PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ ASSOCIATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19946, 2 November 1934, Page 13

PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ ASSOCIATION

SUCCESSFUL YEAR Another successful year has been completed, the number of teams engaged in the competitions being about the same as in previous years, while the standard of play in most branches is very satisfactory, states the annual report of the South Canterbury Primary Schools’ Sports Association. Cricket. The 1933 competition was brought to a successful conclusion in December, the winning team being:—Senior, South; junior, Main. This branch of the Association’s activities was still considerably handicaped by the difficulty in securing adequate and suitable wickets, but it was hoped that during the ensuing season the Association would be in a more favourable position In this respect, owing to the welcome co-operation of the South Canterbury Cricket Association. Nevertheless, the standard of play during the season had been very satisfactory, considering the conditions. Swimming. The annual meeting was held on March 9. Each school was allowed to nominate its best swimmers and the result was most successful. The number of entries received and the manner in which the meeting was conducted both helped to make the meeting the success it was. The results were very closely contested, and the Main School won the shield after a very close contest. The swimming was of a very high standard, while the diving was very good also. During the year 303 swimming certificates were issued to the schools In South Canterbury by the South Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association as compared with 404 last year. This decrease was due to the very bad swimming season. The number of learners’ certificates issued by this Association also showed a considerable increase on last year’s figures.

This year a series of inter-school basketball games was carried out, being keenly contested and played for the sake of the game and not for the result. There were four grades in this year's activities, an extra grade, the fourth grade, being added to that of last year. This idea worked out very satisfactorily, and the standard of play was quite up to that of former years. The number of teams competing was twenty-three, and some very interesting and exciting games were witnessed. Representative games were played against Ashburton in both A and B grades. Both these games were won by South Canterbury by substantial margins. The annual six-a-side tournament again proved a popular and successful event, the number of teams entering being a large Increase on last year. After some very interesting games the following Schools won their respective grades:— A. Grade, West; B Grade, West; C Grade, Temuka; D Grade, Waimataitai; E Grade Ccoimtry section), Washdyke. Rugby. Although the standard of football appeared to be below that of former years, the season was quite a successful one. Again there were two grades in the weekly competition, the senior under 7st, and the junior under 6st. In both grades six entries were received, and some very interesting games were seen. The South Canterbury banner and the Home cup were both won by Marist School, who went right through the season undefeated. The junior cup was won by Mam School. The seven-a-side tournament was a very successful meeting, the number of entries received being far in advance of last year. The winners of the various grades were:—Open, West; under Bst, Marist; under 6st 111 b, Main; under 6st, West A; under sst 71b, Waimataitai; under 4st 101 b, West A; Country Grade, Pareora East. A full season of representative games was played this season, and on the whole South Canterbury’s showing was very satisfactory. The following were the results of the various games:—v. Country, won, South Canterbury 32-0; v. Waimate, won, South Canterbury 3-0; v. Ashburton, senior, lost 9-11; v. Ashburton, junior, lost 8-3; v. Oamaru, won 3-0; v. Christchurch, draw 0-0. There was a movement on foot to revive the annual tournament between primary school representative teams, and it had been suggested that teams from Timaru, Ashburton, Christchurch, and West Coast should hold an annual tournament at alternate centres. But as no definite arrangements had yet been made nothing definite could be stated. The Association wished to thank the Sports Associations and officials of Oamaru, Waimate and Christchurch for the welcome and hospitality extended to the touring teams. Finance. A careful watch over expenditure was kept during the year, with the result that a small credit balance was shown on the year’s working. This would have been considerably increased had the athletic sports meeting been held. A recommendation was made by the Executive that the usual grant to schools for purchase of sports material be given. The Executive recorded sincere thanks to the South Canterbury Rugby Union; to the South Canterbury Referees’ Association, for services generously given at the annual tourna-ment-and throughout the year; Mr A. W. Anderson, curator of reserves; Mr A. B. Rowlands, who had again represented the Association on the Management Committee of the South Canterbury Rugby Union; the Main School Committee, the management of the Regert and Majestic Theatres; and to the newspapers of Timaru for space most generously provided throughout the year for reports of the weekly competitions. In conclusion the Executive thanked all those not mentioned above who had on so many occasions during the year given free and wholehearted assistance, and expressed a hope that the activities of the Association next year would be even more successful.