LOSS TO ATHLETES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20734, 18 February 1939, Page 22 (Supplement)

LOSS TO ATHLETES

MR G. WEIR TRANSFERRED TO RESIDE IN WELLINGTON DETAILS OF ENTERPRISING CAREER 'By “Nurmi”) The impending departure for Wellington of Mr G. H. (Jerry) Weir removes from the Waikato one of the outstanding figures in Amateur Athletics. A brief resume of his enterprising career will illustrate the ability, keeness and organising skill which have characterised his work in the Rotorua club and as a member of the Waikato sub-centre, N.Z.A.AA. Ever since his boyhood days, w'hen attending the Terrance End' School, Palmerston North, “Jerry” Weir has been a keen and enthusiastic athlete and worker in the cause of amateur athletics. As a youthful competitor he appeared with varying success at

sports gatherings in the Manawatu district. The experience gained was to prove invaluable to him while on active service overseas, as at Sling Camp, England, in 1918, he annexed the 100 yards and 220 yards championships. In the same year lie won the 220 yards championship of the Fourth 'N.Z.) Brigade -in France), and when a pupil at. the Third Army physical training school in Germany, in January, 1919, he won the 100 yards championship. In England, in April, 1919, he competed at a notable meeting organised by the military authorities in conjunction with the Birmingham sports bodies at Sutton Coldfield, winning the 220 yards and 440 yards and being a member of the winning relay team. Notable athletes competing at this meeting were Harry Wilson, who later became Australasian record-holder for the 120 yards hurdles; Dan Mason, who that year lowered the Scottish 880 yards record; and another New Zealander, J. Lindsay, a sprinter who competed successfully in many important meetiiyis that year. Return to Dominion

When Weir returned to New Zealand after the war he was reaching his best form. Amateur athletics were ot this time at a low ebb. With the keenness that has ever been his strong

characteristic, Weir was one of a band of stalwarts who successfully resuscitated the Hawera Club in 1921, this club having originally been formed in 1909. but being inactive for some years. He w;n electee club secretary, combining his secretarial work with active participation in the sport, he was a regular competitor as a back-marker in sprint events until 1925. Always a strong advocate for night sports, Weir was instrumental in inaugurating electric light meetings in Haw'era, and through his work and interest in the scheme this club was the first in'New Zealand to run night sports.

In the 1922-23 season the Wanga-nui-West Coast Centre championships were held, and Weir was the first holder of the 100 yards and 220 yards titles, and was runner-up in the 440. The same season saw the invasion by Oosterlaak and Winsmain, the famous South African sprinters. Weir won the 100 yards at New Plymouth, being the virtual scratch man excepting the visitors. Competing Against American Competing against the American flier Maurice Kirksey, who toured New Zealand early in 1923, at Wanganui he ran second to the American in the 75 yards, 100 yards and 220 yards, being beaten by the barest of margins off 3yds, syds and 12yds. At New Plymouth in February he was again Kirksey's most serious rival, being 6ecohd in the 100 yards and 220 yards, and with a handicap of 14 yards defeated the visitor over 300 yards in fast time. It was after this race that Kirksey offered his sincere congratulations to Weir for the fine performances he had recorded in persistently chasing him in all these events, and had succeeded at the last meeting in, as Kirksey said, thoroughly “whacking” him. 'Between the years 1918 and 1925, when he retired from serious participation in the sport, he had competed in o-pen events over all distances from 75 yards to 440 yards. Seventy placings, made up of 37 firsts, 20 seconds and 13 thirds, stood to his credit. In 1928, after seven years as secretary of the Hawera Club, Weir was transferred to New Plymouth, and joined up with the local club, serving in turn as a member of the executive, starter, handicapper, selector and centre delegate. As a coach his services were valuable and there were many of the members of the club (S. A. Black and G. Sullivan to name but two) who owe a great deal to the advice and assistance he was ever ready to give. Apart from his activities whilst a member of Ihe Hawera and New Plymouth clubs he also assisted in the establishment or improvement of the Patea, Stratford and Eltham clubs. In 1931 was lost to Taranaki, when he left to take a position with the Internal Affairs Department at Rotorua. Soon after his arrival at Rotorua he, together with Mr Ted Grey (ex-mem-ber of the New Zealand Council), called a meeting and was successful in forming the Rotorua Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club. Since its inception he has held the offices of handicapper (md starter, and has acted as secretary for two years. Since 1937 he has been president. He later journeyed to Whakatane, there to form the Whakatane Amateur Athletic Club. He has occupied for three years the position of vice-president and handicapper to the Waikato sub-centre.

Executive Offices During his 14 years’ continuous executive services he has on two occasions acted as track judge and timekeeper at New Zealand championship meetings, and for the past two years he has been a track judge at the Auckland provincial championships. Athletics have not been his only hobby, lie has held an executive position in the Rotorua Swimming Club, the Rotorua Boxing Association, and the Rotorua Returned Soldiers’ Association. On the military side he holds the rank of major. Mr Weir, who has been transferred to tlie Internal Affairs Department. Wellington, will be farewelled by the Waikato sub-centre in the near future. “Nurmi” is assured of the. unanimous support of athletes, cyclists ! and officials, in expressing regret at j his departure and in wishing him sucj cess in his new sphere of activities.