SCHOOL SPORT IN OHURA

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 13

SCHOOL SPORT IN OHURA

ANNUAL ATHLETIC MEETING

FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL.

CRICKET MATCHES AND SWIMMING

(By

T.B.R.J.)

The chief sporting event of the yeai for school children in the Ohura is the annual amateur athletic meeting held in March at the Niho Niho showgrounds. Children from every school of the Ohura district assemble annually to compete for individual prizes and championship events for the handsome shield donated, by the Taranaki Education Board, the championship banner, points cups for the highest points scored by boy and airl, and a handsome cup donated by the Ohura Oddfellows’ Lodge for relay races. Special trains are run from both ends of the district, and between about 10 a.m. and 4 pan. a programme of from 90 to 100 events, jumping and racing, for both girls and boys are conteTht sports are conducted by the teachers of the district, with the aid of the settlers and parents. These functions were first begun in 1927, large y through the efforts of Mr. D. Mackay, headmaster of the Ohura school, and Mr. E. Coleman, headmaster of the Mahirakau school, who were the first chairman and secretary respectively of the schools’ association then formed. When Mr. Coleman left the district Miss L. Dalefield became secretary of the association, while at present Mr. W. Wagstaff ,of Ohura, and Mr. R. Julian, of Otangiwai, are chairman and secretary. The Taranaki Education Board shield and the championship banner have been held by the following schools: 10-7, Mahirakau; 1028, Mahirakau; 1929, Ohura; 1930, Mahirakau; 1931, Matiere; 1932, Matiere. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. Every year the primary schools compete for a football championship banner. Teams from the Ohura, Heao, Niho Niho and Matiere schools arc included in the competition, while the smaller schools with insufficient players to form a team of their own send their enthusiasts along to play for the nearest school with a team. Football for the boys is played on Saturday mornings, and means long train journeys for every match, but this does not affect their zeal. Football for them is the sport, and many a keen and close tussle have the different schools had to decide who is to possess the coveted banner. Often representative teams from the district play matches with the Taumarunui primary school representatives. Winners of the championship during recent years have been: 1928, Ohura; 1929, Matiere; . 1930, Matiere; 1931. Matiere; 1932, Heao. Boys from the Ohura who have been selected to represent the King Country in the last few years include J. Margan (Matiere), N. Etherington (Matiere), the Leathart brothers (Ohura), J. and N. Dunn (Otangiwai) and H. Fauchelle (Otangiwai). SCHOOL BASKETBALL. In about 1929, through the efforts of the lady teachers, notably Misses Dalefield, Oysten, Shannon’ and Fisher, basketball was introduced into the different schools. The girls soon became as kefin at it as the boys were with their football, end competitions were started between the Heao, Ohura, Niho Niho and Matiere schools. A beautiful banner for annual competition was made by Miss Fisher, and so far the Matiere school has been the winner of it. Cricket is played by most of the schools in the summer, but no organised competition is carried out. Several of the schools play friendly matches, girls as well as boys participating. In an effort to encourage swimming among children, during the last two or 'three years a swimming carnival has been held annually at Ohura, and has been a great success in encouraging children to learn to swim.