Athletic Club

Since its formation the Athletic Club can record in this issue of the "Spike" its most successful season. The Club is stronger now than it has ever been and it is hoped that next season it will be stronger than ever. The material is there and with consistent scientific training, new champions should arise.

It is with much regret that we must record the loss of Leadbetter. His services were of the greatest value to the Club. We are also shortly to lose another of our best performers in the person of Kalaugher who seeks honour abroad. We will miss him, but we wish him all success at Home.

Difficulty is always experienced in obtaining a suitable date on which to hold the Inter-Faculty Tournament and this season the Club was forced to join with the Wellington Centre in an Electric Light meeting. In this, to a large extent we lost our identity, but in the circumstances it was unavoidable. The meeting was however a great success and some of the old records were beaten. Sceats broke the high jump record, clearing the bar at 5ft. 8in. This is a particularly good performance especially as electric light makes judgment difficult. In an excellently judged race, C. B. Allan again demonstrated his powers as a half-miler, winning the event in the record time of 2 minutes 1 second.

Owing to the absence of a jumping pit at the Basin Reserve, it was necessary to postpone the long jump. It was held at Wellington College the following Saturday, and W. G. Kalaugher topped the list with a leap 21 feet, this also being a record performance.

The Oram Cup for the most points gained in the Tournament was won by F. S. Ramson, a new acquisition to the Club who will no doubt make his mark before next season is finished. The Graduates' Cup for the best individual performance was awarded to G. J. Sceats his high jump.

The following members represented the Club at the University Tournament in Auckland:—

100 yards, F. S. Hill, J. D. Mackay: 220 yards, F. S. Hill, J. D. Mackay: 440 yards, C. B. Allan, E. B. Smith; 880 yards, C. B. Allan. A. D. Priestly; 1 mile. A. D. Priestly, W. Gilchrist; 3 miles, A. D. Priestly, W. Gilchrist; 120 yards Hurdles, W. G. Kalaugher, R. I. M. Sutherland; 440 Yards Hurdles, R. I. M. Sutherland, G. J. Sceats; 1 Mile Walk, T. P. Rollings, J. Platts-Mills; High Jump, G. J. Sceats, W. G. Kalaugher; Long Jump, W. G. Kalaugher, J. D. Mackay; Putting the Shot, J. Platts-Mills; Relay Team, Allan, Smith, Mackay, Hill.

Every member of the team acquitted himself with credit but as the Tournament is dealt with elsewhere in this issue, it is not proposed to give details here.

In open competition the Club, with its limited membership, did remarkably well. In the McVilly shield competition the Club gained second place to the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club. Leaving aside the shot, hammer and discus throwing events we had a lead in points but in these we gained no points, and Wellington gained sufficient to give them the Shield.

In the Dewar Shield competition which is run on a handicap basis we were also second. In this we were very fortunate as with our small membership and with all members being "back markers" it is difficult to win many handicap events.

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In the relay races the Club regained the laurels it lost the previous season. The Oates Baton for the most points in these events over the whole season was won from Wellington Club after many exciting contests by the narrow margin of one point. The Club has had this trophy three out of four years of its existence. The Heenan Baton for the mile relay was won from Wellington Club after an entertaining triangular encounter with that and the Canterbury Club. Our team consisted of Allan, Smith, Hill and Ramson. At the commencement of the first sprint we had a short lead but the fumbling of the baton by the Wellington Club robbed the race of some of its excitement and our team won comfortably.

The thanks of the Club are due to that small band who trained and coached members during the season. In this connection the services of Mr. E. V. Dunbar, (himself a performer for the Club a season or two back), were particularly valuable. It is the unselfish manner in which these men give up their time that has placed the Club in the position in which it finds itself to-day.