Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol 7, No. 2 April 13, 1944
Sport
Sport
When We Dead Awaken
The time has come when returning students flood the College and possibly its sports, and when the deathless army of ex-students who keep the summer sports clubs alive in the period of short-comings and long goings, departs. In view of the operations of the National Service Department, the lean periods which the summer sports clubs enjoy are at present unavoidable, but ill peace time there can be no excuse for them. Of the total roll, a comparatively small body of students arc full-timers and correspondingly small will be the number of summer players absent during the long vacation. The reason for the weakness of the Varsity summer sports clubs is to be found rather in the number of potential wearers of the green who are playing in outside clubs or not playing at all during the summer and are well content to do so. It can hardly be doubted that if half the energy which club officials put into the Resurrection of the Dead be put into canvassing the College Roll, the clubs would flourish like the green bay tree.
By now, the winter sports clubs will have held their meetings. Some, such as Hockey and Harriers, will, we have little doubt, open as successfully as of yore—we are even more certain that other clubs will see the same old bunches sitting on the same old benches.
—D.N.Y.O.
Baffled With Science
On Saturday, April 1st, the howitzer battery of Dorrie Leslie opened the Inter-Faculty Athletic Meeting for the fortieth time in succession. A heavy track and a strong wind made It difficult for athletes to secure good times, nor did the Freshers' Welcome of the previous night add any speed to leaden limbs.
The meeting was a good one and well organised but there were loo few runners. It served, however, to show off to advantage the old stalwarts of the Club and to discover new talent, and was thus a fitting climax to the revival which the Athletic Club has staged this season.
Interest naturally centred round the performances of Ian McDowall, provincial half-mile champion, and vanquisher of the redoubtable Nelson. He won the mile, half-mile, and three miles without having to extend himself much, and his times were affected by the clay's conditions.
J. Goldfinch made a line showing in winning the 440 yds. open in 34½ secs.; and a promising fresher was Mac-Donald who followed McDowall and Daniel! in the 880 yds.
The relay race resulted in a win for Science, whose team comprised McDowall. Doyle, Cooper, and Perrin. followed by Law and Commerce with Arts third.
The Inter-Faculty Contest resulted as follows:—
Science | 40 points |
Law | 25 points |
Arts | 16 points |
It is worthy of note that among the officers of the Meeting was the president, Mr. G. Holley. who was the first secretary of the V.U.C. Athletic Club. The Club wishes to express its thanks to all officials who participated.
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We shall seek the co-operation and active participation of all nations, large and small, whose peoples in heart and mind are dedicated, as are our own people, to the elimination of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance.
—Earl Browder on Post-war World.
Not So Fresh
Saturday afternoon brought Freshers in contact with V.U.C. leading tennis players when the Annual Yankee Tournament was held. The day was fine with a favourable wind for those who could make advantage of it. There were fifty-six players who participated and these were judged by a large number of onlookers. The Tournament was organised by K. McNaught and credit is due to him for its outstanding success, especially for the work done in arranging for the Freshers and those who were rather shy in coming forward for a game to have at least two games.
The outstanding players amongst the Freshers were Loris Webley, Joy Hal-len, W. Smiler, C. Atmors, B. Lewis. F. Coates, J. Davis and G. G. Mexted.
The tennis on the whole was of a high standard as was seen in the excitement of the final game between Joy Hallen and G. G. Mexted. who won by 32-17 from F. Coates and J. Davis.
The Tennis Club Committee hopes when the Club opens again next season that the same enthusiasm will be shown as was seen on Saturday afternoon and not only at Tournaments but also on every possible Saturday.
Toil And Trouble
Several weeks ago the club made a southern crossing. When we left Otaki Forks the sky was overcast and rain fell at intervals. At Kime we were surrounded by mists but we started for Alpha and reached a point on the Razorback Just beyond Hector before a strong wind forced us to retreat. Next morning we were again enveloped in cloud, but the mist lifted as we reached Atkinson. In the south, across Hutt Valley, we could Just distinguish the Kalkouras. On the north-east was the Wairarapa Plain, with glimpses of the northern peaks at intervals.
Bad weather and lack of support caused the abandonment of a Palllser Bay trip. All trampers should watch for notices and be sure to attend the annual meeting of the club on Wednesday. 19th April.
Football Club
President: Sir Thomas Hunter, K.C.B. Club Captain: H. E. Moore. Deputy Club Captain: A. P. O'Shea. Teams Officer: J. B. Trapp. Secretary: 0. J. Creed. Treasurer: P. A. Taylor. Assistant Secretary: C. Perkins. Committee: J. A. Carrad, A. W. Greyburn, B. Igglesden, Dr. E. R. Blakley.
The weekly practice will be held on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. at Kelburn Park except on wet nights when it will be held in the Gym. Coaches for the year will be Messrs. H. E. Moore, J. A. L. Bennett, J. Clancy, D. P. Caird. with J. H. Parker, a 1924 All Black, assisting with the senior team. It Is hoped also to obtain the services of Cadet Officer J. M. Jeffs. recently returned from the Middle East. This club, together with the clubs of other colleges, hopes to revive the Inter-Island Varsity Match, from which a New Zealand University team will be selected. The usual inter-college matches with Canterbury, Auckland and Massey will also be played with the usual college match against Te Aute at Waipukurau. Otago is endeavouring to promote a Rugby Tournament for all Colleges this year but matters have not yet been finalised in this direction. The Club is anticipating a splendid season's football and confidently expects the support of the whole of the College.
Basketballet
The Annual General Meeting has been held but, owing to the poor showing of past members, it was decided to elect the Club Officers at the second practice. A fair number of new members and freshers with excellent basketball records have joined the club, and we therefore hope to be able to put up a good showing for Varsity in the Wellington Championships this year. In which we will be entering two teams—one in the Senior A grade and one in the Senior B grade.
At the Annual Meeting of the Wellington Basketball Association we were able to buy a new basketball—we hope that this will act as an incentive for those folk who Just can't quite make up their minds whether to play or not. Don't forget that old saying—"All work and no play..." Think it over and join the Basketball Club.
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