Winter Tournament is one of the fields of sporting endeavour which is most in keeping with our talents here at Victoria.

Being a rugged lot and used to all extremes of weather we have tor a start an advantage over our comrades in sport, to the north and to the south, where the vagaries of the weather are not so accommodating in moulding the versatile sportsman.

Bearing this in mind, the Sports Editor feels an almost overwhelming confidence in our team's ability to defend our winter sports record.

Men's Hockey

All members of this year's tournament team led by club captain, Robin Kendrick, play in the local senior or senior reserve grades. They have a nucleus of experience: Seven of the team being members of last year's "winning" tournament team and this year members of the varsity senior team.

Victoria teams in Saturday competitions fill either first or second places in all grades in which they play. This indicates the depth of ability and potential throughout the club which was reflected the other week when members of the tournament team, playing together for the first time, were untroubled to beat Massey University four goals to nil.

Members of the team are doing extra work towards improving physical fitness and a further pretournament match against the Horowhenua representative team ought to assist in ironing out faults. This could well be one of the best balanced tournament teams Victoria hockey has fielded for some years.

Badminton

Cautiously optimistic describes the Victoria Badminton Club's attitude to its prospects at Winter Tournament. Captained by Lim Ee Cliat, a leading NZU player, the team fields more new players than old and hence lacks the team work which could prove vital. Jocelyn Trewby is the other member of last year's team whose experience should prove valuable. Particularly missed is Jane Mowat. There are, however, hopes that Janet Miles will compensate for Jane's absence from the No. 1 position.

Otago University is considered one of the toughest opponents since its team is virtually unchanged from last year. The outcome of the contest will probably depend on the success of Victoria's doubles combinations.

The team will be: Lim Ee Cliat, Seow Bin Gay, Gorn Leong Huat, Richard Bently, Bruce Hearn (men's division) and Janet Miles, Jocelyn Trewby, Rangi Ponia, Christine Marsh and Wendy Hassex (women's division).

Judo

As in the past the club will not be able to send its strongest team. Studies and expense will prevent some from making the trip to Auckland. Prom those available 16 members have been chosen to travel. We have two representatives for the open championship. Peter Hannah and Dave Feickert. while in the open Kyu team championships Peter Hannah, Dave Feickert, David Mitchell, David Andrews and Derek Fryburg will be competing.

The club has made no attempt to gauge the strength of opposing teams but is expecting strong entries from Auckland, Otago and Canterbury.

Unfortunately the club lacks experienced members in the higher grades although Peter Hannah, Richard Dench, Warrick While and Peter Cleghorn all have had previous tournament experience. However, the younger members are keen and fit which should make for some major upsets.

Training has concentrated on tournament technique and the abilities available.

Table Tennis

Victoria's table tennis prospects for tournament appear to be bright, especially in the men's section. The team is fortunate in having two out of the four members of the NZU team which has just returned from its tour of Australia. Waterhouse. ranked seventh in New Zealand, has the ability to complete the tournament without being beaten, while Coley. the NZU member, should give a good account of himself. The two other members of the team, R. Armstrong and R. Tricklebank, although not of the same calibre, should provide strong opposition.

In the women's section, the Victoria team of Mesdames G. Sorrican and C. Roberts should perform well, but are likely to encounter stiffer opposition.

Smallbore Rifles

Compared to the team which gave the might of Canterbury such a fright two years ago, it must be acknowledged that this year the Victoria team is a relatively inexperienced lot. The team will be led by Roper Smith, who has been having a most successful season around the championships. Roger will be ably supported by veterans Dick Edwards and Dave Rew, both of whom shot at tournament last year. Dick is a southpaw -he claims to have discovered a new angle on sighting while Dave is an accomplished collector of whisky bottles - from raffles. Newcomers to the team ;are Roger Girdiestone. who, last Easter, won himself an NZU Blue for .303 shooting; and John Bryce. who reckons he shoots at his best on a strange range.

