MR SWEENEY'S DEPARTURE A BLOW FOR WEST COAST SPORT

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32406, 19 September 1970, Page 9

MR SWEENEY'S DEPARTURE A BLOW FOR WEST COAST SPORT

r THROUGH the transfer of 1 Mr T. A. Sweeney from Greymouth to Hastings the town and the West Coast in general has lost one of its most versatile athletes and administrators. Although his

main activities have been confined to athletics and harrier racing, he has also found time to take part in a number of other sports. Mr Sweeney has been associated with the Greymouth Amateur Athletic Club for 21 years during which time he has held the offices of president, senior vice • president, secretary, and club captain, the latter for seven consecutive seasons. In 1952 he formed a children’s club and in 1961 a road runners’ branch. With this came the introduction of the Great Westland marathon. This became a major sporting event and during the last nine years has assisted D. C. McKenzie to reach the top. In 1939 Mr Sweeney gained his N.Z.A.A.A. coach's diploma after five years’ attendance and participation at the national coaches’ school in Wellington. In this sphere, Mr Sweeney has given outstanding service to both the West Coast and Canterbury. In recognition of these services he was presented by the Canterbury centre with an executive blazer award in 1962. In recognition of his 21 years of service to the Greymouth club, he was made a life member at the conclusion of the 1969-70 season. Mr Sweeney founded the Greymouth Harrier Club in 1952 and in the intervening years he has held the offices of president, vice-president, secretary and secretarytreasurer. He has done magnificent work as a competitor, administrator and coach.

Always taking a great interest in the younger members, Mr Sweeney takes pride in the fact that he helped to bring to the forefront McKenzie, a marathon runner of world class, and E. M. Gray, a New Zealand harrier representative. With these two fine runners as a basis Mr Sweeney built the Greymouth Harrier Club into one of the strongest in New Zealand. Starting with a membership of five in 1952, the club now has 125 runners.

Mr Sweeney is recognised as one of the Dominion’s leading coaches. His great work on the West Coast has spread, as branches now exist at Westport, Reef ton and Hokitika.

Another sport which has progressed under Mr Sweeney’s influence is basketball. He has been on the West Coast executive for 19 years, was secretary in 1951, 1953 and 1954 and treasurer for seven consecutive seasons. He is a leading referee and is at present sitting for his national ticket He has been the local club tournament controller for seven years. Mr Sweeney has attended a national coaching seminar at Tokoroa and has coached senior men’s and women’s West Coast representative teams on several occasions.

He has also coached the junior women’s team since its inception in 1955. Mr Sweeney has been a representative player himself since the 1950’s and early 1960’5. West Coast netball teams have also had the advantage of his advice.

In addition to all this, Mr Sweeney’s record in other sports speaks for itself. He played hockey for two seasons for the Greymouth club, played Rugby for the Celtic (now Marist) club as a utility back in, the early 1950’s and represented the West Coast in the junior and senior reserve grades, has been a member of the Greymouth Golf Club for 10 years and played for two seasons for the Karoro Tennis Club.

Mr Sweeney has left Greymouth to take up a position with the drapery firm of Mr Neil McAra who will be remembered as a West Coast and South Island Rugby first fiveeighths.