WAIRARAPA HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 9 April 1913, Page 7

WAIRARAPA HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report of tho Wairarapa Hockey Association to bo presented at the annual general meeting, to be held at 8 p..m. in the Dominion Hall on Monday, April 11, 1913: — "In presenting tho eighth annual report of the Wairarapa Hockey Association, your secretary desires to congratulate you on the success oi' t'ho 1912 sea-son in our district.. Finance.—lt will be noted, from the baalnce-sheet, that the credit balance .shows a substantial increase, which must be considered satisfactory, and it may have been reasonably expected to have been larger had it notbeen for the exceedingly wet .season experienced, both for competition matches and Nordon Cup contests. The record "gate" for the season was obtained on the occasion of the eleven aside tournament held on June 3rd. Member-ship.—The number of Clubs affiliated to the Association is 7. with a total membership of 190. an increase of 33 over the previous year, while the Eketalnma sub-Association has a membership of 42, spread over three Clubs, making a total of ten Clubs, with a total membership of 232. Competitions.—The Major Club was won by Carterton, the Booth Cup by Martinborough, the Bannin Banner by Martinborough, the McGruer Cup by Palmerston North, the T.P. Shield by Excelsior. The Nicol-Prag-nell' Cup was not competed for. The competition for the McGruer Oup Avas conducted under new conditions, side CEitlis being allowed to compete, which might well be repeated this season, as it proved an excellent innovation Referees.—The sincere thanks of the Association and all, players are due to those gentlemen w>h© so ably controlled the matches last season. It has been an annual occurrence for several years past to endeavour to band the referees together, and from an Association,-butwith little success until the present season, and it is a pleasure to report that the last effort has been a success, and that the Wairarapa Hockey Referees' Association is a Teal live body of gentlemen who are anxious to help hookey along, by giving their valued services as referees, Nordon Clp.—During the season a team was sent to, Palqierston North to endeavour to captivate the country championship of New Zealand, and incidentally the Nordon Cup. That they were successful is now a matter of history. Not only were they successful in their attempt to baling the Cup home, but proved that Wairarapa were worthy holders of the Oup by substantially defeating all challengers. The scores in the respective games were as follows: — Against Manawatu, 3 goals to 2; against Poverty Bay, 5 goals to JO; against Taranaki 5 goals to 0, against Horowhenua, 5 goals to 0; against Buller, 3 goals to 0. Total goals, 21 for, and 2 against, a most creditable record; Departed Helpers.—The past season has not been one of all pleasantness, as the Association has suffered most severely in the los-s of sovcr.il working enthusiasts. Those referred to are the late Mr Jas. Pryor, Messrs A. J. Fisher, W. O'Brien and W. Boyd, who have left the district. The late Mr Pryor, who, was, up till the time of his death, President of the Association, and as such proved himself to be no mere figure-head, but one who put his whole enthusiastic nature into the work of the Association. He was undoubtedly the right man in the right, place; lits- help and advice were always- plesanifcly and ungrudgingly given, and. proved of great service. He filled the Presidential chair so t ably that it will make the new President's work somewhat harder if he is to reach the standard set by our late President. Mr A. J. Fisher, who for years was a mem'ber of the Management Committee, has left the district, and his depar>ture has made another inroad upon our enthusiastic workers. Mr Fisher was a noted worker for Hockey, and he also represented Wairarapa on. the playing; field on several occasions. Mr W. O'Briei] is another valuable member of the outgoing iManagement Committee whose plaoe it will ; be most difficult to fill. Mr O'Brien was prdbably the most active member on the Committee; his willingly given and practical services being always at the disposal of Hockey management. Mr Boyd was an ex-Commi tteeman, and as such, did excellent work. He also did yeoman service on the field, representing the Association many times. With the loss of these four gentlemen, the Association has suffered severely, and. it is to be hoped that those who. take the places thus rendered vacant, will endeavour to emulate the desire to help Hockey ahead, as their predecessors did. Hockey in Schools. —During the interval a couple of Hockey enthusiasts have been making enquiries regarding the possibilities of introducing our game amongst the school boys, and it is confidently expected that the 1913 season will see Hockey established in -the Wairarapa schools. There are three or four schools who are taking the matter up, and will enter teams, and it is quite likely that this new competition will prove the largest of any controlled by our Association. Should thi s hope be fulfilled, it will be a wonderful asset for Wairarapa. Hockey in years to come. A Gift.—A Masterton Hockey supporter who desires his name withheld, ha s most generously presented to the W.H.A'. a set of jerseys for the ii.se of . the representative team. These jerseys are now on the way from England, and will he handed to the Association immediately on arrival. Eketahuna Sub-Association. —This Association applied for and was granted affiliation to the W.H.A. It is hoped that this new branch of Wairarapa Hockey will have a long , arid successful career. I wish to thank Messrs. C. Cole and R. Hatch, two energetic committeemen, for their great assistance rendered the Association during the season, such help as rendered by tlie.se gentlemen having made the secretary's lot a much lighter one than experienced in former years. In conclusion it is to be hoped that the coming year will show even more progress and success than tho past season, and that every consideration and assistance will be accorded, to the incoming officer for the 1913 ' sea son. A. C. PRAGNELL, Hoik Secretary.