ATHLETICS

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 11

ATHLETICS

RUGBY PARK CLUB SUCCESS IN COMPETITION At the annual meeting of the Rugby Park Athletic Club Mr V. Vial presided over an attendance of 17 members. Four new members were elected. The following recommendations were sent forward to the league: (1) That judges at society meetings be placed on a stand; (2) that full jackets be used for colours; (3) that if desired a cyclist be allowed to have his own pusheroff at a meeting; (4) that it be a recommendation to starters that a more firm stand be adopted about breaking by runners. The first meeting of the committee was fixed for October 27. A minute of appreciation of the services given to the club by the retiring treasurer, Mr R. G. Webb, was re-, corded. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Mr W. Murdoch, sen.; president, Mr V. Vial; vice-presidents, Messrs J. R. Aitken, J. Matheson, J. Cowie, H. E. T. Sutton, J. Hardy, C. Redpath, H. Booth, J. Bell and J. Forrester; honorary secretary, Mr M. Fahey; assistant secretary, Mr A. Gray; treasurer, Mr I. D. McKenzie; auditor, Mr E. Cowie; club captain, Mr E. Cowie; marshal, Mr F. Sharp; handicappers, running, Mr J. R. Aitken; cycling, Mr F. Hogan; starter, Mr I. D. McKenzie; assistant starter, Mi’ W. Murdoch; time-keepers, Messrs H. P. Campbell, J. Bell and A. McDonald; judges, Messrs J. Forrester, R. G. Webb, H. E. T. Sutton, J. Matheson and J. Hardy; committee, Messrs F. Sharp, E. Cowie, C. Milne, F. Hogan, G. Hoffman, sen., A. Shepherd, R. G. Webb, F. G. Pickering and K. Booth; delegates to league, Messrs H. E. T. Sutton and R. G. Webb.

The fifth annual report of the club states that the club has experienced success in encouraging professional running and cycling in Invercargill. It is also the aim of the club to bring together in friendly competition athletes from the various clubs in the province. Before Christmas a full programme of visits to the various Southland clubs was carried out, and representatives of the club held their own in competitions. The following were the successful competitors for club trophies:—Murdoch Cup, E. Cowie and J. Gallagher (equal); Bell Cup, T. Hogan; Hardy Cup, R. Webb and J. Schultz, Gore (equal); Sutton Cup, E. Cowie; cycling Cup, G: Hoffman, sen., G. Hoffman, jun. and A. Shepherd (equal). The club was successful in retaining the inter-club relay cup. Unfortunately because of the epidemic of infantile paralysis the circuit meetings were curtailed and only the Otautau, Gore and Tuatapere Societies held their meetings. This limitation of meetings accounts for the fact that the cups were not won outright by individual members. Three sheffields were run and Rugby Park members showed good early form to win at Gore and Tuatapere. These were won respectively by J. Gallagher and E. Cowie. The cycling members, G. Hoffman and A. Shepherd, were successful in winning respectively the one mile and two mile events at Tuatapere. A feature of these performances was the fast times recorded. The credit balance is £3 7/2.