ATHLETICS £23 Loss Better Than Last Year

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 18

ATHLETICS £23 Loss Better Than Last Year

Although the statement of accounts to be presented to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association on Friday shows a deficit of nearly £23, the financial position is much improved on the previous year when the loss was £4Ol.

In spite of the fairly big draw from the overseas fund to finance the athletic team to the Perth Empire Games, the balance in the fund has been increased by nearly £l4OO, mainly through the allocation of part of the profit from the Rothman’s tour.

Had it not been for the revenue gained for general administration purposes from the Rothman’s tour the position would have been very similar to that experienced in the previous year, says the report. Harrier Course

Proposals to lengthen the distance of the national senior harrier championship from 61 miles to 7J miles are favoured by Canterbury. The topic is one of many remits that will be discussed at the meeting. The Canterbury CrossCountry Running Management Committee favours the longer senior distance to conform with many overseas championships. The introduction of an intermediate or youths’ grade to help bridge the gap between the junior 31 mile event and the proposed longer race for seniors has also been suggested. A distance of about 5J miles is favoured for intermediates, aged 19 and 20. The committee has not yet decided on a course for the national harrier championships which will be held in Canterbury next year. Four localities have been considered and of the two most favoured, Loburn was thought to be too tough and Brighton not severe enough. An inspection will now be made of a fifth locality in the Woodend beach area.

Three Canterbury athletes set national records during

the year. Of the eight women’s records. Miss M. A. M. Chamberlain established seven at 400 metres, 440 yards, 800 metres and 880 yards. Now of Wellington, M. J. Speden set a new javelin distance of 235 ft Ujin and a decathlon record of 8588 points. The other record was by W. J. Nicholl with a distance of 179 ft IJin for the junior hammer. Although over-all registrations of athletes dropped by 241, Canterbury made a gain of nearly 100, according to the report, and was second numerically only to Wellington. Canterbury showed also the biggest gain in new clubs, six being affiliated.