Athletics REPORT BY CENTRE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28985, 28 August 1959, Page 6

Athletics REPORT BY CENTRE

23 Records In Season

A most successful season for athletics in Canterbury in 1958-59 is reported by the president and chairman of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (Mr K. S. Jameson) in his annual report, which is to be presented to the annual meeting of delegates on September 9. From many viewpoints, including those of the standard of competition, the number of new provincial records established (23) and the interest shown by spectators, the season can be counted very successful, says Mr Jameson. The highlight of the season was the visit of two Australians, B. Waters and G. Fleming, in January. Innovations worthy of mention, says Mr Jameson, include the holding of a very successful floodlit meeting at English Park by three local clubs, and several social events organised by the committee. Mr Jameson points out that next season the national junior and women’s championships will be held in Christchurch, and that the organisation of this meeting, and the securing of billets for the visiting athletes, will be a major task for the committee. Competition Winners The winners of the points com-1 petition for inter-club matches were: senior men, University; junior men, Christ’s College; under 17, St. Bede’s College; under 15, Rangiora; women, Technical; under 16 girls, Toe H; under 14 girls. Toe H. University and Technical won the men’s and women’s sections respectively at the Canterbury open championships. The report says that the investigations into the possibility of installing flood-lighting equipment at Rugby Park are progressing. The proposals have received the approval of the Canterbury Rugby Union, and are helping clarification of proposals for flood-lighting at English Park, and the building of a new stadium in the Styx area. The installation of this floodlighting at Rugby Park is the subject of a remit from the University club, which will be discussed at the annual meeting next month. This remit deplores the failure of the centre executive to implement the proposals already put forward. Other remits of interest include those seeking increased support for the South Canterbury subcentre, the setting of standards for provincial representation, that school children be catered for in Saturday morning programmes and that a new competition grade for women between the ages of 16 and 18, be introduced.

BETWEEN SEASON RACES

Plan By Runners’ Association

In an effort to retain the interest of harriers, many of whom give up athletic competition during the summer months, the Canterbury Road Runners’ Association has arranged a number of races to fill the gap between the two seasons. lln addition to this a comprehensive programme of events will be recommended to the Canterbury Centre of the New Zeland Amateur Athletic Association for the track season. This was agreed to at the annual meeting of the road runners' association. The Canterbury Centre will be asked also to take up with the New Zealand association the question of altering the starting time of the New Zealand marathon championship from 8.30 a.m. to a more convenient time of the day. One reason for this is the difficulty visiting runners staying at hotels have in arranging an early and suitable breakfast. Failing an alteration in the time of the race to later in the dby, the association will ask that the host centres should make arrangements for breakfast to be provided at a suitable time before the race. The programme of events tentaively arranged for the coining season is:— September 29, three mile; Octobei 10, six mile; October 17, 15 miles; November 7. 18 mile; November 21, 20 mile; December 2. six miles; December 5. 15 mile; December 22, 20 mile to Rangiora; January 1, Temuka-Timaru 12 mile; January 10, Chertsey-Ashbur-ton, 12 mile. The date for the Canterbury marathon title has yet to be fixed while other events such as a one hour race, may be recommended. A series of standards was approved and competitors achieving these will be awarded certificates. Tlie standards are:— Six miles: A grade, 32min 30sec: B grade, 35min. Ten miles: 56min 62min. Fifteen miles: llir 28min, Ihr 40min. Twenty miles: 2hr 2min, 2hr 20min. Marathon: 2hr 45min, 3hr 12min. Officers elected were:— President, Mr W. L. Hobbs: secretary, Mr S. L. Jelley; committee, Messrs C. F. Reece. A. W. Richards C. G. Gordon; course surveyors, Messrs R. F. Steven* and J. D. Macdonald.