HOLIDAY MEETINGS AHEAD

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20990, 18 December 1939, Page 11

HOLIDAY MEETINGS AHEAD

TE AROHA OPENS CIRCUIT HAMILTON AND TAUMARUNUI (By “Nurmi"; For those competitors who like to indulge in a contest or two during the holiday season the Waikato area provides plenty of opportunities. On Boxing Day, which is the first suitable sporting date of the holidays, the Te Aroha Kiwi Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club will hold their first open meeting at Herries Memonal Park, Te Aroha. The programme includes athletics, field events and cycling and seniors, juniors and ladies are well catered for. R. G. Ewing Memorial Trophy Added interest will attach to the running and hurdling events owing to the fact that the most successful competitor (either senior, junior or woman) in this section will become the first holder of the handsome trophy (valued at £ls), which has been presented to the Te Aroha Club as a memorial for the late club captain. Entries for all events closed on Saturday, December 16. Hamilton Sports Club—January 1 On New Years Day, the Hamilton Sports Club will hold their annual gathering at Steele Park, Hamilton. This club, is, of course, a cycling club, but the programme for the meeting includes several track events. With Roy Hill and George Reid in control a good, interesting day’s sport can be expected.

Taumarunui on January 2 The day following the Hamilton Sports Club’s meeting finds the scene of activities transferred to the King Country, where the Taumarunui Amateur Athletic Club will conduct a particularly interesting programme. An outstanding event is the 100 yards Centennial Handicap, for which the first prize is a trophy of unusually high value. Similarly the cycling section is provided with a “Centennial Wheel Race,” of two miles, and another ' extremely valuable trophy must be won outright. The policy of making two events stand out from the remainder has been long proven a wise one, as spectators take special interest in the running of the “big go.” The field events include that spectacular event, the pole vault, and indications are that the competitors will include J. Alker, holder of the Auckland title, J. Ferguson, former title holder, G. Bradey, former Wellington representative and present Waikato champion, L. M. Seed (Morrinsville), holder of the New Zealand junior title, O. Bogun, P. W. Kelly, R. Muir, D. Flynn, R. Livingstone, R. Forkert and several others. The pole vault was more or less confined to two or three competitors for some years but lately there have been large fields, especially at Hamilton club meetings. Spectators who have not previously witnessed this event will be somewhat thrilled to see

“Jumping Joe” Alker, who stands about sft Bin. walk under the bar and then leap over 10ft odd. Ferguson is in great form this season and cleared 10ft 7in easily on Saturday. Additional Events Two additional events, providing the entries justify their inclusion, will be the ladies’ 100 yards and the open hammer throw. If the lattei event is included the star competitors will be A. E. Sutton, former Auckland champion, G. Tait, also exAuckland champion and N.Z. Police champion, and the all-rounder Bogun, Alker, Joyes, Ferguson, while some skilled exponents may be expected from Taihape and thereabouts. Applications are being received by “Nurmi” for seating accommodation on the bus leaving Hamilton at 7 a.m. on January 2 and leaving on the return journey after the dance. The Taumarunui Club are paying a good portion of the expenses of this bus and competitors who travel thus are admitted free to the dance at night. Intending travellers are notified that seats must be reserved beforehand as the bus will travel only if a minimum of 15 is assured. Entries for this meeting close on Wednesday, December 20 with the secretary, Mr T. Aitken, Matapuna, Taumarunui. Get your entry in before Wednesday —Thursday will be a day too late and don’t forget to include the entry fee and registered number! Announcer Kept Busy Waikato sub-centre president and well-known athletics announcer, Mr R. L. Manderson will have a busy time during the holiday period. All three scheduled meetings have secured his services. Thanks to the progress made by loudspeaker systems the announcer has now a comparatively “soft job,” when one remembers the good old days of the loud-voiced official going at top with the aid of a small megaphone. The replacement of the megaphone, by the modern microphone has been for the good of the competitor, the spectator, and last but not least, the announcer. Mr Manderson will be paying his first official visit to the Te Aroha and Taumarunui clubs. Paeroa, January 13. The Paeroa Club, whose advent showed such promise last year, are going great guns this season and will conduct their second annual open

meeting on January 13. The programme arranged is perfect from every point of view. Like Taumarunui, this club have decided upon two outstanding events, viz., the 220 yards open handicap and the two miles open cycle, for which trophies of unusual merit are allocated for first, second and third placings. The Paeroa Club also makes a feature of children’s events and according to recent reports no less than 168 children were engaged on a recent Wednesday evening. It has been stated on numerous occasions that the schoolboy or girl of today is the club member of tomorrow, and the interest taken in this section by Mr Laurent may well be the foundation of a large and powerful club in Paeroa. Much ol' the public interest, too, may be traced to the children's section and other Waikato clubs will undoubtedly try out the Paeroa Club’s eminently successful idea. Final Reminders Entries for the Hamilton Sports Club's meeting close on December 18 and lor Taumarunui on December 20. Remember to enclose registration number and lull entry fees.