Excellent Hunter Shield Performances

Chronicle (Levin), 24 February 1949, Page 7

Excellent Hunter Shield Performances

(By Ray Wickens) t ;• ideal conditions, Levin atl and cyclists turned on outstanding performances on Monday evening to secure 99 points against the combined efforts of Otaki, Foxton and Shannon, who between thcm gained 63 points. It may be that the Levin renresentation was greater, which . ante'd for the margin, but this fcature appears to have been evident at all such meetings held in the district, as the liome club, except in isolated cascs, has usually gained the major points. It could be assumed that the handicapping by the clubs concerned had some bearing on the results as a whole, and it is felt that an improved systema could be devised whereby a greater measure of uniformity in handicaps would produce keener competition as far as the shield was concerned. Having this in mind, I venture to make tne following suggestions:— That shield events be run on the, handicaps allotted to competitors by their respective clubs through-l out the season, or that short limit' handicaps be allotted on a graded sysl'em for seniors and juniors; tiiat selected senior and junior teams be nonhnated and entered' from each club, say, four in each team. It could no doubt be argued that some clubs would be stronger in athletics and cycling than others, but it must be remembered that our aim is to improve the standard of athletics throughout the( clubs, thereby providing our mem-i bers with opportunities of better-| ing themselves. This can onlv be i attained by making competition. keener and introducing condi- 1 lions which will promote a greater' measure of individual effort. In a previous arti^e I put forward the suggestion, and I do so again, that graded scratch races would prove popular. The outcome of such competition woujd also atlain the objective I have just referred to. Although too late in the season to commence such events, I would like to see clubs foster this aspect of athletics next season.