DAMAGE TO TRACK

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 14

DAMAGE TO TRACK

Lanes To Be Turfed Three of the seven lanes on the 440-yard running track at Rugby Park had been put out of action by contractors remov Ing trees at the Malvern Park end of the ground, Mr C. C Gordon told last evening's meeting of the Canterbury Ath letlc Centre. Members viewed the matter with some concern and decided to devote a special working bee, to be held on Saturday to returfing the damaged section of the track. Mr Gordon said that grass had been sown, but would not have grown In time for the first meeting. He also expressed concern at the fact that the steeplechase course in the vicinity of the water jump had also been bulldozed and resown. Mr E. Lunn explained that the Canterbury Rugby Union had had all the trees, with the exception of a line by the fence, removed from the Malvern Park end of the ground. In doing so. the contractors had had to bulldoze the area, with the result that lanes five, six and seven were affected. If the association wanted athletes to use those lanes they would have to be turfed, Mr Lunn said. At present, only four lanes could be used. It would be possible to run on the lanes Immediately If the damaged parts were turfed properly. Mr Gordon said. The meeting agreed that H was impossible to returf thd whole area affected on the steeplechase course, but decided to turf the damaged sec tion of the running track. a decision on whether th< £ steeplechase event will be put back until later in the season will be made at a later dale Opening day has been set down for October 17.