FLOODLIGHT SPORTS AT TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 44, 22 February 1939, Page 10

FLOODLIGHT SPORTS AT TAIHAPE

SHOW NIGHT ATTRACTION ARMY ATHLETES TO COMPETE (Own Correspondent). TAIHAPE, Feb. 21. The army will compete at the floodlight sports to be held on the Taihape Domain on Thursday (show night), February 23, but the boys in khaki don’t want any trophies. At a special meeting of the Taihape Amateur Athletic Club on Monday evening the president, Mr. H. 15. Bond, said that he had discussed the matter with Lieut. Haines the previous day and they had come to a deadlock on the trophy question. The army sports officer had made it clear that if an army competitor won a race he would refuse to accept a trophy, but Mr. Bond had replied that as prizes were being given for all events an army athlete who won a trophy was entitled to take it.

Lieut. Haines: Our boys don’t want trophies. They want outright competition against the clubs on a points basis. They will not accept trophies if they do win them.

Major Thompson: I agree that they don’t want trophies. The President: That shows a very fine spirit. The relay between the army and the rest was then discussed, and the chairman enquired if the army would accept miniature cups for this event only, if they happened to be successful.

Lieut. Haines replied in the negative and pointed out that the army would accept no trophies of any kind. The lieutenant pointed out the army was keen on a competition between its representatives and the rest, so that the competitive spirit would be introduced, but under no circumstances would prizes be accepted. Lieut. Haines informed the meeting that there was a possibility of the motor-cycle corps giving a display on show night. There was also a chance of some hurdlers from the military camp being present. The lieutenant added that the Wellington ArtilleryBand would be in attendance at the sports.