ATHLETICS

Southland Times, Issue 22140, 7 October 1933, Page 15

ATHLETICS

INVERCARGILL HARRIER AND AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB.

With the holding of the annual meeting on Monday night, the Invercargill Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club will commence the new season’s activities. The harrier season was very successful and the indications are for another good summer on the track. Amateur athletics have gained a strong hold in Invercargill and the annual report printed below will show that the club has every reason to be hopeful of the success of the incoming season. The report to be submitted at the annual meeeting states: — It is gratifying to be able to say that the past season has been one of the most successful yet experienced by the club. The support of the public was disappointing, but the standard set by the competing members was of a high order, as a review of the year’s work will show. The events, as usual, produced exciting finishes, and we attribute this to the excellent handicapping of Mr G. Rodger, and the good work of the starter Mr J. Holloway. During the season, owing to lack of support from the public, only two evening and one afternoon meetings were held, but the members of both amateur clubs in this city very loyally supported the meetings conducted by the country clubs, and we wish to take this opportunity of conveying our thanks to the Wyndham Club for the assistance given.

One of the greatest successes that the club has yet attained has been the formation of a branch at Greenhills. This branch was formed last year, and its growth has exceeded all expectations, and we wish to convey our thanks to them for the whole-hearted support that they haves given us. both in the track and harrier season. The club hopes in the incoming year to go a step further and form another branch at Waikiwi. Ample support has been promised,- and the support of the Greenhills Club is an incentive for the members of the club to give it every assistance.

The yearly championships were held on Rugby Park on Saturday, February 18. We were fortunate in securing the visit of a team of athletes from Dunedin, and in a close finish C. Rout, of the club, was successful in securing the gold medal presented by the Otago Centre for most points scored at this meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting the visiting athletes were entertained at a dinner in tire Federal banquet hall. At the annual meeting of the Otago Centre the Otago Championships were allotted to Invercargill, but unfortunately, at a subsequent meeting the motion was rescinded, it being decided to hold the championships in Dunedin on March-4. At this stage we would like to pay a tribute to the fine work of the club’s delegates, Messrs J. Holley and.E. J. Isaacs, also the president, Mr G. Rodger, for the determined manner in which they supported our cause. A team consisting of C. Rout, R. Creeser, A. Derbie, E. Fish, J. Purdue, I. O. Manson, T. Pickering, W. Bruce, D. McDonald and Miss Withington journeyed to Dunedin, and the following are the results of their performances:—A. C. Derbie, first 100yds., second 220yds; E. Fish, first 220yds, second 440yds; T. Pickering, first 440 yds; I. O. Manson, first 120yds hurdles, first 440yds hurdles; R. Creeser, first in javelin; D. McDonald, second high jump, third hop, step and jump. It is a record that any club may be well proud of, as six championships were annexed, the most secured by any individual club. The club was > again runner-up for the list shield, being 3% points behind Anglican Club, Dunedin. Congratulations are extended to the Anglican Club on winning the shield again. To the Otago Centre and Mr and Mrs Bean, we wish to convey our thanks for warm welcome given to the team and members of the club. Messrs Fish, Manson, Pickering and Creeser were all selected to represent Otago at the New Zealand Championships, and for the first time since 1925 R. Creeser was successful in bringing a New Zealand title back to Invercargill. I. Manson ran second it the hurdles. The other members, although unable to reach the finals, ran exceedingly well. Following are the winners of the club cups for the past season:— Invercargill Club Challenge Cup (Harrier Division), G. Ker; Provo Club Challenge Cup (Harrier Division), G. Sutherland and H. Canning (equal); Alex. Derbie Challenge Cup (Secondary school senior competition), V. Forde; Herbert Smith Trust Cup (Junior competition) L. Small.

Harrier Branch. The harrier branch of the club has grown considerably, and has now been firmly established. The runs were given more support than that of previous years, probably due in a measure to the interest taken by outside supporters. Our thanks are due to Mr and Mrs R. M. Isaacs, Mr and Mrs. A. W. Jones, Mr and Mrs T, Meredith, Mr and Mrs T. Rodgers and Mr and Mrs J. Bruce for the teas given at various times during the season. At the conclusion of the season a wind-up was held in the Mary Elizabeth tea rooms where the shield was presented to St. Paul’s Club who once again proved too good for us in this branch of the sport. We desire to congratulate them in winning both races, and also A. E. Hind of St Paul’s in running into first place in the two races. During the season a club five mile road race was held, and in a close finish G.' Ker proved the winner, thus obtaining the Invercargill Club Challenge Cup as club champion for 1933. We also wish to thank the Invercargill Cycling Club for the assistance given to us at meetings in the shape of Cycling events. This sport has added attraction to our meetings, and the close finishes were appreciated by us all. Our thanks are also due to the members and officials of the St Paul’s Club who gave every help in making the meetings a success; also to the Southland Rugby Football Union and the caretaker for the use of Rugby Park. The club is indeed fortunate in having such delegates in the Otago Centre as Messrs W. J. Holley and Mr E. C. Isaacs, and the work done and support given to the club is indeed appreciated to the fullest extent.

The statement of receipts and expenditure shows a credit balance of

approximately £l3 which must be considered satisfactory indeed. One unsatisfactory item in the balance sheet is £1 5/6 for outstanding subscriptions etc. We would appeal to those members whose subscriptions are unpaid to help the club by paying up soon. l Several members still owe for badges and monograms, and the committee would like to have these settled as soon as possible. In conclusion, we would like to extend our thanks to the Southland Times and News for the excellent reports of meetings held during the season. For the 1933-34 season we appeal to all members of the club and those interested in the sport generally, to give us their wholehearted support as they have in the past.