Athletics

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 22, 19 November 1948, Page 5

Athletics

Where Is Whakatane Club? -

(By “Shorty”) I decided this week to do some notes on athletics, with special reference to the Whakatane A ma t eur Athletic Club. I asked the editor and he said to go right ahead, butt thought it would be rather pointless. I am keen on athletics and was sure I would be assisting the local club. So much for my intentions, but I found there was only one thing wrong. There is no athletic club in the town. It rocked me for a minute. You see nearly every village I have visited, no matter how. small it is, has a club and certainly every town and city, with one exception. Yes, that’s right—Whakatane. I understand there used to •be a club here, but it died during the war and up to the present has not been revived. That is a great pity, because athletics is one sport known internationally. Young people of the district are being handicapped by having no organised club, which really is necessary. Surely there must be some people with enough interest in a grand sport to get the old club back into action. Perhaps there is no interest. My friend “Splash” says he is havinga hard tussle in the swimming world. To get back to athletics. There is scope in Whakatane for a club, which could be combined with a cycling club. If small country villages can boast one there is no reason why this town can’t. Come on. Wake up, Whakatane!