Southbridge Sports Has Long, Rich History

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29952, 13 October 1962, Page 9

Southbridge Sports Has Long, Rich History

PERHAPS the finest trib--1 ute that can be paid to the Southbridge Athletic Sports Club on the occasion of its 50th jubilee this month is that it has kept its annual Labour Day sports a flourishing concern while bigger and more centrally-situated meetings have withered and died. For Southbridge (population 477) this is no small feat and it is revealing that the meeting these days is as well supported and the fields as large as they ever were.

Fittingly, the club has as its president in jubilee year Mr J. Lawrence, a man with a strong connexion with the club's initial fixture in 1912. He is the only surviving foundation member of the Southbridge Cycling Club, formed in 1908. which was to be the forerunner of the sports club, and he ran in the member's race on sports day. 1912. Now just on 72 years old, Mr Lawrence possesses a host of vivid memories of the many fine sportsmen who have competed at Southbridge during half a century. He recalls the first Southbridge sports clearly. A big nor’-wester was blowing and in one of the cycling events all but three of the field of about 10 shot off the track at an alarming rate at the bottom of the straight. The track, which has always been at the 7-acre Southbridge recreation ground, was not banked at the ends until 1923, clay being brought from Leeston by a traction engine driven by the father of the club's present secretary. Mr L. Maw

The 1912 cyclists were not the only competitors to find the fiat nature of the track trying. No less a celebrity than Phil O’Shea suffered a similar fate during a 1921 race.

O’Shea who was one of the great men of New Zealand cycling—he won championships from 400yds to 165 miles and rode on surfaces which would be considered equivalent to a fakir's bed by the competitors of today—appeared at Southbridge in 1920, won the wheelrace, the main event, and very nearly scooped the pool. He had little luck the following year and was not seen again at the meeting until well into the 1930’5, when he again won the wheelrace.

Before 1920 the sports were confined to competitors from Ellesmere County but in that year were made open. Apart from the war years and one accasion in the 1930 s when a spell of bad weather washed out the fixture the meeting has been an annual event. Some of the competitors who have been seen in action at Southbridge have been household names in Canterbury sport. Cyclists have included J. Henderson. who won three out of four races at the sports in two successive years, J. H. I. Anson. H. Crofts, R. Weir, J. Williams, A. Howison. A. Thomson. H. J. Smithers, K. Brown and D. Swanston. Williams and Howison have been among the most loyal supporters of the club. Prominent athletes have included S. Stevens, N. Ward, W. B. Gracie and M. Courteney. Two of those best remembered by the

old identities are D. McLennan, a New Zealand professional sprint champion in the 1920’5, who died only last year, and W. D. Inwood, a Southbridge boy who won the national 440 yds title in 1934.

The club’s first officers were Mr C. Piper, president. Mr J. W. A. Walker, secretary, and Mr W. Scott, treasurer. The initial meetings were held on a ground on which the only embellishments were a tent for the secretary, another providing changing facilities for competitors, and a set of posts and a strand of wire to keep the public off the track. Later a secretary’s room and a dressing shed were built and a grand stand was constructed in 1924.

As well as cycling and athletics. Highland dancing has been a feature of the Southbridge sports and the Ellesmere Pipe Band has been generous in its support With such attractions the public following has been large; a special train ran from Christchurch from 1921 but this was discontinued last year. The club has been fortunate over the years with the high calibre of the men who have served its interests. At the same time it is quick to recognise the valued assistance it has received from officials of the North Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Athletic, Cycling and Axeman’s Association. A club member. Mr R. W. Lilley, is the present president of the centre.

Happily, a small band of stalwarts who competed in 1 “• ® rst Southbridge sports will be present at the jubilee meeting. They are Messrs P. J. Dugan, J. Ritchie, R. B. Young—the first man to win a race on J rack —Dawson and G. Croate, all cyclists, and 78-year-old Mr J. Gollins. who won the 1912 mile. As far as is known, he is the athlete who took part “the initial meeting. For them, a host of memories will come crowding back this Labour Day.