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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 8, No. 12. September 19, 1945

Sport — First Winter Tournament

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Sport

First Winter Tournament

Over three hundred students competed in the first winter sports tournament organised by the four New Zealand Universities and two Agricultural Colleges, which was held in Dunedin. Visiting students were met by the University band, haka party, and officials at the station, while they were later welcomed by Dr. C. Focken and Mr. D. Foord, vice-president of the OUSA and chairman of the tournament committee.

The games schedule was as follows: Hockey (men and women), Association Football, Men's Basketball, Table Tennis, Fencing, Harriers, and Golf. The tournament shield was won by Otago by a comfortable margin, Canterbury being second, with Victoria University third.

Victoria made its best showing with Harriers, Table Tennis and Association Football. Their Hockey showed lack of practice and team work, while in the Golf they were hopelessly out of class. Perhaps the brightest spot in the tournament as far as VUC was concerned was its Fencing teams' effort. Fencing as a sport has only begun this year in the College and their fencing was of a reasonably high standard. Sir Joseph Ward was president of the bouts and at the conclusion of the contests recommended S. Cathie (VUC) for a College Blue.

Otago turned on a great show and, in thanking them, we hope we shall be able to provide an even better one when Winter Tournament comes our way.

NZU Cross Country Title Won Easily By Youthful OU Team

The course for the NZ University Championship was the same as that used for the National Title. It was a gruelling course of six miles and a quarter. The young team representing Otago University put up an excellent performance, B. G. Stanley winning the individual championship, while his team also secured the Dixon Trophy for the New Zealand teams race, and the Carmalt Jones Cup, for the South Island teams race, both by substantial margins. Victoria College won the Shackleford Cup for the North Island teams race.

Otago runners were at the head of the field shortly after the start of the race, and a small group. Stanley, Hunt. Hawke, Fraser, Williams and Lang maintained the lead until half the distance was covered. Passing the stand Tor the second time B. G. Stanley and It. Hunt were in front, with ahout 20 yards between them. These Otago men wore followed bv Hawke (VUC) about 30 yards behind, followed by P. Fraser (the Auckland captain), R. W. E. Taylor (Canterbury captain). O. Williams (Massey) and A. Klrkwood (captain of Otago). As they climbed the hill Hawke replaced Hunt and Fiddes of Massey came up from a long way back. This order was maintained until reaching the track for the run home, where Stanley had opened up a commanding lead from Hawke. Stanley went on to win by 100 yards from the Victoria College runner, who came home 75 yards ahead or Hunt. Then there was a gap of about 200 yards to Fraser, who led Klrkwood and Fiddes by 50 yards. The time, 38 min. 45 sec., was a minute and a half slower than the national title race.

Victoria University team came home in the first 19 runners, their order being as follows:—Hawke, 2; Laing, 7; Holden, 10; Daniell, 13; Collier, 14; O'Connor, 19.

Trophy points and results were as follows:—
  • Dixon Trophy (N.Z. Teams' Race) : Otago. 18 points. 1; Victoria. 31 points. 2; Massey, 53 points, 3.
  • Carmalt Jones Cup (South Island Teams' Race): Otago, 15 points, 1; Canterbury, 40 points, 2.
  • Shackleford Cup (North Island Teams' Race): Victoria, 28 points, 1; Massey, 43 points, 2.

Fencers Show Promise For Future

Well, we didn't bring home the bacon, but we managed to tear off a rasher or two. VUC came bottom, but it was a pretty good bottom considetring the fact that the other College fencing clubs have been established for three years or more against our mere three months. The results are as follows:—
  • v. AUC—lost 7-9.
  • v. OU—lost 7-9.
  • v. CUC—8 bouts each, Canterbury winning on points (hits! to you).

The fencing attracted large crowds of spectators although, by the general comments passed, the finer points of the art were over the heads of moat of them. It was obvious the fencing at OU is publicised to a much greater extent than it is here. The VUC Swords Club hopes to expand greatly next year and, provided the necessary equipment is available, a membership of 40 or 50 should not be too much to expect.

Sir Joseph Ward, of the NZAFA, was president of the tourney, and is to be thanked for the very efficient and decisive manner in which he adjudicated, helping materially towards the success of the contest. He gave excellent criticism of the fencing, and good advice to those who needed it. Expressing pleasant surprise at the high standard displayed, he voiced the opinion that the standard would be raised considerably next year.

A pleasant and thirst-quenching Fencing Drinking Horn was held after the final bouts and Victoria did do well in that sphere.

Brilliant Play by Women Aids Table Tennis Victory

Victoria won the table tennis cup, mostly due to the splendid play of the ladles of the team. Miss P. Ralph and Miss J. Strange. In the ladies' singles Miss Ralph beat Miss Douth-waite (Otago) 21-7, 19-21, 21-12, and Miss Strange accounted for Miss Davis (Otago) in easy fashion 21-19, 21-8. In the doubles Misses Strange and Ralph defeated Misses New-combe and Pemberton (Auckland) 21-18 and 27-25. In the mixed doubles some more clever play by Miss Strange gave VUC a decision over Canterbury. Messrs Yen and Jones were the male members of the team, Yen winning his singles against McKenzie (Otago) 21-17, 21-19, but losing with Jones in the men's doubles to McKenzie and Robson (Otago) 21-15, 21-13.

VUC Golfers Outclassed

VUC golf team is really not yet fully functioning, and the team that travelled to Dunedin lacked the practice resulting from regular weekend matches. Captained by Ted Jones, it also included Colin Atmore, Tony Munden and Eric Hall.

The glamorous Balmacewen links were thrown open to the visiting teams, with all its amenities, and very happy memories of the 19th remain.

As far as matches went, results are not really encouraging. We went down to Auckland after a game struggle, and Canterbury were also decisive winners. Against Lincoln, however, matters took a better turn, and VUC were the winners by four games to two, winning one of the four ball matches and three of the singles. And thus was the wooden spoon avoided.