Ten National Titles Won By Canterbury Athletes

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30076, 9 March 1963, Page 9

Ten National Titles Won By Canterbury Athletes

YVITHOUT sever, athletes, *’ who gained nine titles last season, Auckland still had sufficient strength this year to retain the New Zealand championship shield for most points in senior men’s events at the national title meeting at Dunedin. This was Auckland’s fourteenth successive shield win, but the margin was nowhere near as decisive as in recent years, when the holders several times scored more points than the other eight provinces combined. This year Canterbury made a bold bid to finish within eight points of Auckland, which should further improve its position when the remaining event, the marathon is decided at Hawera today. The general result showed that, apart from some wellknown performers, the athletics strength is fairly well spread, with Canterbury and Wellington having a good share. Auckland’s tally of titles dropped from 15 out of a total of 23 last year to six this time—one ahead of Canterbury. The results indicate also a good depth of strength in Wellington and Canterbury as well as Auckland. The two former centres each gained 14 pointsearning places, compared with 19 by Auckland. The standard of competition bore this out as well for in several events—both heats and finals—there were finishes close enough for the judges to request a photo for track events while little separated some of the top field events men. If favoured by some of its more prominent representatives next year, Auckland is likely to be a more difficult proposition. There are signs, however, of younger prospects developing in other centres who may make continued dominance by more mature Auckland athletes an increasingly difficult task.

In spite of this years improved showing, Canterbury cannot afford to be complacent about its prospects for next year, when it could be without its new

title winners and some minor place-getters. The winner of the javelin, M. J. Speden is already in Wellington, while the stay of A. G. Pyne, winner of the three-mile, is uncertain. From Blenheim, Pyne is attending the Teachers’ College in Christchurch and it is possible he may be in the Wellington district next year.

The future availability of R. D. Tait, winner of the shot and discus titles, will depend on his commitments with the Army. Another likely to be lost to the province early next season is R. Syme, second in the triple jump. Completing a doctorate of philosophy this year, Syme may seek further experience overseas.

Canterbury’s women athletes scored their fourth successive win in the Lumley Sisters’ memorial shield points competition. This was the province’s fifth win, the first being in 1957, when it shared the shield with Waikato. Since the shield was first presented for competition in the 1946-47 season, only four provinces have held it. Auckland won it in the first year, but this was followed by Otago’s outstanding run of six consecutive wins. Auckland has had four wins and Waikato three.

Largely by virture of its Empire Games representatives. Canterbury retained the shield this year. Among them the games representatives won five titles—Mrs V. I. Young, two. Miss M. A. M. Chamberlin, two, and Miss L. Curtis, one. This was three more than any of the other provinces. The title wins of the three Games representatives took the Canterbury points tally beyond the reach of other provinces, but additional points were scored for Canterbury by Miss J. Ryan, second in the javelin. Miss F. Wales, third in the long jump, and a third by tha relay team, whose members ran well between some fairly static baton changing. The members of the relay team were Misses K. A. Croswell. U HurreU. M. A. M. Chamberlain and R. Allbrett. Some of the Canterbury women did not quite come up to the capabilities shown on their home track, but the weather may have had an unsettling effect on them.

Continued competition by the Games representatives would contribute greatly to the province’s prospects of being able to rival the Otago record of shield wins. There are several other promising girls, however who should be capable of making a worthwhile contribution to the success of future provincial teams.