SCHOOLS' HOCKEY
pOR the last 20 years, the first week of the August school holidays has been the period when secondary schools' hockey elevens throughout the country have travelled far and wide to take part In tournament play. This year 81 school teams will take part In ninedifferent tournaments: at North Shore, Aucklanl; Tokoroa; Stratford; Taumarunui; Hawera; Mastjrton; Hutt Valley; Oamaru and Dunedin. Tournament allocations are made by the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Hockey Association in Auckland following applications from all schools interested in which the centre they prefer is indicated. The strongest tournaments are allocated the India Shield, Rankin Cup and Johnson Cup as trophies, the first two being considered the premier awards. Since 1957 when the first of the new post-war schools entered these tournaments the dominance of South Island school teams has been the outstanding feature of these competitions. Of the 19 major tournaments which have been held since that time no fewer than 15 have been won by South Island teams. The reason for this is that a handful of schools in Dunedin, Christchurch and Nelson have endeavoured to promote the shortpassing game which is based on skill rather than physical strength, and these tactics have paid off handsomely. At present the leading exponents of the short-passing
style include King’s High School, Dunedin, Christchurch Boys’ High School and Linwood High School from Christchurch, and Nelson College. There is little doubt that between them, these teams will win at least one of this year’s major tournaments, which are being held at Stratford and Dunedin. ( Christchurch Boys’ High * School has an outstanding record of tournament successes since 1957, having , won no fewer than seven of the 10 for which it has entered. It was second in another tournament. Thus only twice in the last decade has it been unplaced. Christchurch West High School similarly held a dominating position from 1958 to 1961; although in this last year there was little to choose between it and Christchurch Boys’ High School. During the 10-year period four wins and one second went to West’s credit Linwood High School has only been taking part in tournaments for 10 years and can probably be rated as the most consistent of any of the South Island schools, having failed to reach semifinal play on only one occasion during that period. It has four tournament wins to its credit as well as one second placing. Its two strongest years were in 1957 and last year when it could probably be rated as having the most impressive team tn the country. The outstanding successes of these three Christchurch
schools tend to perhaps obscure the fact that several other South Island schools have had tournament wins. Nelson College has four to its credit; King’s High School, Christ’s College and Papanui High School one each. SWIMMING LECTURES Two of the country’s leading professional swimming coaches, Messrs J. Breward and V. T. Parkhouse, have undertaken to conduct a series of lectures to the Canterbury amateur swimming coaches’ group during the next five months. The first two lectures will be devoted to the teaching of beginners; the third and fourth to stroke technique and the last to training and conditioning. The third lecture will be in the form of a discussion between Mr Breward and Mr Parkhouse on advanced stroke technique. The following session will consist of the two coaches demonstrating stroke technique with swimmers giving practical expression to their words. The Centennial and Wharenui pools will be used for the sessions and with two such able coaches as Mr Parkhouse and Mr Breward in charge, the lectures are certain to produce a more informed body of amateur coaches.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31449, 16 August 1967, Page 15
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609SCHOOLS' HOCKEY Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31449, 16 August 1967, Page 15
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