ATHLETICS IN OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 23092, 19 October 1938, Page 3

ATHLETICS IN OTAGO

SPORT GGHTiNUES TO PROGRESS CENTRE'S CONSTRUCTIVE WORK MR C. W. CLARK RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT A successful year of useful and constructive work in developing the sport was reviewed at the annual meeting of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association held in the R.S.A. last night, and with a tour of Australian athletes and visits Irom Empire champions in V. P. Boot and C. H. Matthews in prospect members expressed the belief that the coining season would he even more active than the last. The president (Mr C. W. Clark) was in the chair. In presenting the balance sheet, the treasurer (Air W. H. Masters) said that the season had begun with a net balance of £3O, and with £2O that was due to the centre they would have a carry-forward for the new season of £2B. Only a small loss had been shown on the evening meetings, _ which had turned out very satisfactorily, and the women’s and junior championship meeting had shown a small profit. The Otago championships had shown a total profit of £o4, and entry fees had also increased, but against this Mr Masters referred to the cost of despatching teams to the championship meetings and to the geneal cost of running the centre’s affairs. CHAIRMAN’S- REVIEW. Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, Air Clark congratulated the secretary (Mr •). O. Barnes) and the treasurer (Mr W. H. Masters) on the report and balance sheet they had brought forward. The weather had favoured the centre and the sport had been good. The standard that had been reached was due in a large measure to the trait.! g and coaching school that had been conducted bv Messrs C. Gf. Gibbons and A. A. Cameron. Two new clubs were formed during the year, the Dunedin

Ladies and Celtic United Clubs. It was gratifying to find tliat the evening meetings bad almost financed themselves, anti the centre was very proud of the fact that five of their athletes had gone to the Umpire Games, while Mr 13. R. M'Kernan had been trainer of the team.

Mr Clark deplored the fact that two of their best athletes had been debarred from selection (A. A, Cameron and M. R. Spillane) because of the rule making reinstated athletes ineligible to compete. The sport had progressed in Oamaru and Invercargill, the control in the former centre being in the hands of Mr R. E. Himick, while in Invercargill Messrs W. Torrance. R. J. Smith, and W. MMndoe had done fine work. He congratulated the centre on the success of the Otago track and field championships, and also on the performance of the provincial team' at the New Zealand championships, at which it was runner-up to. Canterbury for the championship shield. Speaking of the annual conference of delegates, Mr Clark said he wondered if it were worth while, since many remits were carried many of which never came into operation. He thought the time had come when deleg-oes should be sent to Wellington to the annual meeting, and anv remits carried there should become law. The secondary schools’ meeting at Oamaru had been one of the best he had ever attended, and he urged the clubs to continue to do all in their power to encourage the secondary school athletes to carry on with the sport. “ The summer season was one of the best we have ever had.” said .Mr Clark, and the results achieved were contributed to by the work that had been done by their sports secretary. Mr G. L. Austin. The winter season had been a good one also; entries had increased and racing had been keen. Otago had won the New Zealand cross-country championship teams race, and Mi M’Keruan had to be congratulated on the work he had done in preparing the team for some weeks before the event. Mr J L. W. Gerken had been a very efficient harrier secretary. Air Clark expressed appreciation of the work carried out by the council and Otago’s delegates (Messrs F. M. Reid and D. T. Woodlield), and he also referred eulogistically to the services rendered throughout the year to the sport by Messrs J. G. Barnes and W. H. Masters as secretary and treasurer respectively. The coming season would be a very busy one, and besides the tour of Australian athletes, it was hoped to have visits from V. P. Boot and C. H. Matthews, and the season would conclude with the New Zealand Universitv championships. Seconding the report and balance sheet. Mr E. C. Isaacs said that much •■onstructive work had been accomplished during the season, and he thought the gap between the secondary schools and the clubs had been partly bridged by the inception of the junior championship meeting. The inauguration of a New Zealand junior championship meeting would be a further incentive to young athletes, and it was most encouraging to find that the secondary school teachers were taking such a keen interest in the sport. A very fine move had been made at Otago Boys’ High School by the replacement of the old victor ludorum contests with championships in various branches of athletics, and ho thought the centre should commend this trend. The centre had to widen the scope of its activities in every way possible, and if the football clubs' championship meeting were established that should bo a help in bringing more young 1 men into the sport. The visit of the Australians should greatly stimulate athletics in tlie country districts, and do much to further raise the standard Members of ihe centre greatly appreciated the work that had been done by the score-

