August 23rd will once again see the beginning of Winter Tournament. This year it is to be held in Christchurch, the place where beer-swillng students were sent down—for a period not exceeding one week. It is perhaps just as well for us that our sojourn will be a brief one. Others more fortunate have escaped with a mere ducking in the Avon. On the green grassy flats of the garden city many fierce (?) and surely friendly battles will be fought. The whole of the city from Sumner to Papanui will probably resound with the raucous screams of students fighting their way from pub to pub. The battling barmen will have the opportunity of adding to their score of scalps of young Varsity braves.

This year for the first time ski-ing will be an official Tournament sport. Again this is to be held in Queenstown, but although isolated from the "madding crowd" I feel sure the twenty-odd bods will manage to get that spirit which adds so much to every Tournament.

Best of luck to all Victoria entrants and although there is no Wooden Spoon, there is a Tournament Cup which' would look very nice at the bottom of the stairs.

Ski-Ing

The Tournament team this year is essentially weakened by the loss of Roy McKenzie, last year's slalom champ. However, with a more balanced men's team, and a full team of girls, we should not be too far behind Otago on points. The advantage of having a ski-ing ground within a reasonaole distance of Dunedin gives our southern opponents a decided advantage, and if the Geology department would oblige with Mt. Ruapehu in place of Kime, we would be most indebted.

Tony Latham has had little practise this year, but did well to come fourth in the Ruapehu Ski Club's open champs. He has skied in the N.Z. champs and this experience should help him to turn in fast times.

Ewen Christie came seventh in the R.S. champs and has been away ski-ing most weekends since, so he should be at the top of his form for Tournament.

Malcolm Mace skied for VUC last year. He has had little practice this year but is considered quite an expert at breaking skis. Needless to say he will not be using club skis.

Michael Benge is last in the men's team. His ski-ing has improved immensely and lack of racing experience will not count for much against a person of good technique.

This year we have a full women's team of four, and although lack of experience is more marked here than in the men's team, there is no doubt that it will be overcome by the girls keenness and dash. So it is with high hopes, but little else that Val Lockwood, Kath Goulding, Colleen Dent and Gay Nimmo leave for Queenstown.

Women's Hockey

With Tournament almost upon us the women's hockey team has been madly rushing round Kelburn Park for the last three weeks. Otago, who won the hockey last year, [unclear: are] reported to have an even stronger team this year and we feel that we [unclear: can] only beat them if they get winded before we do. Apart from Otago we stand as good a chance as any college of winning the Pember-Reeves Stick.

Table Tennis

The team for this year's Tournament is perhaps not as good as last year's team, but this year we have a Wellington rep., Doris Johannesson, playing first in the women's representatives. She will be partnered by Valerie Jones, a very promising player, in the women's doubles, and by Brian Phillips in the mixed doubles. The men are not as good this year, the only player who has been to Tournament before being Brian Phillips, who is the rudest boy I have met since 1945. Tony Holland the second man is a fresher this year and has played consistently well. Incidentally, Tony won the Wellington Association F grade handicap tournament last year, and has improved considerably this year, through his experience in our B grade team.

Soccer

Last week the Seniors gave a very creditable performance by beating the hitherto unbeaten Tech. O.B. team by 5-3. The recovery of the team has been rather late and the Tech. O.B. team will now attain Senior A status. Congratulations to Sutton-Smith, Jack Walls, Ken Johnstone, John Stone and Mick Spiers for being selected to represent Wellington against Wanganui on August 14th. The exclusion of Colin Richardson, our star centre half, came as a surprise to all who have watched this clever exponent of the round-ball code in action.

Tournament Prospect

B. Sutton Smith, goalie, Wellington Senior B rep. Has done well to be selected for the rep. side, in his first season as 'keeper. Rep. VUC and NZU 1946 and 47 as full back. NZU Blue 1946.

K. Johnstone, left back, a steady and versatile player. Wellington Senior B rep. NZU blues 1946-47.

K. Bliss, right back, possesses a strong boot and is magnificent on defence.

B. Reddy, right half, has represented VUC 1946-47 without glory or ignominy. Has been out of action lately due to an injury.

M. Spiers, centre or left half, best left kicker in the team. With a solid head. Wellington Senior B rep. VUC 46-47. NZU 46.

K. McLeod. left half, a splendid dribbler, and throws well. CUC rep. 46-47.

S. Spiers, a fast right wing with a forceful boot. Rep. VUC 47.

D. Bateup, a cunning inside for ward, good on defence and attack.

E. Simmons, a goal getting centre forward with an accurate head and kick. Wellington Senior B rep. 47. VUC 46-47.

J. Walls, a stocky inside left, capable of making plenty of openings. Wellington Senior B rep. 47. VUC 46-47. NZU 46-47.

T. Edmond, a capable left winger. Rep. VUC 47.

Reserves

G. Robinson and R. Mahabir—both excellent dribblers and kickers.

Men's Basketball

It is not often that Victoria goes to a Tournament to defend a trophy—but it will be happening with basketball. Unbeaten last year VUC again hope to capture the W.T. Basketball Cup.

The team is practically the same excepting an addition in the defence line with Des. Deterte and Peter Tarrant and Fred Duckworth replacing Stan Murphy and L. Crewdson in the forwards.

Backs

Pat Anderson—vice captain—solid in close play, been off with broken hands for a few weeks—O.K. for Tournament.

Brian Beecroft—capt. Wellington A grade rep.—NZU blue—big advantage in height, sometimes erratic with long passes.

Des Deterte—played for CUC last year — Canterbury rep. — named ("player of the week" a month ago) a very constructive player, occasionally dribbles too much.

Pip Piper—Wellington B grade rep.—reliable guard clears ball to forwards well, inclined to slow up game, often to advantage.

Forwards

Noel Hayman—coach—Wellington A grade rep.—NZU blue—brilliant on attack, reliable goal getter.

Masks On!

This year, for the fourth time in its existence, the VUC Swords Club will again send representatives to Winter Tournament.

Though both the men's and women's teams are very reliable, the men's team is not as strong as in past years, partly because only but of them has had any extensive Tournament experience. The others, however, have shown excellent form all the year; and in spite of the published vauntings of other College teams (see "Critic," etc.) they have a fairly reasonable expectation of repeating their successes at the '46 and, '47 Winter Tournaments. The standard of the women's team is higher than that of last year's—twelve months' more training having worked wonders in giving them fighting experience, and in improving their style.

The teams are: Men: Peter Hampton, Wyn Stevens. Fane Flaws, and lan Bennett; Women: Juliet Burrell and Alison Keys.

By the time this paper goes to press, team members and other club members will have been "blooded" in the provincial championships to be held in the weekend preceding Tournament. We wish them luck in both encounters, but principally in the Varsity Tournament (naturally). But succeed or fail, the teams will certainly do their best to justify their choice as College reps; and to prove that the time and energy they, and coach Mr. Dickson (to whom grateful thanks) have expended, is worthwhile.