ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 21 October 1927, Page 19

ATHLETICS.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. TO BE HELD IN CHRISTCHURCH. Arrangements for tho New Zealand amateur athletic championships, to bo held in Christchurch on December 9th and 10th comprised the main business of the meetin~ o£ the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association held last night. There were present: Messrs W. C. Flewellen chairman), R. B. Beattie, S. H. Truman, M. Leadbetter, E. S. Harper, A. L. Lewis, W. &'. Ford, and G. S. Lockwood (secretary). The chairman reported on the state of English Park. At present the grounds were not in good order, and much would have to be done. If the park were not much improved in a fortnight's timo they might have to go elsewhere for their evening events at the New Zealand championships. The programme for tho championship meeting was approved, and selectors for the Canterbury team were appointed as follows: Messrs E. H. Cross, C. H. Taylor, and T. Matthews. The date of the trials was fixed for November 26th. The appointment of officials for the championships, was left to a sub-committee. Mr R. Twyncham was nominated as judge of walking at the championships. Country Clubs. Permits to hold meetings were granted as follows: —Halswell, Boxing Day; Darfield, January 3rd; Waikari, Easter Monday; Kaiapoi, Easter Saturday; Amberley, January 2nd; Cheviot and Springfield, December 17th. It was decided to circularise the country clubs to see what support would be forth-coming-for a country championship. Kaiapoi was given permission to hold a bicycle road race on November 17th. Cycling. Mr F. Harper said cyclists had been granted the use of Papanui Domain, and had been given permission to put the track in order. A programme for the coming cycling season was approved. Mr T. Matthews was appointed handicapper. The Future. Mr Cross said it was essential to do something to bring more runners and cyclists into the amateur fold. The material was there, but organisation was needed to make them realise that the clubs wanted them, and they should bo able to get five hundred more runners. At present there were under two hundred. Mr Lockwood said the Centre would have to alter its policy. Little by little it had become centralised, taking to itself the work of the clubs. The time was coming when they would have to decentralise. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. E. H. Cross, M. Leadbetter, W. 0. Flewellen, E. S. Harper, and G. G. Lockwood, was set up to consider the matter. Other Business. The Y.M.O.A. Club was granted permission to run a 220 yds open event at their field day on October 22nd. g A programme of flat, cycle, and field events from the Springfield Club, for December 17th, was approved. Applications from A. W. Page and C. H. Taylor for Canterbury representative blazers were referred to the Blazer Sub-committee. The Lancaster Park Board of Control wrote regretting that the use of the park could not be granted except at 15s per meeting. Tho question of contributing towards the cost of a trophy to be competed for at tho New Zealand championships commemorating tho passing of Mr T. K. Sidey's Summer Time Act was referred to the Finance Committee. As no meeting could be arranged in Christchurch for the touring Australian athletes on December 31st, it was resolved to offer Ashburton the fixture, and Timaru a meeting on January 2nd. RANGIORA CLUB. The annual meeting of the Rangiora Amateur Athletic Club was held on Wednesday. The president, Mr G. Whitclaw Watson, occupied the chair, and opened the meeting with a brief resume of the club's activities. In the annual report the committee expressed pleasure at the success which had attended {he club during its first season. The record of the club since its inception nearly 12 months ago had been one of achievement, which, though perhaps not so ambitious bb at first anticipated, had brought for it a solid foundation, and endowed it with a prestige the members might.be proud of. . Continuing, the report detailed the steps which led to tho formation of the club, and stated that the use of Victoria Park was secured for a training ground, and immediate steps were takeu to arrange a series of evining meetings. Five of these meetings were conducted, the first two being entirely devoted to field events. Cycling events were afterwards included, and proved an instant draw to local and outside riders. The success of the meetings was confirmed by the number of entries received, and one of the most gratifying features was that those who competed did so with tho knowlodge that they would earn no reward other than the honour itself. Individual trophies were not offered as the club was faced with tho necessity of keeping expenses as low as possible. Certificates were given for each race, and points allotted the successful competitors. This year, however, it was proposed to provide small trophies. During the year the club acquired two cups, the Watson Cup, through the generosity of the president, and tho other provided by the club. The former was for the most points in athletic events for the season, and. the latter for the most points in. the 'cycling events, the winners being F. Cox and G. . Lukey respectively. At tho conclusion of the final evening meeting the club held a social at which the cups and medals were presented, and the opportunity taken to farewell the secretary, Mr E. 0. Marris, who was leaving the district. Though the membership of 60 was considered very satisfactory, the committee pointed out that a bigger membership would make for the wider extension of the" club's activities, and members were urged to do thier utmost to gain additional members. The state of the club's finances, considering the initial expenditure, was in a satisfactory state, while the bulk of last year's expenditure was non-recurring. The report concluded by thanking those who had lent their services as officials at the meetings, the Borough Council for the use of Victoria Park, the Domain Board for the use of the Domain, the Fire Brigade for the use of its room, and all who had helped in any way to foster the interests of the club. The report, together with the balance-sheet, which showed a small credit balance, was adopted. , . Officials for the ensuing season were elected as follows:—Patron, Mr W. A. Rowse; president, Mr G. Whitelaw Watson; vice-presi-dents, Messrs W. Johnson, E. D. R. Smith, and J. Woods; secretary and treasurer, Mr E. James; delegate to Canterbury Centre Mr E C Marris; auditor, Mr W. A. Rowse; committee, Messrs R. Buckley, F. Cox, K. Clark, A. L. Lockhart, and k. Mills.