Athletic Club Reviews Very Successful Year

Chronicle (Levin), 20 October 1949, Page 2

Athletic Club Reviews Very Successful Year

The Otaki Amateur Athletic and ! Cycling Club held its annual meeting recently, when the president, Mr. F. J. Edwards, extended a cordial welcome to the large number in attendance. Before proceeding with the business of the meeting, Mr. Edwards said it was his pieasing duty to offer the club's and his own personal congratulations to Earl (Buster) Walsh on his splendid victory in the Otaki to Wellington road race. Early nights and hard training had been caliea xor and the club was lucky in having boys who were not afraid to make sacrifices to ride for it. Mr. Edwards made mention of the fact that Walsh had attained the age of 16 a week before the race. "Little did the Otaki club realise when it first consented to help organise and bring into being the 50-mile road race for junior riders that its meinbers should fill second and then first place in the first two contests," he said. Congratulations were also extendedi by the president to Ian Mudge, winner of three finals on, the Basin Reserve, Wellington, in the one day. This record, said Mr. Edwards, was a very fine one and he felt sure it would stand for some time. The balance sheet presented showed the club to be in the strongest position it had ever enjoyed financially, recffipts for the year amounting to £344 9s 5d. The club could feel that its efforts to promote amateur sport had achieved worth-while results, stated the chairman. He stressed the need for further effort, however, and advised the incoming committee that it must be prepared to help finance the new war memorial hall • and sports area scheme if this was proceeded with. Letters of thanks to Messrs E. T. Bartosh and E. J. Cook, and to the Self Help Oo-op. Ltd., and Wellington Centre, offering congratulations for support and the 'successful outcome of the road race were sanctioned. Suggestions For Season At this stage the chairman introduced Mr. D. Yeates, of Levin, who addressed the meeting briefly on the possible advantages to be attained from the Otaki club joining the West Coast Centre. Mr. Yeates sufcmitted that if Levin, Shannon, Otaki and Foxton were all affiliated to the one centre, much good would result. He appealed for his suggestions to be given consideration. Mr. Edwards thanked the speaker and assured him the incoming committee would deliberate on the views put for ward. Another matter for the incoming committee was the advice that the Physical Welfaro Departmentwould be prepared to assist with physical training. If sufficient inducement was forthcoming, an instructor would visit Otaki, stated Mr. J. Mudge, who had been in touch with the department. Suggestions were forthcoming regarding the possible improved running of Hunter Shield meet- ' ings. Views expressed favoured in the main all "scratch" races, with the general opinion seeking a definite improvement on the system in vogue last season. Other matters to be referred to the incoming committee were the possibility of a club badge being secured, that awards won during the season be presented at a wind-up function, and that club championships be run on a specified night separate from other events. It was tentatively agreed that October 26 be the commencing night for evening sports meetings, and it was reported that the Awapuni jockeys' football team was interested in sending relay teams to Otaki to compete during the season. Officers Elected The election of officers resulted as follows: — Patron: Mr. H. B. Edhouse; vice-patrons, Messrs C. F. Atmore and R. McKeen; president: Mr. F. J. Edwards; secretary: Mr. O. B. Nilsson; assistant secretary: . Mr. R. Taucher; treasurer: Mr. E. J. Cook; trustees: Messrs Cook and Nilsson; auditor: Mr. E. Tooby; management committee: Messrs W. Connor, M. Noble, V. Cahill, M. Seal, J. Sievers, T. Stevens, C. Robinson, C. Pussell, G. McKinley, R. Bills, J. Mudge, F. Brunell, D. M. Gordon and H. N. Gordon. Thirtytwo vice-presidents, all supporters of the club, were elected. Field officials were appointed as follows: — Cycle handicappers : Messrs T. Stevens and M. Noble; athletic handicappers: Messrs M. Seal and N. Gordon; starters: Messrs C. Enoka and C. Pussell; children^ handicappers: Messrs J. Sievers and C. Pussell; , judges: Messrs Cook, Sievers, Robinson, Mudge, Taucher and Scatchard; protest committee: Messrs Housiaux, Cook, Enoka, McKinley, Cahill, Pussell, Edwards and Sievers; wrestling referee: Mr. c. Robinson; announcer: Mr. T. V. Cahill; cycling referee: Mr. M. Noble; club captains: Cyclists, Mr. G. Julius, athletics, Mr. J. Mudge; . time-keepers: Messrs A. Lord, J. Flanagan, W. McEwan, T. Sage and W. and J. S. Connor; black- j board stewards, lap stewards, track , stewards and a programme committee were appointed and aLso : delegates to the centre.