugby and cricket? Perhaps there lies the explanation for the weakness of athletics in Canterbury. If the schools will not support it, then who will? Would the headmasters dare abolish points from Rugby or cricket?—Yours, etc., POINTLESS. April 14, 1959.

Sir, —Whom does Mr Dugdale think he is fooling when he says that the inter-school sports are a domestic affair and the public are invited as guests? What utter nonsense! Why not have this matter discussed by the schools’ respective parent-teacher organisations, and get their reaction, and the pupils’ as well? As for Mr Dugdale’s contention that the schools are not compelled to have a combined meeting, of course they are not; but neither do they have to play inter-school Rugby matches. Let them abolish the annual Christ’s College v. Boys’ High School match, and Mr Dugdale, if he is a football enthusiast, would be the first to write another carefully worded letter to the press.—Yours, etc., COMMON SENSE. April 14, 1959.