ATHLETICS AND CYCLING

Evening Star, Issue 19349, 8 September 1926, Page 11

ATHLETICS AND CYCLING

OTAGO CLUB In moving tho adoption of tho annual report and balance-sheet, Mr B. S. Irwin, who presided at the Otago Athletic and Cycling Club’s annual mooting held last evening in the Y.M.C.A., ■ said that it behoved all members connected with the club to do all in their power for tho good of the sport. Personally, lie would do all he could to assist the club. Although a financial failure, tho championship meeting had been a sporting success. Mr J. W. Dove seconded the motion, and said that ho looked forward to sewing a groat deal done during tho coming year. Tire club had had its u)>s and downs, but lie thought that athletics would become as popular as they were a decade ago. The annual report stated: —ln common with other associations, tho clnb’s membership was all'eetcd adversely by tho Exhibition, and the roll stands at forty-three, composed of forty-one active and two honorary members. This represents a considerable decrease on last year's figures The financial position'of the club is Tar from satisfactory, the statement disclosing a credit balance of £1 Gs 2d, against which must he set the sum of £IOO, which was borrowed under guarantee _ hy seventeen members of the club, to liquidate tho liabilities incurred through the heavy loss on the championships. The actdal liability of the club is thus £9? Lis lOd.

The loss is accounted for hy the strong counter attractions at the time of I lie championship meeting, when the gate takings fell far short, of the estimates. In this respect the club suffered in company with other organisations which attempted to stage gatherings during the Exhibition. However, it is intended during the next sensor to organise several small meetings with the object of clearing the present deficit. The only meeting organised during the past year was the New Zealand championships, which were hold on December 29 and 20, and on all points, except that of finance, the meeting was a pronounced success. The entries more than exceeded expectations, and the club were favored with the best athletic talent in 'The dominion, and also hy some competitors from Australia. The contests proved to he mast interesting, and ol a very high standard, and, although th.e financial loss was heavy, this was more than counterbalanced hy the great success of the meeting, and it is certain that greater public support will result in the future. At thc lieginning of last season the Dancers’ Institute donated a handsome silver cup for competition in dancing events for boys and girls over twelve years and under fifteen years of age, and the executive desires to express its thanks for this donation, which lias been the means oi creating a greater measure of interest in this branch of the'sports. Alter rejieatcd applications tho Caledonian Society consented to undertake the hanking of the cycle track . With the gratuitous assistance of scvcial members of the club, who carried out ihe necessary work, ihe track has been much improved, and during the next lew months further improvements will probably bo undertaken. Tho, annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following office-bearers were ele-toil President, Mr B. S. Irwin; vice-presidents .Messrs J. T. Calder, K. Gatneron, J. W. Dove, J. 1). Forbes, L. A. Harris, 11. M. M'Kay, W. A. Justice, H. M‘William, 11. W. Laws, James Rapson, AV Henderson: club captain, Mr N. Mackie; vice-cap-lain, Air E. I). Palmer; committee Messrs W. Christie, J. AVVIhy, L. ('. Biggs. A. I). Macartney, R. Maxwell, (,'."’"11. Paul, .(’has, M'Qmen, R. Walker, G. R. Johnston, J. B. Wflson, G. M‘Queen, and A. K. Grey; lion, auditor, Mr A. Williamson, A.P.A; hamlicapper, Mr J. I). Forbes; assist.nn■ hundieariper. Mr J. AS ithy ; secretary, Mr A. M. Kilgour; assistant secretary, Mr G. R. Johnston.

Messrs Rapson, Withy, and Paul were appointed a snh-enmmittee to go into the question of holding a road race. ,

Mr Laws moved that it he a recommendation to tho committee to hold an evening meeting.—ln seconding the motion, Mr Kilgonp said that two medals wore in hand for events at evening meetings.—The motion was carried. It was decided that it he a recommendation In the executive to hold an afternoon meeting at an early date.