ATHLETICS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5310, 24 January 1947, Page 2

ATHLETICS

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• OBy

This season sees athletes from the Waikato area (which inciudes Rotorua) competing * uhder their ownbanner for the first time. Previously, to gain representative honours, an athlete had to be included in the Auckland team for the national championships, and, as a rule, that meant "paying your expenses." The Waikato Centre officially begins its existence next Wedn'esday, with the Anniversary Day meeting at Hamilton, at which the American athletes are to compete. This is an auspicious beginning for a newly-formed centre. With the national championships set~ down for Auckland, later in the year, Waikato should be well represented when first trying its strength against che more firmly established provincial teams. Just as Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay t'ormerly helped Wlellington to retain its supremacy, so Auckland may find the defection of the country districts ;he prelude to its decline in the field of athletics. Those athletes who failed to make tull use of the ipre-holiday period are iow going to find themselves at a disadvantage. The Waikato championships are to be in two sections, the irst day, February ti, at Paeroa, and ;he second," February 15, at Matamata. The Paeroa programme consists of

ladies' and junior tradk events, with senior field events. The Matamata neeting is for the senior track chamoionships, with ladies and junior field ovents. The Rotorua Club will be reoresented at both meetings, and the follawing members have been entered :or the meeting at Paeroa: — Girls ander 16, Miss K. Mansfield; ladies' 75 yards, 100 yards, 220 yards, Misses H. Gunson, P. Hardie, IC. Mansfield; iunior 100 yards, V. Brown; 2201 yards, V". Brown; 880 yards and one mile, C. Dohnt; senior shot, discus and javelin, I. Hedley; high jump and broad jump, J. P. F'ox. These athletes in particular are lrged to make use of every opporanity to train. The lack of .consistent raining was again evident last Monlay evening, particularly at the tinish >f the senior quarter-mile — the facts ;poke for themselves. Now that the town has been fortulate enough to gain the services of Vliss N. Nairn, it is haped that the Rotorua Cluh will again build, up a strong women's section. Miss Nairn's "lerformances last week showed that ;he possesses sufficient ability to comnand the respect of local competitors, md being a qualified physical eulture ixponent, on the staff of the Internal \ffairs Department, she has all the jualifications of a first-class coach. The events for next Monday evenng are: — 75 yards, one mile, shot mt, and broad jump (junior and ;enior). There will also he an open '.20 yards handicap, not cour.ting for he points trophy. Ladies' events: 75 /ards, 120 yards and broad jump.