Athletic Sports

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 276, 4 November 1933, Page 8

Athletic Sports

(To The Editor.) Sir, —“About To Turn,” who, in inquiring about a guarantee that there will always be “cash” events at the meetings 1 mentioned, wants a guarantee that he apparently never received us an amateur. From all indications the clubs 1 mentioned are in a very prosperous way, and there is no reason at all why they should not continue to pay cash prizes. In fact, the secretary of any of our affiliated clubs prefers to pay in cash, for the reason that immediately after an event is completed be is able to pay cash to the successful competitor, get his receipt for same, and thus have the item cleaned up, whereas if it is an order, he has to give the winner an order on a firm, wait for the order to be cashed, and when it is cashed probably wait for mouths for his invoice and receipt. As lung as “cash” clubs are functioning, and presuming, of course, that unforeseen circumstances do not occur, there will always be liberal cash prizes at all cask spurts affiliated with the N.Z.A.U. and A. Union.

“About To Turn” also inquires for particulars of the Main Trunk circuit meetings and their prize money. The •Main Trunk circuit, as it is termed, usually commences with Inglewood ia March, with prize money £stl; Waitara, in April, with cash prizes and cups to the value of £200; then Te Kuiti on Euster Saturday, with approximately £lOO prize money, with cups and donated trophies; Pio Pio on the same day with approximately the same money; Utorohongu on Easter Monday with prize money £400; Ohingaiti on tho fullowing Wednesday, and practically two or more meetings every week, all with prize money similar to above. Then there are smaller country meetings similar to Farndon and Tikokino, w here there is really good added money, suck as Owhango, etc. Then, if “About To Turn” still has a bit of spare time, he can travel up the other coast and strike such good meetings as liotorua, Whakatane, Waihi, etc., and also the smaller meetings in between, Then he can come liouie to his work for a while, and get ready for the South Island circuit, where there is also good money to be had. If, however, he did not wish to travel to the South Island,.he could remain at work till the New Plymouth meeting on Labour Day, when the prize money which lie may win would probably be sufficient to have him fit and well for the Christmas circuit, which also carries really good added money to the numerous trophies. The prize money mentioned above I have taken from the 1933 programmes, and is inclusive of runners, walkers, hurdles, cycling and axemen’s events, and the prize money is evenly distributed. 1 have not yet received the 1934 programmes, but there is every indication that they will be similar to or even increased from the 1933 prgorame. 1 trust the above information will be sufficient to enable ’’About To Turn” to thoroughly satisfy himself whether he should compete at the “cash” sports or remain as lie apparently is—a dissatisfied amateur. 1 do not know what mass of sport “About To Turn” excels at, but if he cares to come and see me, 1 will show mm tuo whole of the 1933 programmes, and he or she, will be aide to select from them the sports which would be most profitable, together with the excellent sport and entertainment provided by the respective clubs, for him to attend.. There is no need to worry about that circular letter sent around the schools. Once anyone has competed with our club and got themselves fit, they will not wish to be relegating themselves to amateur, but will lie after some of the big money which I have above mentioned, ami it will be much better for any sport to return to Hastings with a £5O first prize from Otorohonga than a “thank you” from the New Zealand amateur championships.—Yours, etc., E. M. LANGLEY. Hastings, 3/11/33. [This correspondence is now closed — Ed. H.B.T.]