A HOME AT LAST

Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 September 1936, Page 11

A HOME AT LAST

ATHLETIC CLUBS

CENTRALISED TRAINING

For the last two years the Welling-ton-Amateur Athletic Centre has' been endeavouring to obtain' a home of its' own: in other words, a ground to enable training operations to be centralised and to permit of inter-club competitions being held. Negotiations' were entered.into between the centre and the Wellington. City. Council reserves committee, and last week the reserves committee put a proposition to the centre in respect of the use of the new Hataitai Reserve, outside the traffic tunnel which, after due consideration, was thought to be reasonable. Mr. A. C. Kitto, the president of the Wellington Centre, stated today that the reserves committee had offered the centre practically the sole use of the Hataitai Reserve from October 12 to March 14 on certain financial "terms, the council to have the right to \ise the ground on at least three Saturdays. "This means," continued Mr. Kitto, "that the athletes will be able to train practically every day of thtfweek from 4 p.m. to; 8 p.m., and that the ground will also be available for use on. Saturday, afternoons, thereby making possible inter-club competitions, which it has not been possible to arrange before on account of the lack of a suitable ground. This should prove of great benefit to amateur athletics generally. It should'result in a considerable increase in the membership of clubs, and Should stimulate greater interest among athletes. Moreover, I think there is no doubt but that it will result in an improved standard of performance." Mr. Kitto paid tribute to the interest taken by the reserves committee and the Director of Parks and Reserves, (Mr. J. G, MacKenzie) in the centre's efforts to obtain the use of a ground handy to the city, and said that the reserves committee had met the centre very fairly in the matter. SPECIAL COACHING. '"Arrangements are now in hand," continued! Mr. Kitto, "for the engaging of special coaches for the various events. Such men as Messrs. J. W. McHolm,. H. E. Wilson, C. H.. Jenkins, Jimmy ton, P. Munro, T. Wi Leslie, and Len McKay have signified their intention' of doing ,all..they. can. to. assist the', centre. It is proposed 'to arrange, training on a definite.basis, and in this connection a "proper schedule is to be drawn up. It has also been suggested now that better fac'Tities are available, that a little later, perhaps,, athletes should be encouraged to specialise in certain events. As far; as dressing1 ac-: commodation is concerned, the men, will have the use of the Wellington Football Club's gymnasium at the southern end of the. ground and the women competitors will have the use of the accommodation reserved for the basketball girls during the winter. The women competitors willalso be adequately supervised, and it is confidently expected that the" number ■■ of women competitors1 in the -; coming season will show ah increase ovet that of any previous season;" ': : ""' ;■■!' '■■' Referring to the ground itself, Mr. Kitto said that properly surveyed tracks are to be put down. He thinks that it will be possible to have a fourlap track to the mile; and athletes will. be interested to know that the ground lends itself to a straight track for the 220 yards event. There are to be two jumping pits, one for" the high jump and the other .for the long jump and, the, hop, step,:ahd' jump. .These pits: will be located just off the;.'■ main ground, and there most of the field events 'will be held, in order that the turf on the main area may. be preserved as much as possible. A special committee has been appointed to take control of the ground and the training ..operations, thei personnel being as folic)ws:r-Messrs._T. < SW. Leslie (supervisor);, .A. ..Hose (Wellington Club), V. Clifford. -(AthleUW^P. Wilson (Olympic),; F. Bond (Kiwi), and E Perrett (Scottish). Training fees have been fixed at 5s for seniors and 2s 6d for juniors and the women competitors. Training operations are to commence on Monday, October IZ. AN OFFICIAIi OPENING; On October 17 it has been decided to have an official opening day.::, The intention is to invite his Excellency, the Governor-General, Lord Galway, who is the1 patron of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club,- the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hlslop); who* has always taken a keen interest in the sport, the Hon. R. Semple, member for-the district, and representatives of' the New; Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association, and kindred sports bodies. It is anticipated that there will be about 200 harriers present, and for them a half-mile, one mile, and two miles events are to be provided. There •will also be several novelty events. After the official opening, the centre will arrange club competitions, which it is proposed tentatively to hold once a fortnight. . Mr. Kitto stated that, starting with the Athletic FootbaU. Sports Club tomorrow night, most of the.clubs will shortly be holding their annual.meetings. "It seems," he added, "that there is a wave of enthusiasm among the clubs and the centre, confidently, anticipates a revival of interest in the sport this season." .