Youth at Play

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 322, 5 April 1928, Page 15

Youth at Play

MONSTER SPORTS MEETING

Over 8,000 Entries

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S DAY

YOUTH in all its glory, on tlie tlireslihold of manhood and womanhood, radiating happiness and goodwill, was the dominant feature at the Domain to-day, a red-letter day for the children of Auckland when they vied with each other f on the field of sport for the laurels that some day they may proudly show to the generations to follow.

THE future citizens of a great country, these young Aucklanders turned out in their thousands for the annual sports meeting conducted by the Auckland Primary Schools’ Amateur Athletic Association. From far and near they came, as far north as Helensville and as far south as Drury, each and every one keen, excited and confident of victory. © Spirits loosened, dreary lessons forgotten, into the free air and beautiful sunshine these children shrieked and yelled themselves hoarse in sheer happiness, and the adults who were present, became young with them. too. Good-tempered, sportsmen to the core, the children revelled in competition. They were out for the day, and a memorable day they made it. Weather conditions could not have been better. The bright sunshine persuaded the girls to don their pretty Sunday frocks of a myriad of colours, and the boys, not so difficult to dress, chose white shirts and black trousers. The youngsters competing, proud that they should be representing their school, were dressed in many instances in the true type of running shorts and shirts, the school colours being proudly borne across their young chests. With over S,OOO entries, representing 51 schools, with an average of 10 heats to each event, the programme was of huge proportions, but a sports committee, under Mr. C. W. Garrard,

referee, consisting of teachers, men » men and women, from all the schools j represented, ran the meeting on clockwork lines. Several events were run at the same time, thus obviating any j delay, and keeping the spectators, who numbered many hundreds in the after- ! noon, in a continuous state of excitement. The school calls, echoed and re-echoed from end to end of the Domain as the competitors flashed past the post, adding more points to the record of the school they represented. The children thronging the grounds must indulge youthful appetites, and the ice-cream and sweet stalls which dotted the ground were doing a record business. Beneath the shade of the | trees were gathered mothers with their flocks when luncheon time came ; around, for no matter how important the occasion children will eat. Commencing at 10 a.m., the meeting ; was continued throughout the after- j noon, the finals being the signals for the greatest excitement of the day. This fixture was stated to be the most successful yet held, and the children will look forward to next year when they can again meet together and do their best for the school. The running events proved most ex- j citing, the finishes in every case being | very close. There were some good | exhibitions of the high jump, while a j one mile bicycle race was a popular | event. The girls’ skipping and over-! head ball game were keenly conested, j