"A WEARY GIANT"

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1933, Page 5

"A WEARY GIANT"

LOCAL ATHLETICS

NEED FOR COACHING

"I think we can compliment ourselves on tho number of competitors that took part in our various competitions, but at tho same time we must admit that on the whole our standard has deteriorated," said Mr. A. C. Kitto, president of. the Wellington Centre of tho New Zealand Amateur Athletic and Cycling Association, when moving the adoption j of the report and balance-sheet at the I annual meeting of the centre last night. In a review of the past season, Mr. Kitto said that Wellington's showing at the last national gathering was not in keeping with its previous efforts, and they had to congratulate the Canterbury Centre on winning the shield and on the meritorious performances of its representatives. To bring the young athietes up to national standard, continued Mr. Kitto, systematic training and expert coaching were necessary. The services of such men as J. MeHolm, P. Munro, E. G. Sutherland, J. Wilton, H. E. Wilson, and C. Jenkins, all experts in their particular line, , who had signified their willingness to help any club in the centre district, were available, and' clubs should make use of them for their I own sake and for the sake of Wellington. During the coming season, said Mr. Kitto, a team would be sent to represent New Zealand at the 1934 British Empire Games, and though perhaps there was no one at present in Wellington of the necessary calibre to represent the Dominion, there was plenty of time to bring some of the athletes up to the standard, with coaching. The New Zealand championships were to^be 'held in Wellington in the coming season, and he appealed to the clubs to use their best efforts to make the meeting the best ever. The visit to be paid by tho Australian team, consisting of Horsfall, the Victorian sprinter; Barwick, the Tasmanian miler; and Metcalfe, one of Australia's finest all-round athletes, should give the sport a great fillip. Wellington would have to _ send a team to Canterbury, probably in January, said Mr. Kitto. Locally, there would be two Dewar Shield meetings, one at Petone on January 27, and tho other at a later date. The provincial championships would probably be held on February 3 at the Basin Reserve, and the New Zealand championships on the same ground on February 16 and 17. Other meetings would be held at Petone (for the Laykold Cup) on December 0, and at Paraparaumu and Otaki. THE CYCLING TROUBLE. The ladies' branch and the harriers were both increasing in numbers and in keenness, continued the president. Referring to cycling, he said that if it was the wish of the majority of cyclists that they should break away from amateur athletic control, he saw no reason why the association should stop them. The sport of athletics went ahead before it had any cycling, and it Would go on just the same. (Hear, hear.) He thanked the loyal cyclists and officials who had stood by the centre. Because they had worked on constitutional linos they had been in a sense ostracised by tho " break-aways." Mr. H. McCormiek seconded the adoption of the report. Speaking to the motion, Mr. J. W. Heenan gave it as his opinion that the loss of the championship shield was agood thing for Wellington, which had become too used to winning it, and was "a weary giant." There no cause for despondency, but they should seek to get the pupils in the primary schools interested in amateur athletics.