SCHOOL ATHLETICS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5503, 20 November 1929, Page 3

SCHOOL ATHLETICS.

PLAINS CHAMPIONSHIP SPORTS. ANOTHER MEETING ARRANGED. A decision to hold another athletic championship sports meeting for the schoolchildren of the Hauraki Plains on the lines of the successful meeting which was held last summer was made at a meeting at Ngatea on Friday evening last. Representatives of most of the school committees in the county attended. Mr C. S. Foster was elected to the chair, and presided over Messrs P. Harold, C. Stembridge, R. Lock, L. Sanderson, and T. D. Rice, of Netherton ; N. Clay, W. Thomson, and G. Boswell, of Kerepeehi; C. Mclndoe, T. Foote, E. Harris, and W. Poke, of Kaihere ; L. James and T. O’Carroll, of Kopuarahi; W. McDuff and W. Wylde, of Ngatea ; and A. Otter and G. L. Griffiths, of Waitakaruru. The Waitakaruru representatives were given a cordial welcome, as that district had not taken part in the previous sports. As the expenses of last summer’s meeting were only £34 and there was over £29 in hand, it was agreed that the sports could be held again without appealing to the public for donations. The gate receipts last year were £2O, and it was felt that the public were so pleased with the fare provided that a much bigger gate could be expected this season. It was unanimously agreed that the sports be again held at Ngatea, March 7 being chosen as the date. The Ngatea representatives reported that the ground had become part of the school playing area, and had been considerably improved. In planning these works the Ngatea school committee had kept in mind the needs of the sports. No change was made in the programme other than in the order of events, it being decided that all heats be run consecutively and all finals at the end of the day, but so arranged that competitors would have as great an interval as possible between their events. The chairman and the secretary (Mr W. P. Wylde) were authorised to obtain quotations for miniature silver cups, and to decide whether these or medals should be used as trophies. Various points arising out of the running of last year’s sports were discussed with a view to effecting improvements. To enable spectators to take a greater interest in the events it was decided to number all competitors to correspond with numbers in the programme, and to give all schools a distinctive colour. The colours adopted were : Ngatea, black ; Kerepeehi, red ; Kopuarahi, yellow ; Turua, white ; Pipiroa, red and black ; Waitakaruru, blue ; Netherton, light blue; Kaihere, green; Patetonga, yellow and black ; Orongo, pink ; and Mangatarata, purple. Instead of dividing the classes as “15 years and under,” as was done last year, it was decided to make the limits “under 15 years,” or whatever limit the case may be. All ages will be considered at as December 31. All nominations must be made early, but substitutes will be allowed, although no substitutes for heat winners in the finals will be allowed. The relay races will be on a circular track. The arrangements will be advanced at a meeting on December 13.