HOCKEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20108, 29 March 1928, Page 4

HOCKEY

WANGANUI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report and balance-sheet of the Wanganui Hockey Association for the year ended March 31 reads aS follows: The Association has enjoyed an extremely good seasoxi and marked improvements were shown iu many branches of our activity. This was the first season of administration under the new constitution and your committee has reason to believe that the clubs have found that the executive side of our game has been much faciHtatcd thereby. I feel confident that with the enthusiasm now prevailing a good season is assured in 1928. Owing to illhealth our popular secretary, Mr B. Pitkctiily, was unable to take office at the commencement of the season, and later found it necessary to resign permanently. Mr Pitkethly was an ideal secretary, and it is with regret that his resignation was received. Locally hockey has made steady progress during the past four or five years and at present is numerically in a better position than ever before. This is a healthy sign, and with th? standard of play improving greatly it may not be long before Wanganui will be in its proud pre-war position of being capable of extending .the best in New Zealand.

Accommodation. —Lack of sufficient funds has to some extent hampered the work of the executive in this direction. Alternative schemes, the first for improved dressing sheds for the men, and the second for an improved playing area, were considered. Your executive decided to concentrate on the latter scheme, and accordingly approached the City Council regarding the same. The Council met us very fairly and subsidised our fund, with the result that a considerable amount of levelling work has been carried out at Gonville Park. The ground is now in excellent order and players this season will benefit by having the use of a really good ground after experiencing rough surface conditions for some seasons. The question of dressing sheds must claim the attention of the incoming executive, as the matter is really an urgent one; the more so because the number of players is steadily increasing and the present accommodation is quite inadequate. A fair sum was spent by your committee in making goal nets of a substantial nature and two sets of proper rope nets were also obtained. The equipment of the Association is therefore now in good order. Representative Matches.—The Association had a very small season in this respect. Two matches were played by the men and only one by the ladies. The men won both their games by narrow margins, the first against Feiiding and the second against Taihape. Both matches were played on our opponents’ grounds. As they represent the first wins recorded by Wanganui for some seasons, they may be taken as representing to some extent the improvement in the play locally. The ladies’ match was against Feildin/ being a challenge for the Harper Cup, but though they made a good effort, they had to acknowledge defeat. It behoves the Association in the coming season to make a genuine effort to lift the Norden Cup and Winter Shield, for which trophies we did not challenge in the past season. Congratulations.—We extend our congratuitions to the N.Z.H.A. on the splendid results of the Australian tour undertaken by a New Zealand representative side, also to our president, Mr R. L. Thompson, on his appointment as selector for both North Island and New Zealand representative teams. Two of our players, A. O. Cave and J. Tizard, obtained their place as North Island representatives. Schools Hockey.—This is now on a sound footing as far as the girls are. concerned. The competition was played throughout with the utmost keenness, and the season was concluded with the usual seven-a-side tournament. The championship cup was won by Aramoho, while Avenue were successful in the seven-a-side tournament. No attempt has been made to introduce hockey for boys, and this will be considered by the incoming executive. Inter-club Competitions. —The past season saw the keenest contest for some years for the men’s senior championship. There was little to choose between three of the teams, and some keen struggles were staged. Finally Hinemoa retained their grasp on the and congratulations are to be extended to thathclub on its splendid record. A one-round competition for the Bijou Cup was won by Old Boys after a keen contest. In matches for this trophy the winners displayed excellent form, and undoubtedly deserved the honours.

The ladies’ championship was won in hollow fashion by Old Girls. It is to be hoped that in future this team will be supplied with stronger opposition, as they were seldom extended during the past season. The junior grades in both ladies’ and men’s competitions were won by the same clubs as annexed the senior honours. That is, Hinemoa in the men’s, and Old Girls’ in the ladies’. The Hinemoa junior tC4<ni was far too strong for its rivals and was probably near senior grade standard. The five-a-side (men’s) and seven-a-side (ladies’) tournament proved a great success. After some excellent contests St. Andrew’s defeated Hinemoa in the final to secure the honours in the men’s senior grade. The junior division was won by Hinemoa. Old Girls’ accounted for the ladies’ sections, thereby making a ” clean sweep” of the ladies’ trophies for the season. The various trophies won during the season were as follows: Men. Championship Shield. —Hinemoa. Thompson Cup.—St. Andrew’s. Bijou Cup.—Old Boys. Junior Cup.—Hinemoa. Senior Five-a-Side Cup.—St. Andrew ’s. Junior Fivc-a-Sido Cup.—Hinemoa. Ladies. Senior Cup.—Old Girls. Junior Cup.—Old Girls. Seven-a-Sido Cup.—Old Girls. Social Activity.—The social committee of your Association promoted two functions during the season—the annual dance, and the social evening for the distribution of trophies. The latter event was as usual a conspicuous success, and our thanks are due, to the social committee for the time and

energy given towards making the even ing such an enjoyable one.

Finance.—As will be seen from the balance-sheet, the Association is a satisfactory position financially, a credit balance of about £lB being disclosed. It should be borne in mind also that a groat deal of the past season’s expenditure for equipment and improvements to ground will be of a non-recurring nature. With the limited sources of revenue at our command your Association may be well pleased to retain a credit balance.

Thanks.—ln conclusion our thanks are due to all those who helped to make the sport more enjoyable to both players and supporters, and especially we. would mention the following:—The referees; the groundsmen at both Gonville and Peat Parks; the St. John Ambulance, for their attendance with the valuable every ready °Zam Buk” kit; the City Council officials, Messrs [Staveley and Tucker, and members of the Reserves Committee, for many courtesies; the Y.M.C.A., for use of their rooms; the Press, for support in their columns; and finally the donors to our funds, to all of whom we are very grateful. SEASON’S PREPARATIONS TIKI LADIES’ CLUB. The annual meeting of the Tiki Ladies’ Club held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms was well-attended. It was unanimously decided to affiliate with the Wanganui Ladies’ Hockey Association now in formation. Great enthusiasm was shown by old and new members at the prospect for the coming season. The meeting adjourned until next Wednesday night.