AMATEUR ATHLETES MEET

Evening Star, Issue 19661, 14 September 1927, Page 3

AMATEUR ATHLETES MEET

HEN FOB TRAINING OTAGO CESTBE'S SCHEME No effort is to bo spared in regard to having Otago strongly represented at the New Zealand amateur athletic championships next December, and those athletes picked tor special traming met the Training and Coaching Committee of the Otago Centre of the Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in the Y.M.C.A. last night, the centre president (Mr E. L. Macasscy) presiding over a good attendance. The Chairman explained that tie athletes had been called together at the request of the Training Committee, and when the need arose the trainees would be able at any time to refer to members of the committee. IJo was pleased to sec so large an attendance, and stated that be thought the Training Committee's scheme of selecting likely representatives for training was a good one which should do much to increase the keenness of the men. The h-st ot names announced would ho added to or names might he deleted Irom it according to the form shown as the season progressed. The Otago team would probably be finally selected on the lorm shown at the provincial championships, but the present training scheme should greatly benefit men with chances ol gaining representative honors. Members of the committee would attend the Caledonian Ground regularly, and would act in an advisory capacity. tJie work of the club coaches or private trainers would not he interfered with, hut the committee would be pleased to rrive any advice on training that might be required by the individual trainees. Lectures were being arranged, and among those who would address tlie trainees would ho jVlessrs W. »T. (on sprinting), J■ Beat-son (long-dis-tance running), Hector Burk (nnddledistance running), and b. Harvey (jumping). The committee members would lie pleased to have suggestions from tho trainees, and the coalman wont on to say that it was hoped to have a strong team representing Otago at the. Now Zealand championships at Christchurch. He hoped tho athletes would do their best to co-operate in raising funds to send the team away. Though it might not he possible to pay the expenses of the whole team, the Otago Centre would do its best in getting'as much money as possible to send the team a wav. It was the centic s intention to have as many evening meetings as it possibly could during the coming season, which it was hoped would he a memorable one in tbo history of tlie sport. The first lecture of the season would he held at the Caledonian Ground on Wednesday next, at o.do. .. ~ Mr E. C. Isaacs (convener ol tho Training and Selection Committee) endorsed Mr Macassey’s remarks in regard to tho committees activities, and stated that it was hoped this year to he represented at the Now Zealand championships by two men in some events. Tho committee hoped to arrange a series of try-outs for the trainees over the various distances during the coming season apart from the evening meetings, hut it should bo clearly understood that the work ol the club coaches would not bo hampered in any way unless it was thought that some of the trainees wore beiim overworked, or vice veisa. Mr W. J. Duff, a member ol tie Training Committee, said that he thonghTa set schedule for the trainees was not satisfactory, and that individual attention would he necessary to secure the host results. He gave those present some interesting hints on training, and said (hat those who trained consistently would receive the most consideration when the Otago team was selected. . , „ T Messrs E. A. Bastings and I<. J. flolfo also spoke, the meeting closing with a vote of thanks to the chau.