Athletics

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 32, 13 December 1948, Page 5

Athletics

Boys Were Keen: But * Where Was Sister?

(By “Shorty”) Seems we’re really getting some place with this athletic club idea. I say “we” advisedly, because I feel I’m in it to the neck myself—particularly after the way the lads of the village turned out for an informal scamper on Tuesday evening. It was a bit disappointing there were only three girls on the job, but one feels confident that difficulty can be overcome. Altogether, there would have been around 25 competitors, including a promising bunch of juniors. ' • There were signs, of real keenness in the fact that a number of the competitors in the short programme organised and supervised by Rev. R. T. Dodds were country types. Amongst them was R. Dawson, the Te Teko runner who has made a great name for himself as a member of the Rotorua Club. His success story makes a strong argument in favour of a Club here. A correspondent from Matata whose letter appeared in Friday’s paper made a strong point when he called attention to the fact that boys who have learned something of the sport at school have no chance to follow up their fancy for it after they leave. Naturally, no times were taken on Tuesday, and the whole thing was pretty informal, but it satisfied me / that there is talent here that could be developed, and the enthusiasm to develop it. A few of the old Club’s officials have been approached, and are willing to back its revival, but they have made it clear that they don’t aim to put in a lot of their spare time without the full support of an active membership willing to work to make the thing worthwhile. Fair enough. Nov/ it’s over to the boys and girls to get on the track and show their willingness to train. There is to be another informal, sports meeting at the Domain tomorrow at 6 p.m. and, if the support is as good as it was last week, the secretary of the old Club, Mr B; A. Johnson, will be prepared to convene a.meeting to get started on a proper basis. If the Club can gpt itself organised and affiliated in time, there is a good chance of running a day meeting in conjunction with the carnival motor-cycle sports on December 27. ** i