“Track Materials Vitally Important”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31190, 14 October 1966, Page 16

“Track Materials Vitally Important”

The Canterbury Athletic Centre isj‘concerned and disappointed” that the Christchurch City Council did not accept a tender for the laying of an all-weather track at Queen Elizabeth II Park.

The centre’s executive last evening approved the action of the track sub-committee in writing to the council expressing its views and requesting a meeting between representatives of the centre and the council. The chairman of the subcommittee (Mr W. A. Kennedy) said that the committee was alarmed at the council’s statement that it was necessary to reduce costs by further consideration of materials. He said the materials used were vitally important and that the track must conform to certain specifications.

Involve heavy maintenance costs and which the council has already rejected because of this.” , .. The letter said the Grass:,-v tracks were approved mt,nationally and that their < ( ties were well known. T, tempt to lay a track of , v inferior standard seriously jeopardise Chris-., church’s chances of holdinc tin--1974 Empire Games, Mr M ’ , tr wrote. He requested a mootin'; of centre and council represent.,, tives "at an early date to enable the centre representatives to state their views in more detail.” Later in the meeting MrKennedy said the centre would be leasing Queen Elizabeth Park for at least six months ~f the year. ”1 do not agree that we should get off it for marchIng or bands,” he said. The chairman <Mr R, Elder) said he had Informed members of the Rugby union that the centre would continue to use Rugby Park when Queen Eliza, beth Park was completed Members said that it would be needed for children’s nd school meetings. Queen Eli.beth Park would probable i„. needed for marching and bands Mr J. C. Harbut said It w.,., likely that there would he proviso in the lease to allow other sports occasional use the park. Trip Approved.—The Univers, ity club was granted permission to travel to Greymouth for its annual inter-club meeting on November 12. Increased Feel —The foe for runners competing solely in road events was raised from 10s to £l, except for members of the Road-runners’ Association, whose fees were raised from 10s to 15s.

The letter to the council from Mr J. B. Millar said: "The centre considers there is no satisfactory alternative to the construction of a Grasstex track. It seems that the only alternatives are:

“(a) Some other Imported material which would be no less expensive.

“(b) Local materials, which would have to be laid with no guarantee of success, and are now not available. "(c) An ‘en-tout-cas - or ■cinder’ type track which would

Coaching Pool Suggested

The formation of a pool of athletic coaches from Christchurch secondary schools, under the direction of Mr V Briedis, to aim at raising the standard of men’s field events was advocated by Mr T. I. Crossen at last evening's meeting of the Canterbury Athletic Centre.

The centre decided to discuss the matter again at a later meeting. Mr Crossen said there were many former Canterbury representatives teaching at secondary schools. If the centre put forward the plan, it would have more stability, he said. “Other attempts waned for lack of an organiser.” The coaching school at Christchurch Boys’ High School was not fully successful because of the large number of young athletes (about 200); because it was not followed up; and because too many coaches were from out side the province, said Mr R IH. Kerr. ' Mr Briedis coached athletes on four mid-week nights and Saturday and Sunday each week, said Mr M. Flynn He suggested that school teachers and their proteges attend the training sessions. Mr Kerr said that there was a move towards introducing a regular inter-schools competition on Wednesday afternoons.

Mr D, Chadderton, 1 a member of the coaching sub-com-mittee, sugge stdee ht op mittee, suggested the possibility of different bases around Christchurch, each dealing with a particular event.