Sportsman’s Notebook Step Towards N.Z. Title For Women Harriers

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30130, 14 May 1963, Page 6

Sportsman’s Notebook Step Towards N.Z. Title For Women Harriers

Auckland has taken the initiative in providing another step towards the introduction of a national title race for women harriers, Canterbury and Auckland have been strong supporters of such a race and an interprovincial race for women has been a regular event between the two centres for many years. This year the national championships will be held at Auckland on August 3, when the organisers propose to hold a race open to women runners from throughout New Zealand. The race will in effect become an unofficial New Zealand championship and may well set a pattern to be followed by other centres. If this happens it should not be more than a season or so before the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association gives such an event official status. Girl distance runners have already gained a degree of official recognition on the track where national championship events up to a half-mile are provided. A pioneer in providing distance races for women, Canterbury has held provincial championship events for women since 1957. Although “championship” races were held before that, the events did not have official status as the clubs were not then affiliated with the Canterbury centre. The Auckland proposal has complications, however, as it is the northern province’s turn to send a women’s team to Canterbury for the annual match, which is supposed to be held in each of the centres in alternate years. With arrangements for the “national championship” in mind Auckland may wish to forgo the visit to Christchurch this season, but no word has been received by the Canterbury Cross-Country Running Management Committee on the Auckland attitude. As a professed supporter of the introduction of a national race, however, the Canterbury committee should be prepared to accept a change of roster if needed to enhance the prospects of a New Zealand title event. * ¥ * Five Unbeaten With only two rounds completed in the senior table tennis competition the leading players have already sorted themselves out at the top of the points table with the exception of V. N. Brightwell and A. Jermes (Selwyn I), who have yet to improve their positions. Five players have an unbeaten record. They ire N. B. Radford. M. A. Cox, and K. F. Stevenson (Wallabies Red), J. Armstrong (Eagles) and D. D. M. Stewart (University), T. R. D. Flint (Selwyn II) has 5 wins, while K. J. Cassidy, R. G. Hart and J. Lelliott (Wallabies Green), D. J. Kalin (University) . and D. J. Fisher (Eagles) have 4 wins. Those with there wins are V. N. Brightwell (Selwyn I) and Mrs M. J. Shadbolt (Eagles). ♦ * ¥ Squash Rankings After inter-club and challenge matches there have been, several changes in positions on the Canterbury squash rackets ranking list since the season began. In the first inter-club round H. S. Gair, who has been highly ranked in previous seasons, regained the twelfth position

by beating G. C. P. Beadel, and D. J. Triggs advanced from No.. 4 to third place with his win over P. L. Mackenzie. J. H. N. Pine has beaten his Collegiate teammate, B. J. Shirlaw, to advance to No. 10. In the second round of inter-club, R. G. Pattinson deposed P. M. Hill from fourth place with his five-game win. Present positions are: G. A. Davidson, M. J. Simons, D. J. Triggs, P. L. Mackenzie, R. G. Pattinson, P. M. Hill, M. R. Blank, N. W. McGillivray, L. G: Milne, J. H. N. Pine, B. J. Shirlaw and H. S. Gair. ¥ ¥ ¥ Coach Sought The coaching committee of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association’s Council is continuing its inquiries into the possibility of a visit to this country by Dr. J. Counsilman, of Indiana University, one of the world’s leading swimming coaches Hi has been advised that the association would accept his terms and the committee has sought further details of his lectures, demonstrations and films. It is thought that Dr. Counsilman might be in New Zealand from about August 15 to September 12. ¥ ¥ ¥ Old Rivals Meet The finalists in the 1949 Canterbury billiards championship (W. (Pod) Smith, of R.S.A., and G. Cormack, of Richmond W.M.C., recently renewed their rivalry when, as emergencies, they filled vacancies in their teams for an inter-club match. Smith, winner of 13 Canterbury championships, beat Cormack in the 1949 title final and again triumphed in their recent encounter.