N.Z. CYCLING CHAMPS

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1947, Page 6

N.Z. CYCLING CHAMPS

NOT FOR GREYMOUTH Incentive Killed “It certainly kills any incentive on the part of a good many people to undertake the establishment of a first-class track in Greymouth”, said Mr F. Williams (President of the West Coast Centre of the New Zealand Axemens', Cyclists’ and Athletes’ Union), at a meeting of the Centre which was held in Greymouth last evening. Mr Williams was referring to the outright refusal of the Dominion Conference held recently at Wellington, to consider a remit sent forward by the Centre, in which it was advocated: “That the present system of allotting all cycling track championships to one club each year, be altered in order that one or more championship events be available to other affiliated clubs".

“In the event of a possibility of having the New Zealand championships here, the way would be laid open to create considerable enthusiasm for the establishment of such a track as would meet the needs of the championships”, he said. However, the delegates were to be congratulated on what success they had achieved, especially in having made it possible to have the two mile South Island championships held on the Coast, Mr Williams- went on. In seconding Mr B. Topp's motion that the report of the delegates to the conference be accepted, he congratulated Mr Fiveash on his appointment to the National Council, adding that he (Mr Fiveash) and Mr V. Messenger had done exceptionally well in their work. The following remits from the various centres were submitted to the conference, and carried: — , “That track championship titles be held by one club, and that first prize money be £5 each race, with a cup', medal or ribbon to be added”. “That massed starts- for road cycling events be prohibited”; and “That winners of New Zealand championship titles be stopped and not allowed to wear a silver fern”. Commenting on the advisability of holding a further meeting in June, the presided said he was of the opinion that one meeting yearly was not sufficient. It did not infuse enthusiasm into the s-porting bodies. Now that the war was over, amateur, as well as professional sports were going ahead very fast, and growing to such dimensions that it was impossible to accommodate them on the local fields. “There is, however, a considerable lacking in professional running on the Coast, but doubtless this will come back into its own as time goes on. All other branches of sport are more than flourishing, and,- therefore, should be encouraged as much as possible”.

It was decided that a further meeting would be held in June, with a view to arranging for the Centre’s sports meeting to be held towards Christmas. * Following the receipt of an application from the Nelson Creek Sports Club for a date for their sports day, it was decided to allot the club Saturday, April 12. Also present at the meeting were Messrs R. A. Dickson, J. Flaherty, J. Tennent, T. Morgan, and A. Greaney.