CHAMPION ATHLETES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 595, 22 February 1929, Page 11

CHAMPION ATHLETES

PERFECT CONDITIONS AT WELLINGTON CONTESTS START TO-DAY (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, To-day. The annual New Zealand Amateur Athletic championships will start at 4.30 p.m., to-day in conditions that are almost perfect. The Basin Reserve track has been put into wonderful order. With the track apparently on the very fast side; and the promise that the breeze would be no more than a light southerly, something very good in the way of performances is to be expected. All the teams except Wanganui and Taranaki are in good form and are confident of success. Owing to severe local trouble the West Coast team was without some of its best members, notably L. Hunt, a discus and hammer thrower, H. E. B. Newton, a quarter and half-mile runner, and A. Black, a sprinter.

The Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A. Troup, extended a civic welcome to the visiting teams to-day at the Town Hall. He recalled the first New Zealand championships held at Timaru in 1887-88 and the championship shield which was first competed for at Dunedin in IS9O, and won by Canterbury. The only break in the championships since then was due to the war and athletics were gaining favour in the Dominion.

He was very plcjased to see that so many new competitors were taking part, and that new blood was being infused into the championships. THE REAL CHAMPIONS

The Minister of Labour, Mr. W. A. Veitch, welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Government and paid a tribute to the many competitors who were not champions, and never would be champions, but who did a good deal for the sport. Sometimes there was a tendency to praise only the winners of titles, but the real champions were those who did their best all the time for the sport, irrespective of personal success.

Not only was sport a fine builder of character, but the visit of provincial teams cemented good fellowship between the different districts and international teams did a very great deal toward establishing international peace and goodwill.

Those who were taking part in the sport were helping to achieve good citizenship, and it should be remembered that a good sportsman was always a good citizen.

The chairman of the New Zealand Athletic Association, Mr. IT. Austad, also welcomed the teams, and said that an endeavour would be made to secure th© best overseas athletes in the world for a tour of New Zealand next season. Th© association was very pleased to see th© advance made in women’s athletics of late.

Mr. E. L. Macassey, of Otago, reified on behalf of the visitors.