tary and treasurer during the year, and they realised that in Mr Clark they had as president a man who had the interests of amateur athletics very much at heart, ami one who did not spare himself in his efforts to foster the sport. Mr B. 11. M'Kernan also expressed pleasure at the action of the Otago Boys’ High School in doing away with the victor ludorum contests, and said that he thought many boys had been sickened of athletics in the past by being asked to do too much. Otago’s young team had Wsen to the occasion in winning the teams’ race at the New Zealand cross-country championship, said Mr M'Kernan, and the season had also marked the staging of the first Marathon race rim in Otago. Their efforts had at last been successful in inducing the New Zealand Council to hold a New Zealand Marathon championship. Mr M'Kernan also referred to the good work done by Messrs C. G. Gibbons and A. A. Cameron in the coaching they had done during the season. 1 Mr C. K. Heaton expressed appreciation of the successful season that had been experienced, and added that the centre should bo very gratified at the report and balance sheet that had been submitted by the secretary and treasurer respectively. The report and balance sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted; — Patron, Mr G. L. Tapley ; president, Mr C. AV. Clark ; vice-presidents—Messrs E. C. Isaacs, C. K. Heaton, and B. 31. M'Kernan; lion, secretary, Mr J. G. Barnes; lion, treasurer, Mr AV. H. Masters; sports secretary, Mr J). M. Stuart; lion, auditor, Mr A. G. Melville ; hon. starter, Mr H. J. C. M'Konzie; lion, assistant starter, Mr J. G. Barnes; hon. surveyor, Mr F. <L Williams; hoiv. timekeepers, Messrs T. I’. Williamson, AA 7 . E. Matthews. J. B. Nelson, A. J. Holloway, AA 7 . Madkinnon ; lion, handicappers, Messrs B. K. M'Kernan (track) and C.' K. Heaton; record clerk and radio steward, Mr C. A. Pope; sub-local officers—Messrs 11. J. Smith (Invercargill), AA 7 . AA 7 alkor (Milton), J. H. George, B. Provo, and H. E. Stevens (Central Otago), AV. L. Jolly (South Otago), 11. E. Uimick (North Otago) ; delegates to New Zealand Council, Messrs F. M. Reid and J). T. AA’oodfield; Sports Committee — Messrs C. AA'. Clark (chairman). E. C. Isaacs, B. R. M'Kernan, C. K. Heaton, J. G. Barnes, AV. H. Masters, 1). M. Stuart. C. G. Gibbons, A. A. Cameron, C. A. Pone, T. M. Brydone, J. L. AA 7 . Gerken ; Finance Committee —Messrs C. AV. Clark, J. G, Barnes, and AV. H. Masters: Harrier Committee—Messrs C. AV. Clark (chairman), J. G. Barnes, AV. H. Masters, B. B. M'Kernan, J. AV. Tapp, T. Alien. J. L. AV. Gerken, J. AV. Holley, AV. N. Connell; trustees of trophies—Messrs C. AA 7 . Clark, AV. HMasters, and D. M. Stuart. HARRIER TRUST. Mr M'Kernan brought forward a proposal—" That an Otago Harrier Trust be formed to raise funds to invest, with the object of helping to finance crosscountry teams travelling to the North Island for the New Zealand cross-coun-try championships; that the trust consist of three members of harrier clubs or members of the Otago Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A., such members to be appointed by the centre for an. indefinite period; that in the event of a member resigning the centre have power to 'appoint another member; that the Otago Centre donate the sum of, isay, £ls to start the fund off; that members of the trust have the right to give what sum they think fit towards the expenses of the cross-country team; that the money raised be used for no other purpose whatever.”

Members expressed themselves as being in favour of the principle of the scheme, and discussion took place as to the best methods of constituting the trust. It was decided to set up a subcommittee, consisting of Messrs 0. W. Clark, B. R. M'Kernan, T. M. Brydone, W. H. Masters, and L. W. Woods, to consider the drafting of the scheme for the formation of the trust.

