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What of our Capabilities? Vuc Routed at Otago

Easter 1948 at Dunedin; the O.U. Tournament committee's smooth organization stood out, as did the winning of the Tournament Shield by C.U.C. and the Wooden Spoon by V.U.C.

Naturally we are concerned mostly with Victoria regaining the Wooden Spoon for the seventh time since 1932. (The other Colleges combined have had it only seven times.) 1948 saw us take the Wooden Honours in athletics, rowing and swimming, third in shooting, second equal in tennis, basketball and cricket, and finally retake the boxing with good sport and luck.

Settling down to tin tacks, we find the athletic, rowing and swimming people have been consistent in getting their respective spoons for the past four years, and if we are to succeed we must "blitz" these clubs. (V.U.C. has at least won Tournament twice since 1923.)

Athletics: Going back to 1946, of eighteen in the team at Christchurch not one athlete gained a point for Tournament Shield (i.e., gained a first place) but seven got seconds which justified their inclusion in the team. At Auckland, 1947, we got 33/4 points (A.U.C. 13¼) which was a decided improvement, but of 21 athletes only seven gained points at all.

This year of 25 competitors only two gained points for Tournament Shield, while one runner had two seconds. Being generous and including four more that obtained third places, we find that a team of seven would have done equally as well. So far the last three years, if we had sent a team of seven it wouldn't have affected our position one bit, but would have created greater competition for V.U.C. athletes to get into Tournament teams. At present it is quite an easy thing for a hack sprinter or jumper to make the big twenty-five.

Rowing: 1946 last in eights. 1947 last in eights. 1948, Wot! again. Yes! Last in fours and eights. Where is this leading us to? Only the Rowing Club knows. All we know is that rowing takes a large bite out of Tournament Shield. The sooner V.U.C. has a mouthful the better. As this is an aquatic sport, rowing ability should be the primary consideration in picking the team. It seems previously that other aquatic qualifications have helped—there is always the chance that the boat may turn over.

Swimming: 1946. Of our team of ten only one gained a point for swimming or Tournament Shield, while one more gained a third. 1947. Of a team of twelve only two gained points, while one more gained a third. 1948. Of fourteen that went to Dunedin three gained points, with two more getting thirds. Thirteen points are allocated from the Tournament Shield for swimming and V.U.C. has only gained one point for each of the preceding three years. Admittedly the N.Z.U. standard for 1948 was the highest ever, and everyone who won an event was a N.Z. national champion. But this doesn't get away from the fact that we haven't encouraged swimming enough at V.U.C, for our standard is very low—neither enough encouragement nor training.

Fundamentally the idea is cut down on the number of athletes, rowers and swimmers going to Tournament until a higher standard can be made. Concentrate on a better rowing eight before entering a four. This will pep up enthusiasm and make students realize there is an Athletic, Rowing and Swimming Club that has to be built up.

Easter Tournament next year is at V.U.C., we have a territorial advantage, so let us win the shield for a change.