AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22709, 23 October 1935, Page 15

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

ANNUAL MEETING j The annual meeting of the Otago Centre, New .Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, was held last evening. Mr C. W. Clark presided over a large attendance of delegates. , . Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the chairman referred to the passing of the late president, Mr E. L. Macassey. He said he considered that the best method of preserving his memory was to push amateur athletics in the province. The chairman also referred to the performances of J. L<>Yf" lock in winning the International Mile Race at Princeton, U.S.A., and L. 0. MLachlan in returning the best race ot his career at the Melbourne Exhibition. It wa« regretted that when visiting teams visited New Zealand the visiting athletes were allowed onlv a few clays in each ■•entre, and thus local athletes were deprived of a chance of obtaining advice or coaching. Otago's representatives in the New Zealand cross-country team which competed in Australia were W. I'ullar and R. Geddes. Both men performed well, and Pullar was successful in gaining second place in the test race. Reference was also made to the successful competitors of the past season. Two losses suffered bv the centre were the resignations of Messrs J. Burk (starter) and P. W. Breen (vice-presidentj, who had given outstanding services to the centre. Two new clubs had been affiliated during the season, Roxburgh and Gore, and. with the population around Gore there was no reason why there should rot be a strong club there. The thanks of the centre were due to Mr R. 0. Johnson for the able way he had managed the team at Wanganui. Athletes would be pleased to know that their former sports secretary. Mr n. T Emmerson, who had been laid aside for so long, was now progressing very favourably. Mr Clark paid a tribute to the work of the centre .officials, specially mentioning the treasurer (Mr VV. H. Masters) and the secretary (Mr l. M Brydone). The centre was also indebted to Mr R. Maxwell, groundsman at the Caledonian Grounds. Seconding the report, Mr E C. Isaacs said that although the year had been a difficult one, there was hope for the coming season with the material that was available, and with the growing keenness of the country clubs. If the tour of the Victorian athletes were arranged it would give the sport a big stimulus. Mr Isaacs congratulated the Anglican Club on fostering scratch racing, which had proved very successful, ana had been instrumental in raising the standard of athletics in Otago. Referring to the English-Finnish tour, Mr R. 0. Johnson said he thought the financial loss on this occasion was brought about through Otago being allotted an evening meeting instead of a Saturday afternoon meeting. The report and balance sheet were adopted. OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr W. B. Taverner; president, Mr G. Tapley; vice-presidents —Messrs C. W. Clark, E. C. Isaacs, and R. Thompson; secretary, Mr T. M. Brydone; treasurer, Mr W. H. Masters; sports secretary. Mr K. Miller; auditor, Mr A. C. Melville; starter, Mr H. J. C. M'Kenzie; assistant starter, Mr R. Thompson; surveyor, Mr F. J. Williams; timekeepers Messrs T. P. Williamson, C. A. Lucas, sen., J. B. Nelson, A. J. Holloway and W. H. Matthews; record clerk, Mr R. Watson: radio steward. Mr L. M'Millan. Sub-local officers: Balclutha, Mr G. H. Mitchell; Milton, Mr U. Walker; Central Otago, Messrs F. Perkins, H. Hesson and J. C. Stevenson; Oamaru, Mr R. E. Dimick. Sports Committee —Messrs G. Tapley (chairman). C. W. Clark. E. C. Isaacs, R. Thompson, T. M. Brydone, W. H. Masters, R. Watson, B. R. M'Kernan, J. Gerken. R. 0. Johnson, W. T. Ryan and K. Miller; Finance Committee — Messrs G. Tapley (chairman), W. H. Masters. E. C. Isaacs, B. R. M'Kernan, C. W. Clark and T. M. Brydone; trustees of trophies—Messrs C. W. Clark. W. H. Masters and K. Miller; track handicapper, Mr B. R. M'Kernan; field handicappers, Messrs H. D. Morgan and W. J. Bennett. Mr 0. W. Clark was appointed deputy chairman. . GENERAL. Mr B. R. M'Kernan moved that the minute awarding the Ness Cup to the runner scoring most points in mile races be rescinded and that the cup be awarded to the winner of a mile race, to be held at half-time of a Rugby match.—Thiß was carried. Mr W. H. Masters moved that capitation fees be increased to 3s.—lt was decided to hold this over till tha next monthly meeting. The date of the Otago Championships was fixed for February 8, at the Caledonian Grounds. It was agreed to award the Hope Cup to the athlete adjudged by the president and vice-presidents as the best all-round athlete of the season. A motion was carried that a coach be appointed for the ensuing season with power to secure other members as assistants, and that the clubs be asked to nominate members they wished to be coached; in view of the New Zealand championships.—Mr R. 0. Johnson was appointed to the position of coach. MONTHLY MEETING. Prior to the annual meeting, the business for the monthly meeting was dealt with. VICTORIAN TOUR. A letter was received from. the secretary of the Roxburgh Club (Mr W. J. Young), who stated that, although a meeting of the committee had not been held, members of the committee had agreed that arrangements for an appearance of the Victorian athletes at Roxburgh were quite satisfactory.—Received. The secretary of the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club (Mr G. M'Anergney) advised that January 4 was out of the question for an appearance of the Victorian athletes at Invercargill on account of the fact that the M.C.O. cricket team was playing there on that date. January 11 or IS were the only alternatives. —Received. , Several clubs and members of the centre undertook to provide guarantees in connection with the Victorian tour, the whole natter being referred to the tours subI'Oniniittee. , Mr T. M. Brydone was appointed as manager for the teams' tour of Otago. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the secretary of the Caversham Club suggesting j that evening meetings should start at 6 o'clock throughout the season, and that a time table of events should be drawn up before the closing of entries and rigidly adhered to.—This was referred to the Sports Committee. The secretary of the New Zealand Council (Mr H. M'Cormick) advised that the attention of the Administration Committee had been drawn to an advertisement which had appeared in the press ;n which L. C. M'Lachlan was featured advertising a patent food. As this, on the face of it, appeared to be an infringement of the rules, he asked that the centre obtain-an explanation from Mr .M'Lachlan. —It was decided to write to (he council pointing out that R. Rose's mime hid appeared in an advertisement, and that Canterbury athletes' names had appeared in shoe advertisements. A satisfactory answer had been received from Mr M'Lachlan, and it was decided to leave the matter of a reply in the hands of the secretary. A letter was received from the New Zealand Council stating that it had decided to accept with thanks the Otago Centre's; offer to provide a trophy for the 440 Yards Championship event, the trophy to be called the E. L. Macassey Memorial Trophy, and the conditions governing the trophy to be approved by the Administration Committee of the council.

