ATHLETICS

Southland Times, Issue 21581, 19 December 1931, Page 16

ATHLETICS

t±sy “Bystander.") COMING~EVENTS To-day: Afternoon sports meeting at Rugby Park by combined Invercargill and St. Paul’s Amateur Athletic Clubs; Drummond Amateur Cycling Club’s grass track races in evening. December 25: Edendale Sports Society’s annual athletic gathering; Drummond sports; Winton amateur athletic and cycling sports. December 26: Limehills Athletic Club’s annual sports; Roxburgh Sports Club’s annual athletic gathering.. December 28: Wyndham and District Caledonian Society’s annual sports. December 29: Balfour and Longridge Caledonian Society’s annual sports. December 30: Waikaka and Combined Districts Athletic Society's annual sports. January I: Tuatapere Axemen’s Athletic Society’s annual sports; Waikaia Athletic Society’s annual spores; Port Molyneaux Caledonian Society s annual sports; Kelso, Greenvale and North Glenkenich Caledonian Society’s annual sports. January 2: Riversdale Athletic Society's annual sports; Bluff Athletic Club's sports meeting. January 8: Tokanui Caledonian Society’s annual sports. January 9: Wairio Athletic Society’s annual sports. January 16: Otara Sports Club’s annual athletic gathering. January 20: Lumsden Caledonian Society’s annual sport* meeting. February 27 (tentative): Otago track and field championships. March II and 12: New Zealand Amateur Athletic championships at Auckland. AMONG THE AMATEURS APPLICATION FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. THIS AFTERNOON’S MEETING. Now that the opening meeting has been held, the Invercargill Club Committee is wasting no time about getting down to business. At a meeting held last Friday, some very important decisions were made. It was decided to apply for the Otago championships to be held in Invercargill this season, and very good reasons were given in support of the application. There is no doubt that the holding of the championships down here would give athletics a big boost, and the fact that there are now two clubs in existence would give an added interest to them. The Dunedin dubs are short of grounds this year, and this should be a deciding factor in the matter. All Invercargill enthusiasts will await with interest the decision of the Dunedin Centre. A good programme was decided on for the afternoon meeting to bo held to-day at Rugby Park, and it was decided that in the future trophies be awarded on the following basis: Less than six competitors, one trophy value 7/6; six or more competitors, first trophy value 10/6, second 5/-; fifteen or more competitors, a third trophy of value 2/6. This at last brings matters to a definite footing, and general satisfaction should greet this arrangement. Trophies for the last meeting may be had from the treasurer this afternoon. The appointment of a Press steward, record steward, and call steward will help to simplify matters at future meetings, and will no doubt improve the running off of events. Another appointment, that of a postponement committee, was also a wise step, as in the future meetings will be postponed or held on the decision of five members instead of one or two. Rugby Park presented a very busy' appearance on Tuesday night, when some 10 or 12 ladies were putting in some solid training under the careful coaching of Messrs Couling and Pierson. Some more of last year’s runners were out for the first time, and competition is getting quite keen. Some of the girls would like the loan of running shoes, so any boys willing to lend their shoes for ladies' events, and training will be welcomed with open arms. Theoretically', at least. Several local athletes are thinking of going to the Winton Christmas meeting, and with representatives from other clubs present some keen comeptition and close finishes should result. Mr G. Rodger, the Invercargill Club’s president and handicapper, has been appointed handicapper for the running and field events. With the return of Bart. Provo, the Invercargill field events men are assured of the verv best coaching in this line. On Tuesday evening Bart was to be seen hard at work with some new men, and he followed this un with a demonstration of pole vaulting. His return has been welcomed by' one and all, for his loss would have been a big handicap at a critical time. GENERAL JOTTINGS Seasonal Greetings. As this will be the last appearance of this column before Christmas “Bystander” takes the opportunity of wishing to readers a very merry Christmas and an equally happy New Year. To all those athletes, profess-, ional and amateur alike, who from now on will be actively engaged at the many sports meetings Southland boasts during the holiday season, best wishes for success are extended. Similarly “Bystander” hopes that each society will experience a splendid and profitable annual fixture to justify its enterprise in carrying on in what are recognizedly hard times. Winton Sports. Although a number of the old-established ■ country sports societies have deemed it ad-' visable this season to hold their annual gatherings, a very enterprising and optimistic spirit is being displayed by the Winton Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club which

intends holding its first annual sports on the Winton Domain on Christmas Day. Whether the choice of date is a wise one remains to be seen in view of the fact that many people prefer to spend that day quiet, ly at home and also that for those desirous of an afternoon’s sport the Drummond and Edendale meetings provide strong counterattractions, but one thing is sure and that is that many district residents will accord the newly-formed club the patronage it deserves. A programme which reached “Bystander” during the week reveals a variety of events, 17 in all, covering all forms of field athletics. All have attached to them splendid trophies and in addition gold medals will be awarded to competitors gaming most points in running and field events, and cycling respectively. Races for children will be run during the day and interest will be added io the meeting by the presence of Santa Claus and also the Winton Municipal Band. Nominations for all events close with the honorary secretary (Mr C. Hughes) at 6 p.m. on Monday and the handicaps will be declared on Wednesday. Kelso Sports.

A fixture which always comes in for a good share of patronage by holiday-makers is the annual sports meeting of the Kelso, Greenvale and North Glenkenich Caledonian Society held on New Year’s Day. Some idea of the extent to which the sport of athletics has been fostered by the society can be gauged from the fact that this season’s is its 49th annual meeting and that the next will bo its jubilee. Kelso’s is a proud record for which the society deserves every credit and it is to be hoped that district residents and professional athletes alike will combine to make this season’s meeting a bumper one. The Kelso sports, which always provide a splendid picnic outing, will be held on the picturesque Kelso Showgrounds on January 1, commencing at 12.30 sharp. An attractive programme of 30 events has been compiled, a copy being received by “Bystander” this week. Featured thereon are running and field, piping and dancing events. The 135yds Kelso Handicap carries prizes of £4, £2 and £1 respectively, the 75yds New Year Handicap £5, £2 and £4, 220yds Greenvale Handicap £3, £2 and £l, and 100yds Glenkenich Handicap £3, £2 and 10/-. Good prizes are attached to the remaining events and in addition the sum of £5 will be given away during the day in children’s events. Entries for all events close with the secretary (Mr R. Leaek) on the day of the sports and the handicaps will be declared by Mr W. Crawford. Tlie Milton Pipe Band will supply music on the ground and the sports will be wound up with a concert in the evening.