Swimming

Otago again won the swimming overall by a large points lead, winning the swimming tournament convincingly. The Moana Pool, the scene of this year's venue, was ideal for the competitions, being an Olympic standard pool with all the facilities for smooth running and judging of competitions.

Results were:

440yds freestyle—D. Smith 2nd (5m 24.2s): Bendigo Cup relay—Victoria 3rd: Men's 110yds freestyle—K. Walker 1st (59.2s), J. Palmer 2nd: Women's 110yds breaststroke—P. Brock 2nd: Men's 220yds medley—R. Walker 3rd (2m 30.8s); Men's medley relay—Victoria 2nd: Women's medley relay —Victoria 2nd; Diving (men)—W. Mullins, 1st: Diving (Women)—M. Evans 3rd.

Final points for the swimming shield were: Otago 73, Victoria 41, and Auckland 17. In the swimming tournament Victoria can be pleased with its effort and the impressive number of first and, second placings gained against Otago's tough competition.

Special mention to national champion and Victoria representative R. Walker who, in the course of his races on Monday, set three New Zealand university records. In the 220yds freestyle he cut the freestyle record by 73s with a time of 2m 11.5s.

Water Polo

Water polo is assuming new importance at Tournament. It is now contested by all universities. Otago this year won. Water polo is a game requiring skill as well as fitness and stamina, so that Victoria did not do as well as our swimming results might have led one to expect. Victoria's points were low in comparison with Otago's and Canterbury's. In the first round Victoria beat Lincoln 4-0. Against Canterbury we lost 9-1, and drew with Massey in the next round.

Athletics

The Caledonian ground was the scene this year of a varied and interesting programme of athletics, which this year attracted more interest with the visit of the Australian team.

The varied programme made this meet a first-class spectator sport.

All events were strongly contested and Victoria was well represented. Out of the large list of, events Victoria managed to come third with 26 points for the Athletics Championship field.

For the Women's Athletic Shield Victoria came third. Overall in both shields, Otago claimed all with massive aggregate point levels.

Many of Victoria's points came, from consistent seconds and thirds. In the Men's Pole Vault championship G. Moore came second with a vault of 10ft 6in.

In the Women's Javelin championship G. Davies came third with a throw of 82ft 4in, while in the Women's High Jump championships she came third with a jump of 4ft 6in.

Other results were:

Men's 4 × 110yds relay championship—Otago 1st, Canterbury 2nd, Victoria 3rd; Men's high jump -R. Patience 2nd; Men's triple jump—I. Stockwell 3rd; Women's 80 metres hurdles—G. Davies 2nd (12.3s); Women's long jump—G Davies 3rd (17ft 8½in); Women's shot put—G. Davies 3rd (30ft 2in); Men's javelin-S. Nagaso 3rd (134ft 8½in); Women's 440yds—P. Weasdale 3rd (58.5); Men's 120yds hurdles—B. Collins 1st (15.5) (record is 15.3s); Men's 4 x 440yds relay—Victoria 3rd: Women's 4 x 110yds relay—Victoria 1st: six-mile (non champ.) — E. Dempsey.

Victoria overall was consistent on third places, with some members running up a number of event places which all contributed towards our aggregate.

Congratulations to Miss Penny Haworth, who broke the 100yds championship record of 11.5s with a time of 10.7s.

Shooting

Shooting, a sport of precision and judgment, took place in a quiet little valley not far from the Otago University grounds. Conditions were ideal with little wind and good visibility.

Victoria's team this year did not do as well as expected in aggregate marks but some individual scores are a measure of the potential which the team has and which could be developed.

Top team of the day on aggregate points was Otago. The competition was over the 300, 400, 500 and 600-yard ranges.

Several members of the Victoria team were almost unrecognisable due to the strict dress conventions of the sport. However. I managed to find Ken Tustin sitting under a brass-badge-covered hat. He told me quite candidly that more files and greater financial help were needed for Victoria to win the shooting tournament in future years. This, mind you, wasn't put forward as an excuse. Just a hint.

Special congratulations to Peter Girdlestone who shot a possible. and to Ken Tustin who shot consistently throughout the day.

Rowing

"For the first time in 43 years Victoria has won the eights!" exclaimed a Canterbury spectator in shocked disbelief as we stood watched the race.

It had been held up due to mis-starts. Then, in the distance, the eights could be seen, seemingly stationary. As they drew nearer, however, the struggle between two leading eights could be almost felt. Out of the haze they came . . . there was a gasp of surprise from the spectators as they stared unbelieving . . . sure enough the Victoria eight was rowing strongly and increasing its lead from Canterbury.

Stroking strongly at 38 to the minute the Victoria crew romped on ahead of Canterbury to win the Habberley Cup for 1966.

The college four also did well to come in second to Canterbury Overall, rowing contributed 23 points to Victoria's tournament score. With a number of the crew now selected for the New Zealand Universities team the prospects for Victoria's rowing club look good for the future.

'Congratulations, all rowers—you well deserve the title, "sportsmen extraordinary."

Cricket

Dogged by bad luck, sickness, and stretched muscles, the cricket team struggled on against mounting odds. The reserve strength which these men showed in face of strong opposition deserves congratulations. Gouland, an efficient and devastating bowler, cricked his back on the first day of play and was reduced to a passive role,

Gerald Kember, an able batsman, wasn't available for the series, while Jeff Betts by Sunday was restricted to crutches.

In spite of all these setbacks the team managed in the first round to defeat Lincoln on the first innings.

However, in the next round Otago had the dubious satisfaction of an outright win.

Final points, however, reflect the team's unwillingness to accept defeat easily. Victoria netted 13 points. The winning team wa Canterbury, with Otago following closely.

Yachting

Beneath a slate-grey sky, tempered by the sometimes hot Dunedin sun, in choppy and blustery conditions mixed with calm periods, the Victoria Yachting Club proved equal to each variation and won over all in both sections—Moths and Cherubs.

Congratulations to the crews and congratulations to all boats (apparently there's a personal relationship between a man and his boat).

The varied conditions meant that no crew was favoured by the weather so all courses sailed proved a real test for both men and boats.

At the time of writing there was a possibility of a "protest" by one of the competing clubs. I do not want to get involved in the intricacies of yachting law but would forecast that Victoria will still come out top