TABLOID ATHLETICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 48, 27 February 1939, Page 8

TABLOID ATHLETICS

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISPLAY EVERY CHILD TAKES PART A dtsplav of tabloid athletics "as given on Cook’s Gardens on Friday by pupils of the Wanganui Intermediate School. The purpose underlying the sports was to encourage every boy and girl fit for such exercise Io take part. "The danger of an inter-house system is that the competition are apt to be left to a handful of ’heroes' who are encouraged tn victory by shouts of non-partici pa, ng spectators, states a report issued by the school on the subject. "To overcome this the school has introduced a system of ’standard’ events in athletic and swimming tin addition to the competitive events! in order to give as man> pupils as possible the opportunitv of doing something for the house. There are eight events and eight teams <a bovs’ team and a girls’ team from each house, take part. As every pupil in the house participates, the numbers are not quite equal, hut. at the end the points are to bring them on to the same basis. The events are as follow: —50vds. Every pupil covering the distance in Bsec. <boys> or 9sec. (girls) gains a point. <2» Long jump. Standard distance Bft. 9in. 'hoys' and 6ft. bin tgirls). <3> 100yds. Standard time IRser. tboysi and 17sec. 'girls'. <4> Standing jump. Distance sft. Tin. (boys, and 4ft. 9in. (girls'. 's' Hop. sten and iumn Distance 20ft. <boysl and 15ft. (girls,. <6, 'a, Giris’ 50yds. skipping. Time 9se<-. ’bl Boys high jump. Height 3ft. 2in. Cricket ball throw. Distance 110 ft. 'hoys' and 70ft. (girls!. 'S' Basketball throw. Two attempts each. "Each team goes through the "hole eight events —thus all are in action simultaneously. At the end of each event each team marches to the next event under the control of its house captain, and points, are given for marching and discipline. A teacher is in charge of each event, but the house is under the direct control of its captain." "It was one of the finest displays o. children participating in sport that I have seen.” said a spectator "The teachers merely started and limed the event. The rest of the programme was managed by the school captains. The result was Wakefield House 769 Campbell ' ,s Taylor 749 Ballance Although the sports a ere part. of Wanganui’s Physical Fitness Week celebrations they are an annual event with the school, and not a stunt arranged specially.