AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 85, 20 October 1928, Page 18

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

j PROGRESS OFSPOET N.Z.A.A.A.'S ANNUAL REPORT ''The year has been an exceptionally strenuous one, and it is gratifying to note that the sport still has the pubj lie favour and has gained considerable ground. The public interest displayed results in a greater degreo of keenness amongst the athletes, and the standard of sport has reached a degreo that may well be regarded with satisfaction." In such a manner tho thirty-seventh annual report of tho New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association for the i year ended 30th September, 1925, compiled by Mr. L. A. Tracy, is introj duced. It will be presented at tho an- ! nual meeting of delegates in WellingI ton on 19th November. This year :a . comprehensive list of notable j performances, records, etc., is given in the report, but it is stated | that such statistical matter will proi bably not be published each year, al- ! though possibly a summary will be ! given at intervals. | The report expresses pleasure at the I advance that is being made throughout j tho Dominion in holding both primary j and secondary school athletic meet- | ings, and a statement relative to the ! value of such sport which appeared in | a German paper recently is quoted, i After referring to the New Zealand track and field championships at Christ- ! church in December last and setting | forth the results of tho events, the rej port states that the outstanding perj formanee of tho meeting was that of ! V. S. Kamson, who, in winning the 410 | yds hurdles championship, was successI ful in bettering the New Zealand re- : cord of 58sec. Sceats's high jumping i was very much appreciated, while I Leadbetter's success in tho sprints, al- ! though running with a strained tendon, j was highly applauded. Savidau was I far superior to his opponents in the I distanco events. i In the cycling events F. Groso is ! mentioned as having been in a class by ! himself. j CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP. | Congratulations are extended to the ! Wellington Centre on the meritorious i performance of its team in tho New Zealand cross country championship held ! at Wanganui, and praise is given to J. | W. Savidan (Auckland), who, in winj ning the title for two years in suceesi sion, has repeated the performance of : J. Bcatson (Otago). . In connection I with the fifty miles Now Zealand road cycling'championship, it is stated that j the standard shown by the compctii tors generally was excellent; the oouuI cil need have no. fear for. this' par-' ! tieular branch of tho sport, which was rapidly going ahead, and at tho same time doing much towards' raising the standard of cycling in New Zealand. BIG CHAMPIONSHIP MEET. "After a lapse of sixteen years, it was once again the turn of your association to have the honour, of controlling the Australian and New Zealand track and field championships," continues the report, "and the association may well be satisfied with its efforts." The biennial conference held- on '23rd December was tho last one of the Union of Australia and New Zealand, as by the unanimous vote of all States the association had been given permission to break away and become affiliated direct to the International Amateur Athletic Federation. That had been done, and the association was now a separate member of tho federation. In the future itvwas hoped and expected that contests would be held between tho N.Z.A.A.A. and Australia every two years, with alternate meetings in Aus: tralia and New Zealand, commencing in 1030, with the first mooting in Australia. . . . ' '* ' ' Congratulations are extended to the members of the New Zealand team on their success in winning the championship shield .at the big meeting. ADVANCE OP CYCLING. .Referring to the St'audcn-Gray tour, the report states that in every town in which tho two Australian cyclists competed they made a fine impression, and there was no doubt that Dominion cyclists would profit by their tour. The visit proved a boon to the cycling section of the sport, and it is believed that there were many potential Standcns and Grays throughout the Dominion. The association expects to see a big increase, in the number of cyclists this season, and a higher standard of competition. KEDDELL MEMORIAL SHIELD. At the present time.arrangements are being made to replace the present Keddell Memorial Shield, "the report continues. The present shield is far too heavy for transportation, and it is confidently expected that within the next few months a more suitable shield will be available. The samo design is being used, but a different mode of makr ing tho shield is being adopted. PAST AND FUTURE. It is a very great pleasure to review activities during the past year,.and to observe the very marked progress the sport has made. One particularly pleasing feature is tho advancement of amateur athletics in the.'couiitry districts. A glance at the table in this report showing the number of new clubs affiliated during the year wilt give an indication of the material progress that has been made, and in'this''respect the association offers congratulations and good wishes to those centres which, in particular, are pioneering the way of athletics in the back districts. Cycling, too, has made an outstanding advancement, the Australian visitors'last season —Standen and Gray—giving the sport a very considerable impetus. The association is looking forward with confidence to a still more successful year ahead. Present indications are that, the American team to tour the Dominion this summer will include men ut very fine calibre whose performance should stimulate very'greatly the interest of the public in the game and should also provide competition of the best (ilass for our own track and held men. FINANCIAL POSITION. The financial position of the association is one which it is considered should give all members the utmost gratification. The liabilities of the association have been liquidated, and a comparison of this year's balance with that of last year shows that tho amount of cash available to the council has increased from £2G5 4s 3d to £449 lis 4d. In addition tfhere is owing to tho association £60 ISs, as against £11 15s at the end of the last financial year. "It is to be hoped," says the report, "'that the financial position of the council will go on improving until there are sufficient funds to provide all the guarantees necessary for the bringing of overseas athletes to tour the Dominion. This will then relieve centres of the necessity of providing guarantees."