A STEP FORWARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 18, 19 October 1936, Page 17

A STEP FORWARD

LOCAL ATHLETICS

GROUND AT HATAITAI

Appreciation of the part played by the "Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre in the/past, together with good wishes for its future success, were expressed by the vfsitors who spoke at the formal opening by the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, on Saturday afternoon of the 1936-37 athletic season and the new Hataitai reserve for athletic training and as a ground on which to hold inter-club sports meetings. It was a happy occasion for the president (Mr. A. C. Kitto) and the other members of the centre. For a long time past Mr. Kitto has stressed tho need of acquiring a.ground athletes could regard as their own, and after speaking in terms of appreciation of the large attendance at the gathering he said he felt that the ground would prove of .benefit to the clubs and the sport.. After paying tribute to the past record of the Wellington Centre, his Excellency said that the occasion was an epoch in the history of the centre, which previously had been under the disadvantage of having no ground of its own. His Excellency,' before declaring the season and ground open, appealed to all athletes to rally around the centre and give it every possible support. CREDIT TO BELIEF WORKERS. The Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) said that the occasion definitely marked a step forward for the clubs and the centre. He referred to the way in which the ground was established and said he thought that those who had done the work —men who at the time were on relief—should be remembered. The establishment of the ground was a direct contradiction to those who had said that the work done by the men on relief was useless. The member for the district, the Hon. R. Semple, said that in his opinion the ground represented vision and judgment on the part of those.responsible for it. He felt'that in days to come the ground would hand down something to the boys and girls of the future. , After* dealing with the essentially important part of sport in the scheme of things in the future, the Hon. P. Fraser said that because the athletic centre had played a great part and was destined' to play an eyen greater part in the physical education of the country, the Departments he represented wished the centre every success. Other 'speakers were Messrs. H. McCormick (New Zealand, Amateur Athletic Association and New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association), J. H: Phillipps (Wellington Cricket Association), N. McCartney (Wellington Swimming Association), and S. S. Dean (Rugby and other sports), who also congratulated the centre and wished it success. An apology for his inability to be present through absence from town was received from Councillor J. Burns, chairman of the reserves committee. Cheers were given for his Excellency and the Wellington Police Highland Pipe Band which played selections during the afternoon. Under PipeMajor McPhee the pipers in their McLean tartan made a fine showing. HARRIERS' COMPETITION. A competition, comprising half-mile, one mile, and two-mile handicaps, for a trophy was held for harriers. There were also a number of other events, in one of which, the sack race, A. Hill, of the Old Boys' Club, showed those who had not seen him in action in this kind of race before just what a top-notcher he is with his feet in a sack. In between the events afternoon tea was served. ....-..• The-points, trophy in-the harrier competition was won by J. Riddington (Scottish) and D. Pederson (Brooklyn), each of whom scored 6 points. The results of the events were:— ; 880 yds Handicap.— G. -Thompson, 100 yds, 1; F.. Norton, 70yds, 2; M. Sunderland, 65yds, 3. Time, 2min lsec. Thompson was- congratulated by his Excellency on.being the winner of the first race on the new track. Pick-a-Back Race.—Pedersen and Silver and Stevens and Forne, dead heat, 1; Wareham and Robinson, 3. 75yds Sack Race.—A. Hill, 1; E. Forne, 2; Stevens, 3. One Mile Handicap.—S. woods, 45yds, 1; D. Pedersen, 15yds, 2; J. Riddington, scr, 3. Time, 4min 39sec. Two Miles Handicap.—J. Riddington, scr, 1; D. Pedersen, 40^013, 2; A. Stevens, 70yds, 3. Time, 9min 53sec.