ATHLETICS

Southland Times, Issue 22146, 14 October 1933, Page 15

ATHLETICS

THE AMATEURS INVERCARGILL CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. Twenty enthusiastic members were present at the twelfth annual meeting of the Invercargill Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club on Monday evening last. Mr G. Rodger was in the chair and in presenting the report, contratulated the club on the sound position achieved during the year. The harrier season, he said, had been very successful and he spoke appreciatively of the. work done by the Greenhills branch of the club. In the Otago and New Zealand championships the club had done well and with a little luck would have scored first place at the Otago meeting. Their thanks were extended to all those who had so hospitably entertained the Harrier Club during the season. In vacating the chair he thanked the patron, Mr Campbell, and all the officials of the club for the support given to him during his term of office. Mr J. D. Campbell, in seconding the motion, thanked the club for the honour conferred on him as patron. He said he took a very keen interest in amateur athletics and stressed the great heritage that had been handed down to amateurs. He congratulated the club on its sound financial position and expressed his willingness to do anything in his power to help the club to the fulfilment of another successful season.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following office-bearers were elected: Patron, Mr J. D. Campbell (reelected); president, Mr G. Rodger, (reelected); vice-presidents, Messrs J. Page, D. K. Torrance, A. H. Courtis, A. Derbie, R. M. Isaacs, A. J. Geddes, T. Meredith, D. F. Leckie, G. St. V. Keddell, W. Robison, W. Baird, and A. W. Jones; secretary Mr G. McAnergney; treasurer, Mr W. Torrance; committee, Messrs R. J. Smith, A. Couling, J. Loudon, C. Pierson, R. Creeser, W. Walker, H. Giller, A. Derbie, R. Crowther, A. Dcaker, E. Moyle, G. Metcalfe, and H. Canning; handicapper, Mr G. Rodger: starter, Mr A. Couling; auditor, Mr H. R. Wilcox; surveyor, Mr G. St. V. Keddell; timekeepers, Messrs Hobbs, A. D. Burn, G. Munro and J. Page; Delegates Otago Centre, Messrs E. C. Isaacs and J. W. Holley; coaches, Messrs A. Couling and C. Pierson; judges, Messrs D. F. Leckie, A. H. Courtis, A. J. Geddes, D. K. Torrance, R. M. Isaacs, T. H. Meredith, C. Purdue and A. Derbie, sen; delegates to combined committee, president, secretary, Messrs R. Smith, W. Torrance and J. Page.

The opening day was fixed for October 28, the club to combine with St. Paul’s in arrangements. A discussion took place on the venue of the Otago championships and strong views on the desirability of holding them in Invercargill were expressed. It was decided to write to the centre urging that it allocate the championships to Southland. It was stated that a movement was afoot to form a branch at Ryal Bush and the assurance was given that the club would do everything in its power to foster such a branch.

The following were elected new members: B. Watts, J. R. Metcalfe, C. Maine, F. Henry, L. Small, M. Polson, A. Clark and R. Stewart.

After the business of the meeting had concluded Mr Roger paid a tribute to the work of the retiring secretary, Mr W. Torrance. He said he had been in office for two years and the position of the club to-day was largely due to his untiring work on its behalf. This year Mr Torrance had been appointed treasurer and he was pleased to know that they were not to lose him altogether.

The president’s remarks were heartily endorsed and it was resolved that a minute of appreciation be placed on the books. Mr Torrance suitably acknowledged the tribute.

DISTANCE RUNNER VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. A TRIBUTE TO LOVELOCK. A well-known English athlete, lan S. Drew, of Manchester, who represented England in the recent international athletic contests against France, arrived at Auckland last week. Drew was one of the English competitors in the one mile steeplechase, and during the month he proposes to spend in New Zealand he hopes to have the opportunity of participating in some distance running.

“Every athlete in the British Empire must regard the mile record established by J. E. Lovelock with the greatest admiration,” Mr Drew said. “I was especially gratified to hear of it, for I have met Lovelock frequently during recent months, and have raced against him on several occasions. I set the pace for him in the race at White City, London, last year when he was beaten by Comes, the other Oxford distance runner. New Zealanders have every reason to feel proud of him.”