FIELD OF SPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23083, 23 December 1944, Page 2

FIELD OF SPORT

South Canterbury Activities Tournament Season Summer sports this season have been checked more than usual by inclement weather. Perhaps lack of practice will be reflected in a lowering of the standard of performances at the various holiday fixtures. If the weather is propitious over the holidays, the restricted play, so far experienced, may give added zest to games. Lost Bowl? On one of the Timaru bowling greens recently, a bowl went off the green and almost buried itself in a hole in the bank. The question as to whether the bowl was alive or dead was debated, the general opinion being that it was dead, as it was off the green. Not having touched the jack, the bowl was in the same position as a bowl which had struck the bank and dropped into the ditch.

Representative Cricket A representative South Catnerbury cricket team will play Ashburton at Ashburton on New Year’s Day. Clubs are asked to select players and submit their names to the selectors, Messrs A. W. Fawcett, W. Brown and T. Souter.

Swimming Championships The New Zealand swimming championships will be held in Wellington at the Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, on January 27.

South Canterbury Trials The South Canterbury Centre will hold a series of trials at the North End Baths on January 9 and if times are up to the required standard a team will be sent to Wellington to compete in the championships. Very few South Canterbury swimmers are fit this season due to limited opportunities to practise because of inclement weather. In Otago, Southland, Wellington and Auckland tepid baths are available and swimmers ‘Ziere should be at the top of their form for the national meeting. If Timaru is to maintain its reputation solid training will have to oe the order of the day for the next few weeks. Fast Riders

Local riders who are registering fastest times on the road this season are: Jim Andreassend, lan Frampton and Merve Luke. Each of these riders has been a constistent starter on the track. All have many wins to their credit and on some occasions have been narrowly defeated.

Competitions Upset The weather has completely upset the usual competitions conducted by bowling clubs. In most cases efforts were being made to advance championship games before the holidays, handicap matches being set aside. The run of bad weather has interfered with programmes, and in some cases it will take clubs all their time to get through before the season ends. Very little can be done in January, which is a recognised holiday month, and that means a rush in February. Champion singles games must be completed before February 10, on which date the champion of champions is to be played.

Cricket Comp Hi on Table So far five games have been played in the senior grade of the South Canterbury cricket competition. The positions of the teams are as follows: Star nine points; Old Boys eight; West End six; Temuka four: High School four. High School will not field a team during the school holidays.

Good Junior Swimmer Geoff Moore’s 19 3-ssec for the 33 1-3 yards at the swimming sports of the Waimataitai School was an outstanding performance for a junior boy who has two more seasons to swim in this class. Good general ability was shown by contestants, but due to lack of practice because of the wet season, times generally were slower than usual.

Appeal to Past Cyclists Looking up last season’s records the names of quite a number of cyclists were noticed who are not competing now, but still live in Timaru. They would be welcomed back into the ranks again and with several new riders starting in 1945 the club would really be proud of its active members. Fourteen or 15 years ago, it was common to see up to 12 or 15 riders from Temuka start with the Timaru Club. Waimate, Pleasant Point and Geraldine were also represented then and it would be a pleasure to see them back again. Centre Fours

The fours competition conducted by the South Canterbury Bowling Centre is still in doubt, but will not be completed until the New Year. The second round, scheduled to be played on November 18, was finally decided last Tuesday night. Timaru secured two wins, while Ashbury suffered one loss. The leading teams now are: Timaru 36, Ashbury 30 and Pleasant Point 24. In the fourth round Timaru have two games to play, and Ashbury and Point one. Should Timaru lose both games, and the other two clubs win. all three will be level. Timaru need one win only to secure first place, and as they are drawn to play both games on the home green, they have every chance of success

Promising Players In the last two seasons many promising players have made their debut in the senior ranks of South Canterbury tennis. With the introduction of interclub matches these players will get the opportunity of gaining match experience. Possibly a few of them will make the representative grade as matches have been arranged with Mid-Canter-bury, North Otago and Temuka Town and Country. As a Memorial

Recently a gentleman, anxious to give some token as a memorial to a friend who had made the supreme sacrifice in the service of his country, was frankly puzzled as to what form this should take. In discussing the question he pointed out that the lad who gave his life for his country was keen on athletics, and this was his main sport. This gentleman was not in favour of giving a memorial cup for annual competition, but suggested that he might supply some necessary gear that the club used for competition and have a memorial plate attached. From this proposal quite a range of helpful suggestions were forthcoming. For instance a set of tubular steel hurdles would be a fitting proposal and a useful asset to any athletic club. These hurdles could be given as a memorial or even a token of thanksgiving for those who have returned and a plate with the necessary inscription giving details and name of donor could be properly attached to the hurdles. In the Dominion there are only two sets of tubular steel hurdles, and they are unbreakable and everlasting. This principle could also be applied to gear for field events. Discus, shot, hammer, javelin (plate to head of javelin). This form of memorial could be even more helpful and serve the desired purpose more than memorial cups for competition. New Year Tournament Good entries are being received for the New Year championships. Many prominent South Island players will take part and there should be a high standard of tennis. Maori Park is receiving much attention at present and if favourable weather is experienced in the next few days, the courts should be in much better condition than they were last season. Holiday Meetings Local competitors will be well catered for with the meeting on New Year’s Day at the Caledonian grounds. Such events as 100yds. 220yds, 440yds. 880yds and one mile are included in the programme. Providing sufficient entries are forthcoming a 100yds scratch race will be run. A field consisting of Keith Plunkett, Jack Kelly. J. Annear, Geoff Anneal, Athol will- Kl.l.nid Comer. Dave Batten and Ken Taylor would bring together some ni the best printing talent taking pail in these events in the Dominion. Learn to Sprint With no road racing until January 6 it is hoped that every rider representing the Timaru Cash Cycling Club will take advantage of the opportunity of gaining valuable track experience

at the New Year meeting. One can not hope to be a top notch road rider unless one can sprint well. Many riders in the past have enjoyed temporary success when competing from a long handicap or middle mark, but In the majority of cases they have only been mediocre performers. In 90 per cent of finishes, when the field bunches up, the sprint is won by a scratch man. because he has the snap to take advantage of a lead-out. To hook the wheel of the most likely man and let him give you the If ad-out to within 30 yards or so of the finish and then sprint out for a half wheel victory, can only be done by practice. Take Phil O'Shea’s advice and ride on the track even if it is only to develop your sprint for the road. Open Grade The South Canterbury’ Lawn Tennis Association has commenced an open grade competition in which Aorangi. Wai-iti. St. John’s and St. Mary’s are taking part. The Association is desirous of as many clubs as possible entering this competition. Canterbury Championships Three junior players of Timaru showing good promise are taking part in the Canterbury Championships. They are: Miss M. Adam and J Green, who won the So ‘h Canterbury junior tennis titles last year, and J. Adam who will later go to Auckland to compete in the New Zealand junior championship. Christmas Tournament Quite a number of visitors will be participating in the Christmas bowling tournament, which opens on Monday with the rinks, to be followed on Tuesday bv the pairs. Even with two or three days of sunshine, the greens will not be as fast as they were last year, as they are all well grassed.