Athletics coach “pipe dream”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 18

Athletics coach “pipe dream”

"The Press’’ Special Service WELLINGTON.

A move to appoint a national director of track and field coaching was described as a “pipe dream” by the treasurer of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (Mr G. W. Jackman) at the association’s annual meeting last evening. “How do we think we can find $40,000 for three years, and $lO,OOO for every year thereafter?” Mr Jackman asked.

“The only thing I can see is that the Government pays it, otherwise it is not on.” Mr J. D. Holley (Otago), said the meeting was wasting its time considering the suggestion. The resolution that the meeting should adopt the principle of a national coaching director and leave it to the management committee to investigate the financial aspects was defeated. Permission was given for open track and field meetings to be held on Sundays but only after the management committee chairman (Mr C. Blazey) had spoken against competitive sport on Sundays. “I have never agreed to Sunday competition, and probably never will, he added. Mr Blazey said that the reason for Sunday sport was

that people believed they could make more money on Sundays, “and I don’t believe that that is a good enough reason.” Proposing that open meetings be permitted on Sundays Mr P. Kear (Wellington) said they would be of most benefit in country areas where (often the athletics ground was shared with cricket. The meeting approved a call for the introduction of an annual inter-regional contest for seniors and women, subject to sponsorship being available.

The regions would comprise northern, central and southern, and the programme would be the national championship events, excluding the marathon and the 20,000 and 50,000 metres road walks.

The regions would comprise.—Northern: Northland, Auckland, Waikato. Central: West Coast (North Island), Hawke’s Bay, Poverty Bay, Wellington. Southern: . Canterbury, Otago, Southland. Young athletes will benefit as a result of another decision. Previously, juniors became seniors when they turned 19 and colts juniors when 17.

But the meeting decided that athletes under 19 and 17 on October 31 shall be

r juniors or colts until the fol; i lowing April. This will give ■ youngsters a full season in I the lower grades. For junior women, the age definition will be the sam< i as the colts. High costs.—Fees will probably have to go up next year, the treasurer (Mr Jackman) said. There had been no increase , seven years, “but we can’t jure money out of thin air.” a Moro tours.—lt was agreed; after a plea by Mr G. Davy (Auckland), that overseas toure be arranged for New Zealand teams in the future, providing the athletes themselves substantially shouldered the costs under group travel schemes. - Badges of merit.—A Canter< bury remit to introduce an in« centive scheme for athletes, by awarding badges of merit fas reaching specified standards, waft defeated. * Titles venues.—Canterbury is to be the venue for the 1973 national cross-country chain* pionships. The senior track and field championships for 1972-73 will be held in Wellington and the Junior championships have been alocated to West Coast (North Island). The national road race championships for 1973 wil! be held in the Hawke’s Bay-* Poverty Bay centre. Never on Brass.—National championships in future will ndfc be held on grass. The meeting agreed that the championships would be held “at a track other than grass that meets with the management committee’s approval.”

Elections.—Mr’‘•.Jackman and Mr A. O. Melville were elected life members. Mr L. O’Keefe (West Coast-North Island) wad elected the association’s neW president. *