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The Spike or Victoria College Review, June 1906

Held At Christchurch, Easter, 1906

Held At Christchurch, Easter, 1906.

"Not sure, though hoping of this good success."

Lear.

It was at Christchurch, at Easter, 1902, that the first Tournament was held. With some misgivings, but with high prophetic hopes, the Colleges in that year contemplated the long journeyings and the uncertain weathers which succeeding Easters were to bring. Failure in those days might have been fatal. But in 1906 there was no thought of failure. The fat seasons and the lean seasons will come and go, but with each succeeding year the Tournament will return. The hopes of the founders in 1902 have been so fully realised that the Tournament has become an integral part of the University life. The Professors, the Governors, the Senate and the Citizens have so recognised and supported the enterprise of the Students that we are as much committed to our Olympic Games in April as we are to our Tartarean Trials in November. Each centre has responded to the demands of its Tournament year, and the new cycle begins with all the promise of assured success.

page 11

The number of competitors this year was reduced by the rule which limited the number of entries for each event to two from each College in all events except the Ladies' Singles and Doubles at Tennis. The competition, however, was just as keen, and the change made little difference, except in clearing the field in the athletic events, in reducing the strain of the tennis matches, and in lightening the burden of travelling expenses. Most of the champions of former years were still in the ranks, but among the challengers were a number of new men of great promise. The most notable absentee was W. H. Moyes, of Canterbury College, whose performances, especially in the Quarter Mile Race, had become a feature of the Tournament.

Beside the real objects of the meeting, the incidence of success is of course a matter of detail. Providence, in its own good time, has a way of equalising our gains and losses. Still, as we all feel proud when our efforts to assist Providence to tip the scale our way have been crowned with success, it need hardly be said that Victoria College is rejoicing at her measure of success. For the first time she annexed the Joynt Debating Scroll, for the second time she won the Tennis Cup, and for the fifth time she lost the Athletic Shield. To have won two of the three coveted trophies was a good performance, and it fell to fighters little accustomed to the joys of victory. The most pleasing feature of the success is perhaps this, that Victoria College, after many sturdy infant struggles, and in the first year of her building, has won her way into the forefront of the fighting line. She had, so to speak, kept her flag flying while her ship was cut in pieces, and was able to bear its tattered remains triumphantly into port.