AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10838, 2 March 1921, Page 6

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING TEAMS LEAVING WELLINGTON TO-DAY.' "SUCCESS TO OUR BOYS.” The Wellington and Canterbury teams leave Wellington by tbe mid-day train tooiiv for Auckland for the amateur athletic championship mooting to be held in the northern city on Saturday next. The Canterbury team arrives in Wellington this morning by tho Wahine, and will join the Wellington team here, the two teams travelling together. The Wellington team is being accompanied by Mr A. C. Kitto, as manager; Mr T. W. Leslie is going up to act as starter at the meeting, while Mr A. T. Davies (president of the Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association) goes up as representative of the New Zeuiand Council. Mr A Tremaine (president of the Auckland Centre), writing to Mr Davies, 6ays: "We are very much indebted to tbe Wellington Centro for tbe splendid team, both in quantity and quality, it is sending to Auckland; and I am sure their presence will go a long way to make the meeting a success both financially and otherwise. Arrangements are all well in hand, and given a fine day, I think we can safely say that a good day’s sport, and a financial success will be the result.” _ . At last night’s meeting of the Wellington Centre, tho chairman (Mr A. W. O. Ti avers), on behalf of the centre, wished Mr A. C, Kitto (manager) and the Wellington team leaving to-day for the Auckland ohampionship meeting, all good luck and every success. He knew, he said, that all members of the team would do their best for Wellington, and he hoped that the shield would be brought back to Wellington after March sth. (Applause.) Mt Kitto thanks the Centre fo-r its good wishes, and assured the committee Ihav all members of the team would do their best to bring the shield back. Javelin and discus events are appearing on the programme for the first time at a New Zealand championship, meeting. On this occasion they will be ha.ndicao events only, but- at future championship meetings they will be championship events.

WELLINGTON CENTRE

THREE CLUBS AFFILIATE. iA “COACH” SUGGESTED4. meeting of the committee of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was held at the Y.M.C.A. last night, Mr A. W. O. Travers presidingOn behalf of the executive the chairmaxi, welcomed Mr J. MockruLge, oil® newly-appointed delegate of the Petone Junior Amateur Athletic Club. The programme _foir the Country Clubs championship meeting, to be held at Palmerston N orth on Maroh 26tlh, wan a *An application from the V'aikatiae Amateur Athletic Club for affiliation with the Wellington Centre was granteJAn application for reinstatement was received from Charles S. Mahoney (aged 44), of Hawera. The applicant stated that he had only once competed ait a professional meeting, at Kaponga, in April last, when he won the mile walk. It was decided' to forward the appUcatiou to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, with a favourable re00rndmtUar°nappBcation from Herbert John Clemenc© (aged 31). fs^°?^ Bulls, was also recommended for favourable consideration. , An application for affiliation by Jne Marist Brotherst Old Boys’ Association was granted; as also was an application for affiliation from the East Harbour Amateur Sports Club, Eastbourne. Mr J. O’Sullivan suggested the desirability of the centre employing a coach to bring out the younger athletes. There were, he said, men trying to run three miles, who should run only one mile or in sprint events. Other* who could never jump more than 4ft 6in were competing in high jumps; and men were competing as runners who should be putting the shot or something of that sort. The centre, he stated, could employ a man for five months in the year for £IOO. or £2O a month,, and he could do splendid work in#eaching the young fellows how to run and jump and so on. He -.proposed that a committee of five he set up to go into the matter thoroughly and see what could be done in regard to it. (Hear, hear.) The chairman strongly supported the suggestion that a. committee he set up. ' Mr A. C- Kitto felt that ,£IOO a year was beyond the power of the centre. We had got men in the town whom the centre had collected money to send Home to the Olympic games, who would, he was sure, help in training the rising generation. • _ , Mr Fletcher thought Mr Sullivan s suggestion a very good one. Probably subscriptions to the amount of could be collected, and the centre could find the rest. ■ ~ Mr Hodgson said that Messrs Wilson, Wilton, Davidson, and others had ixoressed their willingness to do what they could in training young runners, and so forth. He suggested that Wellington College. Scots College, and others might be- willing to assist in the matter of a paid coach. Messrs Finn, Fletcher, Travers, Kitto, and O’Sullivan, with power to add, were appointed as a sub-committee to inquire into the matter. A letter was received from the secretary to the Feilding and District Public Schools Amateur Athletic Association stated that over 2000 entries bad been received from twenty-three different schools for this year’s sports meeting. (Applause.) . , .. A resolution was passed congratulating the association on this fine showing.