ATHLETIC JUBILEE MEMORIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 1 (Supplement)

ATHLETIC JUBILEE MEMORIES

[Pioneers in Organisation

By MATANGA

IT was entirely fitting thai Christchurch should have beer the venue of the New Zealand athletic championship contests this yecir- A jubilee- was thereby celebrated. Canterbury holds the honoui 0 f initiating the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association on July 23. 18S ~> ant * e contep| t< B at Lancaster Park last week therefore marked the completion of fifty years since the first representative battles for New Zealand titles took place. To look back along the track of time to that start is an interesting employment. In nil probability, few present on this jubilee occasion gave the history of the organisation a thought. This is not surprising, even in competitors s>r officials. To outgrow the past is of the essence of championship athletics. Achievement of new records is the aim. The old suffer deliberate destruction and those made half a century ago have no vivid claim to remembrance in comparison with some of yesteryear. Who recalls, except at the prompting of somebody with a care for "forgotten men," the earliest champions? Here is the list: 100 yards, F. Meenan (Otago), 10 1-os.; 250 yards, A. B. Williams !(Canterbury), 275.; 440 yards, A. B. 'Williams' (Canterbury), 53 4-55.; 880 yards, P. Morrison (South Canterbury), 2m. 6Js.; one mile, J. F. Reid (Southland), om. Is.; one mile walk, T. Kerr (Otago). 7m. 235.; 120 yards hurdles, G. B. Shaw (Canterbury), ISs.; long jump, T. D. Harman (Canterbury), 20ft.; high jump, F. Perry (South Canterbury), sft. South Canterbury's Lead As records these are not particularly impressive. They suggest a standard of ' performance so much below that of the present day that to muse on changes in track and ground generally, in technique, in training, is inevitable. We have come a long way sir.ee that start—from an almost casual preparation to an attention highly specialised and ambitious. It cannot be argued that natural capabilities were conspicuously poorer; the reason for the difference is chiefly the comparative neglect of possibilities since realised through serious heed of matters once lightly considered. A discussion of these should be illuminating. However, a point quite apart from them is also worth noting: tho South Island produced that list of champions. Neither Auckland nor Wellington is in the list. Why? The answer is largely supplied by a' reference to the way in which the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association Was created. It is certain that athletic sport was fully twenty years old —probably much more—when the association was formed. But its organisation on a basis widely territorial was tardily undertaken. Local, even provincial, dubs were in existence long/before 1887. The South _Canterbury Club appears to have been founded in 1872,.the Auckland Club in 1877, and the Canterbury Club also in 1877. • Had performances been adequately recorded, it is quite likely that some ot them would have made a better showing in the history of colonial athletics. This, although a reasonable conjecture, is no more than conjecture. ■What is certain is that South Canterbury gave -the first impulse to the colonial-wide movement, destined to fall short of immediate and complete success. / New Zealand Association Formed South Canterbury's led to the initial meeting—on the date given above. It was held, in accordance with the thenprevalent custom of sportsmen to hold their meetings in public places of resort, at Warner's Hotel, Christchurch. A published report gives particulars fairly definite. From this it is learned that "tho following were present: Messrs. Bunny (representing Hawke's Bay), Blanchard (Dunedin), Anson and Cuff i(CTiristchurch), Teschemaker and Rhodes (South Canterbury). The Southland Club wrote saying that they would be.pleased to join the association and would be bound by the decisions arrived at by the delegates. Auckland refused to join. Mr. Rhodes was voted to the chair arid briefly explained that the object in view in forming the association was the furtherance of athletics in New Zealand. It was resolved that the association be called 'The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association.' " An executive sub-committee was formed, consisting of Messrs. Bunny, Anson, Cuff, Teschemaker, Clulee and Loughnan. Mr. Cuff was appointed secretary pro tcm. He held the office for years, and is remembered as one of tho most capable and energetic promoters of athletics in Canterbury; from his home in Dallington the first crosscountry championship of New Zealand *as started—in September of 1887. 'Jhat this should have been the first competitive e ent in New Zealand athletics can be regarded as an augury'of the notable distinction since won by the •dominion in producing distance runners. Differences of Opinion From the quotod report it is evident that at first the organisation was a union of clubs. In 1903 the creation of four centres —Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago—instituted a new order. Two''additional centres have since been created —the West Coast cf the North Island and the Hawke's Baj''Povertv IJay. Differences of opinion on matters of administration soon marred proceedings. These differences must bo included in the accidents liable to happen in even the best-regulated .families. They have Jot been allowed to wreck the associaJ'°n. In 1905 its headquarters were transferred to Wellington, where they have remained. From sources of information other than the published report it is possible TO a dd a few details. Initials of some present at the initial meeting identify these as Messrs. E. P. Bunny, A. W. Blanchard, 11. V. Anson, L. A. Cuff, T. ueseheninlior and A. 10. G. Rhodes. Mr. F. ('lulee, of South Canterbury, was aso present. Tho first president was Mr C. (J. Corf'e, headmaster of Christ's v-ollege, a man of exceptionally fine Physique and outstanding personality, fie mid earlier won athletic renown in 'the Ol f | Country, and besides his activny> the association's contests as competitor and official was prominent ns a Provincial cricket representative from J °7l to 1881. A stalwart helper of tho ®ssociation for almost the whole period £ existence has been Mr. W. G. Atack, a veteran journalist of Christchurch. <

Jn this jubilee year there should be Eratefiil recollection of the men so IKnolehcartedlv devoting time and «nergy to the association, the pioneers ®nd also those carrying on the work in *®ter years. Too oft<>n institutions of enuring value to the community are • j or P ran ted," as if they arose #nd continue to exist by a sort of Spontaneous energy, with a mysterious Virtue innate in itself.