AUCKLAND SPORTSMAN NOW LIVING AT WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 68, 23 March 1949, Page 5

AUCKLAND SPORTSMAN NOW LIVING AT WHAKATANE

An Auckland representative in Rugby, cricket and indoor basketball and several times table tennis singles champion, Mr F. Paton, formerly of Auckland, who has now come to Whakatane to live, has an impressive sporting record.

Although keen on all sport Mr Paton has probably had more success in table tennis than in any other. He has won the New Zealand singles title once and been runnerup on four occasions. Nine times he was the Auckland champion, twice champion of the South Island and once of the North Island. He has the distinction of being the only player to hold, the New Zealand and North and South Island titles. He has played all overseas champions to visit this country and for the past two years has been ranked No. 3 in the Dominion.

During his long association with football Mr Paton has. played all three codes, Rugby, League and Soccer, all of, them senior grade. He represented Auckland at Rugby six times and for the last two years has been a referee, a service he hopes to continue while at Whakatane.

Familiar with cricket and indoor basketball Mr Paton has had considerable success in these two sports and his knowledge should be of much assistance to followers at Whakatane.

Physical training, a necessity with all sport, has occupied much of Mr Paton’s interest and although he will not join any one club if he is to take up Rugby refereeing he has offered to give assistance in training and coaching to any who would like it. Mr Paton has come to live and work at Whakatane and when interviewed by the Beacon he said he would like to stay in the district, though housing is a problem at present as he wants to exchange his previous home at. Auckland for one at Whakatane. '

His wealth of knowledge of sport should be of immense assistance to the district.