GREAT PROGRESS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4800, 21 June 1939, Page 5

GREAT PROGRESS

TE KUITI SPORTS CLUB. OUTSTANDING EASTER MEETING. “The year 1938-39 has been one of great progress for the le Kuiti Amateur Athletic Club, both as regards local competitors and the Easter Saturday Carnival,” states the annual report of the Te Kuiti Amateur Athletic Club which is to be presented by the president, Dr. L. R. de Castro, to the annual meeting tomorrow evening.

“The evening meetings developed until their organisation, with 20 competitors in events and an increasing number of spectators, offers a problem that will have to be solved during the coming year. “In spite of a great deal of advice and work, the track was unsatisfactory from a cycling point of view. The progress of the Club now depends very largely on having properly prepared and separate tracks. “The committee has been actively interested in the Centennial Park. An area is set a side for a banked cycle track surrounding a quartermile running track and a football ground. Hoping to have this ready for next year, the committee has had this area ploughed and levelled. The Borough Council and citizens are now alive to the importance of the park and the Club support their efforts whole-heartedly. To help to finance the new track, an art union was conducted. In spite of some able assistance it proved a difficult proposition, but owing to the generosity of the winner the good sum of £BO was raised. This is in a separate track account.

“The Easter Saturday Carnival was regarded as our greatest success to date. The leading factor in this was the effort made to advertise our meeting to every athlete in the North Island and to offer him a comprehensive programme. Thousands of programmes, posters, etc., were despatched and prominent officials approached. To support this we had good weather, a well ordered ground, a very high class of athlete, splendid announcing and competent officials, and very good support from the public. Mr. S. J. Wade’s mile (4.18 1-5) was the fastest ever run by an Aucklander. Prominent athletes like Miss Lumley and Messrs. F. P. Sharpley, W. C. Pullar, N. McCarthy, T. Taylor, E. Gibb and others from all over the North Island made the meeting one of the best ever seen in New Zealand. In Keith McCormack, Te Kuiti had a lad whose, efforts at his age must have been rarely excelled, and the greatest interest will be taken in his development. The mud wrestling was not held—the idea was too dirty for the Commissioner of Police to even think of. The road race, the wrestling and the model aeroplane display were very successful. “The Club have achieved a fairly strong position but needs all resources for the new track and future efforts to maintain our reputation as the most progressive athletic club in the province. Members are of great help and we are grateful for their continued support. “The committee is indebted to very many helpers, of whom I must mention Mr. S. Wilson, Mr. Innes-Jones, M. Greig, Mr. Manderson, the handicappers, Messrs. C. J. Thompson and S. Aukram, and the officials of the athletic and cycling centres. The Easter Saturday assistants, though so efficient, are too numerous to mention.

“I must particularly thank the vice-presidents and committee for their splendid work. To individualise in such a good team is difficult, but Mr. Drake’s departure will be a sad blow.”