AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22987, 16 September 1936, Page 12

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

MEETING OF OTAGO CENTRE The monthly meeting of the Otago Centre, New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, was held last evenine in the R.S.A. rooms. In the absence of the president (Mr G L. Tapley), Mr C. W. Clark presided over the following delegates:—Messrs E. C. Isaacs, J. J. Morris, J. G. Barnes, L. R. M'Milla.i, L. W. Woods. S. I. George, W. J. .'ouns, J. W. Holley, J. Shephard, L. Hill, R. Thompson, C. K. Heaton, J. W. Bond, J. Gerken. H. W. Masters, R. Watson, and T. Brydone (secretary>. Before commencing the business for the evening, the chairman made reference to the passing of Mr W. J. Burk, father of Mr Hector Burk and brother of Mr Albert Burk, who had been honorary starter to the centre for manv years. As a mark of respect, members stood in silence for a few moments. CORRESPONDENCE The New Zealand Council advised that it was in receipt of the certificate from the standard timekeepers with regard to the relay teams at the New Zealand track championships. The Otago team was entitled to one point for equalling the standard in the relay, and this gave Otago the Quensland Jubilee Memorial Shield. The council extended its congratulations. The secretary of the Caledonian Society advised that the centre had been granted the use of the Caledonian Ground on November 7 for the secondary schools' championships. A letter was received from Mr R. N. Watson resigning from the position of record clerk. —Mr Watson's resignation was-received with regret, and it was decided to record a minute of appreciation for his services.—Mr J. Shephard was appointed to the position vacated by Mr Watson. The Collegiate Harrier Club (Invercargill) wrote applying for affiliation. —lt was decided to forward the application to the New Zealand Council with a favourable recommendation. The secretary of the University Harrier Club wrote advising that, following the outstanding success of its former club captain (J. E. Lovelock) at the Olympic Games in Berlin, the University Club had decided to make some permanent commemoration of his achievements. It had been decided to E resent a trophy to be known as the ovelock Olympic Trophy for a track relay between harrier clubs. It was suggested that there be 10 runners in each team, each runner to cover 1500 metres. —It was decided to commend the University Club for its enterprise and to leave the conditions of the race to that club, and, if necessary, the centre w;>uld present a trophy for a sealed handicap to be held in connection with the race.—lt was recommended to the University Club that the race be held a fortnight before the Edmond Cup. GENERAL The secretary reported that next year the New Zealand Cross-country Championship would be held in TimThe secretary of the Harrier Subcommittee (Mr J. Gerken) reported that it was suggested that a marathon race should be held in Dunedin in 1937 with a view to ascertaining the material that would be available for that event at the Empire Games at Sydney in 1938. It was necessary that the runners should be given about 12 months' notice to prepare for the race. —lt was decided to write to the New Zealand Council asking its approval for the running of a marathon in 1937 as an Empire Games trial In the absence of the manager (Mr B R. M'Kernan), the captain of the Otago team, Mr J. G. Barnes, presented a report on the New Zealand Crosscountry championship, and paid tribute to the fine performances of A. R. Geddes and L. I. Curtis in running second and third. The Auckland Centre had extended unbounded hospitality to the visitors, and its organisation of the race left nothing to be desired. The team had also been entertained by former Otago residents.—lt was decided to write to the Auckland Centre thanking it for its hospitality and congratulating it on its control of the fixture. It was also decided to write to several private citizens who had gone out of their way to help the team. It was decided to forward a letter of appreciation to Mr B. R. M'Kernan, manager of the Otago cross-country team, and expressing the hope that he would make a speedy recovery from his illness. P. J. Ward was granted authority to obtain an Otago representative blazer. Mr T. Brydone tendered his resignnation as secretary of the centre. This was accepted with regret, and Mr H. Masters was appointed secretary until the annual meeting, which would be held on Monday, October 19.