Athletic Sports

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 275, 3 November 1933, Page 6

Athletic Sports

(To the Editor.) Sir. —In the last three or four issues of the “Tribune” I have read with interest the various letters on athletic sports and the merits of the two different clubs which are established in Hastings. Last night’s letter signed by “Novice” particularly interested me, inasmuch that I think “Novice” is no novice at all. How-ever, if he is really a novice there are other methods of seeking the information which “Novice” so desires than blaring it through the newspapers. By the number of questions asked by “Novice” and the way he has worded them the answers are apparently known to him, but a s he is desirous of throwing out a challenge to a cash club member 1 will most certainly do my best to accommodate him. ♦‘Novice” refers to the Hastings Athletic and Cycling Club as a “cash” faction. Surely “Novice,” with all his intelligence, has seen our club advertised as the former, yet he smartly refers to it as a “cash faction.” 1 suppose “Novice” must have his little joke Our club is affiliated to the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling and Axemen’s Union, which functions under the professional status although not a true professional in tho true sense of the word. A member of the N.Z.A.C.A.U. cannot compete in New Zealand amateur championships, Empire games, Olympic games or any amateur athletic sports controlled by the New Zealand amateur body. However, assuming that ■Novice'’ has never competed 1 would advise that he learn to crawl before running ere he starts thinking of coming in Empire games and Olympic games. Once again “Novice’s” intelligence i» blinding. He asks if a cash club member can compete in professional events. Can “Novice” see any difference between tho Siamese twins 't A cash club member can compete at any sports meeting in New Zealand, Australia. or in the world, if necessary, provided the body holding the meeting is affiliated to the parent body in each particular country and tho competitor is duly registered with his club. As far as joining the club which would give “Novice” the best sport, 1 would only be loyal to my club in saying that we can provide the better sport, as it is universally known and only human nature when all is said and done that the cash prize induces the competitor to strive just a little harder than if he was racing for nothing. ■ . It can be authentically stated that on the «-e of the Hastings Athletic and Cycling Club holding its opening

meeting last Tuesday evening a letter was circulated through the primary and secondary schools of Hastings to the effect that if any youth or girl competed at our sports meeting that night they would be ineligible to start in amateur events conducted by the

local amateur club. This was done late in the afternoon when it was impossible for our club to have redress on the matter. Let me state here and now, this can only be accepted as one thing, and that is jealousy towards the cash body. I may state for the benefit of those who do not know that a boy or girl can compete in any event, amateur or professional, without fear of being declared either an amateur or a professional up to the age of 16 yeara. On attaining that age they must then declare themselves one or the other. —Yours etc., “PRO” CYCLIST. Hastings, 2/11/33. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l was very pleased to read tho questions asked by “Novice” in last evening’s “Tribune” as there has been quite a lot of correspondence about professionalism in sport and some very misleading statements on both sides. 1 think 1 can answer “Novice’s” questions to satisfy the minds of a lot of athletes that there is no such name as “cash club.” Clubs are "professional” or “amateur.” (1) If the club is registered “professional,” it is part of a national and world-wide association (2) Can a member compete in the amateur championships? No. In the Empire games? Yes. In the Olympie games ? Yes. (3) There are other local clubs with which to compete. (4) If the ground is registered m professional, the member can compete at professional meetings. (5) There would then be no difference between a professional and him. (6) He can compete in all professional meetings throughout New Zealand. 1 have competed in sports in Africa, England and Australia and 1 have won some of the biggest cash prizes offered in Australia and New Zealand in which the prize money for first has been £3O, and tho president’s medal, ho you see they gave the money and the trophy in some cases. It is arranged in cases such as those of Shrub and Duflie, the Americans who came out to Australia and New Zealand, that ths best n*n had to be found to make a match for them. They were amateurs and we had to get professionals to meet them B. O. Day, the Irish champion who visited New Zealand, was met by McLauchland and myself. I think it is a shame that those two local sports bodies are letting themselves over-estimate their importance. I have been a runner for <5O years and if 1 can advise anyone and gite him any facts about running J will lie pleased to do so whether he ia amateur or professional.—) ours, etc., S. MtLEOD. Hastings, 2/1/33 (To the Editor). Sir, —I read Mr Langley’s letter ia last night’s paper, and it seems to mo by what he says that it is much better to ride for the cash clubs than for the amateurs. I am an amateur, but before I compete for his club I would like to know if Mr Langley will guarantee that those clubs he mentiqned will always be running cash events. I would also like to know the amount of prize money those Main Trunk clubs that he talks about pay in cash and when their meetings arc.—Yours, etc., ABOUT TO TURN. Hastings, 3/11/33.