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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 4, No. 3. April 09, 1941

Prospects

Prospects

Speed the Parting Spoon

The tale of the Spoon is a sad one. Once upon a time in the fulness of her pride and glory Victoria presented a wooden spoon to be the booby prize at Tournament. The Spoon, alas! has been a boomerang, it returns with depressing regularity. Last year our teams seemed to have more dash than our victorious teams of 1938, and we sent them away in happy anticipation of victory. They returned—carrying their spoon behind them. Our boxers fought hard, and they alone returned victorious with their shield. This year they will not be alone. Ornately carved, the Spoon may be a thing of beauty, but it shall not be Our joy for ever.

The Athletes

Past years suggest that the field events will decide the winners of the Athletic Shield. Otago appears to be the strongest team in these events. They have lost Vosailagi but they have Opie, Smeeton and Phelan to counterbalance any weakness in their track team. Auckland are not as strong as last year.

Watch These Men

Man Mountain Mick White, the eighteen stone Aucklander, who holds the present New Zealand record as hammer thrower.

Jack Opie of Otago who is one of the finest field athletes New Zealand has produced and is holder of the New Zealand shot putt and pole vault. He has put up the best New Zealander's performance in the pole vault but he has not concentrated on it of late. His shot putt and discus have been consistently good this season.

J. Sutherland, the Victorian sprinter who will be outstanding if he recovers from his present indisposition. He is the present dual title holder and national hundred yards champion.

Shaw and Harris of Canterbury. In the 880 yards and the mile they are the most brilliant youngsters since V. P. Boot first made his name. They both have put up New Zealand Junior records.

Victorian Form

Scrymgeour, N.Z.U. 3-mile record holder, was convincingly beaten by Rowberry in the three miles and by Rowberry and Dunlop (Massey College) in the mile at Inter-Faculty. These men will [unclear: prohably] be well placed against Ellis if Canterbury and Turbett and Jones of Auckland.

Hocquard's long jump at Inter-Faculty would have set up a New Zealand record if he had been entered in Junior competition. He will meet strong competition against Norm. Thom of A.U.C., who has been consistently jumping about 22 feet this season, and W. V. Hadfield, of Lincoln.

If Canterbury can find a strong quarter miler to replace Blewett their relay team will be well nigh unbeatable, but lack of a quarter miler may cost them the event.

Summing it up it seems as if about two-thirds the field events will go to Otago and that the Auckland team may scoop the broad jump, two of the hurdle races and the hammer. Victoria should win the sprints and perhaps the distance events and Canterbury should be strong over the middle distances, the mile walk and the relay.

Amongst the well-known University athletes who would have been here but for Hitler are Graeme Kofoed and Don Gillespie of Auckland, L. G. Brown and N. B. Hansen of Canterbury and Hugh Ramsay of Otago, and J. S. Adams of Victoria.

Rowing

This year's race will be in fours over a mile course, in the Northern or Western end of the harbour according to the weather. If there is a slight chop on the water Victoria's light crew should fare better than the heavier crews.

The C.U.C. Rowing Club has been having a thin time, but they will have back Allan Johns who has been successful in past tournaments.

Otago have had a good year and their crew should be formidable.

Victoria has only Moore left from last year's eight, but he has improved.

Cross is a lightweight, but he is combining well with the rest of the team.

Wilson is the heaviest man in the crew, and he puts plenty of weight into his work.

Carroll is a good experienced oar.

Drinking Horn

Take twenty-four husky Varsity men, surround 'em with two hundred shouting, singing, hakaing supporters, place 'em under the eagle eye of mine host of the Occidental, Jim Moffitt, put thirty-six handles of the best—well, where would you put thirty-six handles?—and the answer's The Drinking Horn!

No mere swallowing competition, this show, although One swallow does make the summer of the super stylist—but a definite test of skill and endurance. In fact dashing down your bowl of Samian wine (ours is a Waitemata, thank you!) in anything like decent time—about three seconds on the average—is no mean feat. You try it and see!

But the Horn Trophy is something more than its name implies. Its real value lies in its providing an excellent rendezvous for a bumper reunion in an appropriate environment. Tournament songs, legends and libels are revived and embellished and new stories stretched to the giant-like proportions of the sagas of the past. Anyhow we can't think of a better preparation for Tournament Ball.

So don't roll along to the old Occidental at 2.30 p.m. on Easter Tuesday. Just come along, but roll up in your hundreds to the St. Francis Hall after wards.—O.J.C.

Windy Tennis

Strong northerly winds have made tennis difficult this year, but even so we hope to hold our end up at Tournament by winning back the Shield we lost last year. At least we are used to the wind.

Our Prospects

Gladys Rainbow who plays an easy] hitting, heady single and who proved by her Tournament play last year that she is equal to the test.

Glen Macmorran, a newcomer to the team, plays steadily on the back line and is good at net.

Ngaire Marshall, also a last year's Rep., whose hard hitting shots should go a long way.

Beryl Marsh, another last year's Rep., is playing her usual attractive game from the net.

P. Monkman is a hard hitter and nifty round the court.

P. Higgin plays a good double and is death at the net.

Marie Walker is a handy person to have about the court.

J. Brown is playing good grass court tennis and we're hoping great things from him.

R. Baird, a last year's Rep., is playing his usual steady back line play and sparkling overhead.

R. Larsen, a newcomer to Tournament, places his shots well and should be an asset to our team.

J. Cope, Manawatu rep., is playing on form.

F. Baker and A. McCleod are also newcomers with good hard hitting styles.

It's a new team but we're hoping it's good!