Fencing

The Team this year is made up of newcomers to tournament. The absence of club and NZU captain David Lind-Mitchell from this year's team will undoubtedly be felt, but in spite of the team's! comparative inexperience this year the team will not be a disgrace to Victoria.

This year's tournament team is Helen Schwartz (captain). M. Robbins (vice-captain), Sandra Wilson, Prudence Nield, C. Biggs, J. J. Loh, R. Clark, J. J. Raskindale and R. Abhakosn. All are newcomers except Helen and Sandra, both of whom toured Australia this year with the NZU team.

Greta Firth and C. Biggs have both gained national and provincial secondary school places, Abhakosn has fenced in England and like Loh is noted for speed and agility. Price, Nield, Clark and Raskindale will provide sound backing.

Certainly what is lacking in tournament experience will be largely made up by enthusiasm and vigorous determination. While not expecting to win this year against Auckland's very strong men's team, there are very good chances for a second place.

Women's Hockey

With no coach and only three players remaining from last year, the 1966 season did not look very promising for women's hockey. However, an excellent coach,. Mrs. V. Bogle, has been found and several players have made their debut for Victoria.

After a scrappy start, the team has gradually established itself as strong, balanced and enthusiastic, and is now lying fourth in local competition.

The improvement of the defence, and the efficient support in the halves, led by Marion McNeill-Adams, has given the able forwards every chance to show their strength. This was confirmed when the team defeated Massey 7-1 and then followed up by defeating the runners-up of the competition. The second team is notable for its enthusiasm and will be a great asset to the club in 1967.

The hopes of the tournament team are high—for the team has four Wellington trialists lists and captain Esmee Neal is a Wellington rep.

Victoria has the ability to win the tournament if past performances can be relied on.

Men's Basketball

This year's tournament team is relatively inexperienced when compared with past Victoria teams. However Kevin Elliot and Hugh Mainwaring have both previously represented NZU. together with Fred Lockwood, who represented Auckland University two years ago. They are however the only players in the team with previous tournament experience

Inter-varsity basketball is of a particularly high standard, so this team's prospects are not rated unduly highly. Surprises are however not uncommon in men's basketball.

An interesting feature of this year's tournament is the participation of an Adelaide University team which is reputed to include several members of the successful Australian team at the Tokyo Olympic games.

Team members are Hugh Mainwaring, Kevin Elliot, Fred Lockwood, Bruce Ramsey, Jonathan Fox, Robert Patience, Norm Parris and Dennis Smith.

Harriers

The overall standard of university harriers is rising and Victoria harriers have made some impact on the local scene. Four members finished almost together in the provincial championships at Masterton As several members are only now recovering from injuries incurred some improvement can be expected. The Victoria team will rely heavily on George Seconi, John Souter, Keith Gore and Geoff Rashbrooke. Among the other members of the team will be Richard Mace who has been a persistent trier and David Bullock a junior runner with staying power.

Bob Wilson has matched George Seconi and John Souter at times and should materially improve Victoria's prospects. The last position is still to be decided.

The top universities in harrier running are undoubtedly Auckland and Otago with Canterbury in a strong position Although Massey recently defeated Victoria in an intervarsity contest, Victoria were without several leading members and have a good chance of evening the score on this count at least.

Soccer

This year Victoria is taking to Auckland fifteen players, of whom all except one have played for either the first XI in the Senior second division or the second XI in the Senior second reserve division. This may bode well for Victoria since the first lie fifth in their division and the seconds lie second equal in theirs. The prospects are exciting. The team is strong and promising, and in the annual pre-tournament match against Massey Victoria won decisively 3-1.

The team is: Rod Bustard, John Mehl, Illija Glisic, Allan Mudford, John McKenzie (captain), Dale Reddish, K. P Too, Mike McErlan, Chris Ryan (vice-captain), Bob Howell, Chira Hongladarom, Tony Cooper, Tony Langron, Dick Moody and Hugh Webber. The team manager will be Bob Kerr.