Barracking at Sports

Grey River Argus, 21 January 1948, Page 8

Barracking at Sports

Strong condemnation was expressed at the weekly meeting of the Westport Amateur Athletic Club, concerning one regular group of spectators" at the evening sports meeting who unfairly barrack competitors in the cycling events. It was decided to take steps against these offenders. Arrangements were made to send a team to Greymouth to compete against Hokitika and Greymouth for the Newman Cup on Saturday. Mr J, S. Connellv was appointed manager of the team, which is to leave at 8 a.m.

The manager was instructed to confer with officials of the Greymouth and Hokitika Clubs concerning the sending of representatives to the Canterbury championships. Mr S. Stewart said that, after their fine performances at the West Coast championship meeting, L. Cha'mpion and C.- Steele would be worthy of being sent to Christchurch to compete for major honours. Mr A. T. Ridsdale, manager of the team which competed at the West Coast championships, said that Champion and Steele had performed exceedingly well, while Miss M. McLachlan was very prominent in the women’s events. He regretted that the junior relay was not held after a team had been specially sent from Westport for that event. Mr Ridsdale was thanked for his report, and members considered that the decision to send the team to Greymouth had been fully justified.

It was decided to hold two scratch cycling events on the grass this evening, as all Mahar Cup.events will be held on the grass tracks at Blenheim. Any member of the Mahar Cup team who cannot make the trip to Blenheim is asked to advise the acting secretary, Mr G. Fraser as soon as possible.