GENERAL. The Chairman expressed the regret of every member at the resignation as a vice-president of the centre and retirement from the sport of Mr 11. Thompson, who had given 20 years of valued service on the centre. His place would be hard to fill, for he had been an earnest worker for amateur athletics both in the summer and winter.—lt was decided to entertain Mr Thompson at a social function after the next meeting, and to make him a presentation in recognition of his long service to the sport. It was decided to hold the Otago junior and women’s championship meeting a fortnight before, the New Zealand junior and women's championships, which are to be held at Auckland. A vote of appreciation of the services of Mr A. G. Melville as lion, auditor was carried, and it was mentioned that Mr Melville had given longer service to the centre than any other officer at present associated with the sport.

AUSTRALIANS' ITINERARY APPROVED QUESTION OF TROPHY ORDERS i The monthly meeting of the centre i was held before the annual meeting, when the itinerary tentatively arranged for the Australian athletes was approved, Considerable discussion took place on the question of whether or not trophies should ho done away with at evening meetings, a decision finally being reached that the present practice of awarding trophies should be continued. Those present were the president (Mr C. AV. Clark), in the chair, Messrs E. C. Isaacs, B. R. MTCornan, 11. G. Pilling, .1. S. Shepard, D. M. Stuart, C. A. Pope, C. K. Heaton, W. N. Connell, ■). W. Holley, J. L. W. Gerken, L. W. Woods, J. W. Johnson, H. M. Sullivan, AV. H. Masters, T. Allen, C. G. Gibbons, A. R. Geddes, R. X. Watson. A. A. Cameron, S. 1. George, U. J. B. Dorman, J. AV. Tapp, J. A. Bond, and J. G. Baines (lion, secretary). CENTENNIAL SPORTS. The secretarv of the Otago Provincial Centennial Council (Air R. J. Hay) wrote in reference to a proposed all-day sports meeting to he held in connection with the Dunedin centennial celebrations in 1940, the date tentatively selected for the proposed sports meeting being Saturday, February 3. Air J, G. Barnes was appointed to represent'the centre on the committee in connection with the meeting CALEDONIAN GROUND. Th secretary of the Caledonian Society (Mr J. S. Douglas) advised that tlio’AVorks and Grounds Committee of tlie society had closed the grounds until October 28 for the purpose of turfing, top-dressing, and a general cleaning up of the area. Twenty men were engaged on the work, which it was Imped would be of benefit to nil concerned. The society was endeavour-

ing to try and secure financial assistance from the Government for general sports improvements and accommodation facilities at the grounds. Permission had already been granted for the holding of a minor art union, and it was hoped to have the co-operation of the centre in staging a week’s carnival on the Caledonian Ground during the summer, at which evening sports, dancing, and sideshows could be arranged. The secretary was instructed to reply to the Caledonian Society, stating that the centre was prepared to co-operate in the staging of a carnival.

TROPHIES AT EVENING MEETINGS. Mr Pilling moved that the centre do away with the practice of awarding trophies at evening meetings, and urged that the centre should do all in Us power to encourage sport for the sport’s sake. 'The footballers who took part in races last year did so for the enjoyment they derived rather than for any trophies they might win. Mr Woods seconded the motion, and pointed out that the Otago Centre paid five times as much pur athlete for trophy orders as any other centre in Now Zealand.

Mr Allen said that only small amounts were given for trophy orders, which were all that the moderate handicap performers had to run for. Mr Barnes said he would like to see the competitors at evening meetings given some incentive, and if trophy orders were deleted then some aggregate trophies might be awarded in addition to those already competed for. Mr M'Kernan said the time was coming when there would be no trophies at all, but it was not yet. To be consistent they would have to cut out trophies for the Port road race iu, d other such events. Mr Masters said that a loss of £2 19s had been made on they evening meetings during the year. The programme of evening meetings was the most comprehensive the centre had ever had. Mr Gibbons said that there were prospects of some good evening meetings tills year. He thought that the small trophies were something that young runners could look forward to. The motion was defeated. GENERAL. Advice was received from the Secondary Schools’ Athletic Association that the annual championship meeting would be held at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, November o. 11. Hughes was granted a transfer from the Toko Club to St. Paul’s (Invercargill) . An application for affiliation was reCGivocl from the Winton Club, aucl the forwarding of particulars to the Winton Club was left in the hands of the secretary.