The New Zealand Council wrote approving of February 28 and 29 as the dates for the New Zealand track and field championships;—Received. The secretary of the Gore Amateur Athletic Club wrote asking the centre to urge the council to reconsider the application for the reinstatement of J. Stewart, J. Dixon, and H. Windle, who had been asked to stand down for some time. —it was decided to write pointing out the circumstances, and asking the council to reconsider its decision. An application for reinstatement was received from M. H. Spain, Cromwell, and it was decided to forward it to the Isew Zealand Council with a favourable recommendation. The secretary of the New Zealand Council advised that the Roxburgh Amateur Athletic Club had been granted affiliation, subject to receipt of the amateur declaration, and it also advised that the Gore Club had been granted affiliation.—Received.

The secretary of the New Zealand Council advised that it had given the following ruling in regard to wheelbarrow derbies:—"That a warning be issued by the council advising athletes against accepting cash prizes for wheelbarrow races."—Received. The secretary of the Roxburgh Club advised that Mr I!. 0. Johnson had agreed to act as its delegate on the centre. — Received. . The South Tuapeka Amateur Athletic Club applied for affiliation, and it was decided to forward it to the New Zealand Council with a favourable recommendation. GENERAL The chairman extended the centre's congratulations to L. R. M'Millan and B. R. M'Kernan on gaining first and second places respectively in the Modified Marathon Road Race and to the Civil Service Club on winning the Nickels Cup for the best aggregate in the Port and Modified Marathon Road Races. Mr E. C. Isaacs was appointed as the centre's official representative at the secondary schools' athletic championships at Inver'cargill on November 2.