Ski Club

One important outcome of this meeting was its decision for the club to buy or lease a truck for transport to and from Mt Ruapehu. This will be a great improvement on the former hiring of a furniture van each weekend.

A spectacular wine and cheese, and an equally spectacular Masquerade Ball, have been recent functions. Also, a work party was held over Queen's Birthday weekend to prepare the hut for the coming season. The Vic Hut offers carpeted bunkrooms, and a large common room (complete with romantic stove fireplace), together with other excellent facilties.

There Is also a "Get Fit For Skiing" class held every Thursday at 5pm.

Each year a Ski team from he club is sent down to Ski tournament, which this year is being held in the Canterbury Range area, (probably the Porter Heights Field), during the second week of August Vacation. The Vic Club has a fine record in Ski Tournament and we naturally want to keep this up. Any persons interested in racing for Vic please contact Phil Jones. Remember: fitness is a prerequisite for Ski racing, so intending racers should be in training now.

Any enquiries about the Ski Club and its activities should be directed to Box 5141, Wellington.

Soccer

The first team's results appear to be following a similar pattern to last year's, with a few points gained being derived almost exclusively through draws. Although territorial equality is being achieved in many games, there is a tendency for opponents to score break-away goals against the run of play. This calls for a tightening up of mid-field tactics to counteract these sudden offensives.

In the lower grades, most teams are struggling to avoid the threat of relegation. However the 6th grade team performed creditably against Adriatic, losing 2-5 to the team that defeated our top eleven in the first round of the Chatham Cup.

Another reminder to players hoping to make the Tournament squad - contact a Management Committee member or leave your name with Alan Laidler as soon as possible.

Ian Dunn on Rugby

So there is opposition within the Rugby Club to what I have described as "rugby by teams which do not have regular, organised training sessions" and what others call "social rugby". This opinion arose from my comments in the previous issue.

Let's get things straight! I write this column because of the generosity of "Salient" Editorial policy in accepting the contributions I put down on paper. I am grateful for this opportunity to publisize Rugby in such an important news media of the University, but I emphasize that the views expressed are mine. Certainly I am an official of the Rugby Club and while my opinions may sometimes be reached after considering other persons' views the thoughts contained in this section are attributable to me and to no one else.

If I am regarded as provocative - good! That means that at least some readers are thinking about what I write even if their thoughts differ from mine. I should have thought that my position was perfectly clear from the earlier article. I believe that a footballer should strive to play in as high a grade as he possibly can, not because of loyalty to his club (although there is a place for such loyalty) but simply because of his own self-respect. This is the most important quality required from a footballer and let's face it, life itself, let alone Rugby, is pretty meaningless without self-respect.

There are numerous reasons why players able to make higher grades prefer to play for sides in Junior Divisions and these reasons are (or should be) accepted by anybody and everybody.

One side whose members may have felt they were being singled out for so-called "club loyalty" is our Junior 3A's or the "Teddy Bears". If so then I am surprised at such undue sensitivity, as their team spirit is almost without parallel in the club. The club's thanks to this team also need to be recorded (and here I speak on behalf of the club) for the willing manner in which players, often key members, are released for other teams. The record of the Senior B's and C's this season and in 1970 may not be considered the best. But without the playing contributions from Teddy Bears such as Rod Trott, Barry Land-ford, Terry Smith, Ali Gilbert, Noel Kelly, Peter Beazley and Murray Boyte, the record could have been for worse.

After running into examples of outright bad luck in early games the Teddy Bears, under Gerard Curry retrieved the leadership, have settled down to their pattern and still have every chance of repeating last year's effort in winning the McKay Memorial shield for the team which gains the most championship points in one season.

The club is also represented in the Junior 3rd Grade by the Maori team which started this season in the Junior Fifth. After several spectacular successes through sparkling Maori Rugby it was apparent that this team was out of its grade and accordingly arrangements were made for a transfer to Junior 3rd where the side shows every indication of proceeding on its winning way.

Both Junior 3rd sides include players who could force their way into any of the three senior teams. That they have shown no real desire to do so is not the fault of the players concerned. Rather it is a tribute to the team spirit engendered by each member of both teams. If fault there is to be then maybe it could be ascribed to a system which does not perhaps give the proper degree of encouragement and enthusiasm for membership of the Senior 2nd and 3rd sides. It is incumbent upon the administrators to ensure that such encouragement and enthusiasm is engendered right throughout the club.

Hockey Notes

As usual, the V.U.W. men's hockey club is fielding five teams in the Wellington senior grade competitions, and is responsible for a primary school boy team from Porirua. The strength of the club and its depth of ability this year is reflected in the fact that until recently, five of these six teams were winning their respective grades.

The senior team, having shared the lead in the senior competition with W.C.O.B. for most of the season, is now lying second equal with Karori, one point behind Hutt, and has a good chance of taking championship honours this year. The success of this team is partly due to the lack of complete dominance by any one of the top four teams, and partly to improvements within the team itself. A reorganised forward line with ex-N.Z. representative Bruce Judge at centre forward and Wellington B. representative Mark Lumsden at inside right has strengthened the team's scoring power, and its defence has been reinforced by the increasing confidence of young right half, Don Sandford. The consistent form of the captian, Robin Kendrick, at centre half, and Brian Turner at left fullback are other features of the defence.

For this team Turner has been selected as a North Island representative, and both he and Kendrick are in Wellington senior team. Lumsden, Derek Wilshere and John Scott play for the Wellington B. team and Sandford for the Wellington colts.

The Senior Reserve team won eight games in a row to give it a convincing lead at the end of the first round, after which it entered a promotion relegation series with the bottom two teams in the senior competition, where, against stronger opposition, it has already suffered a loss.

Because many members of this team have played together for some time now a certain measure of cohesion and understanding between players has developed. Contributing further to this team's success is the recent top form of individuals, in particular of Paul Dentice at inside right. Together with right win Roger Wilcox and centre forward Trevor Bates, he gives the team a formidible right attack. On defence Chris Kirkham (right fullback) and Dick Myhre (left half) have been playing extremely well.

The team has been rewarded with five representatives in the Wellington senior reserve team; Dentice, Wilcox, Bates, Kirkham, and left wing, Brian Pointon.

The senior second grade team is also having a good year, and is still leading the grade, despite the problem of establishing combination between players in a team of fluctuating composition. However the efforts of Bill Webb, Don Burtt and Graeme Cooke in the halves, and Phil Judd and Steve McRae in the forward line have overcome this problem somewhat. Goeff Sidwell was selected for the Wellington second grade team as right wing.

The senior thirds often lose players to fill gaps in the higher teams, and it is partly as a result of this that the team has not won many games this season. The dependable work of Ralph Pannet at left fullback, and Simon Williams at centre half, along with the drive of Lindsay Fookes and Godfrey Scoullar in the forward line, probably deserves richer reward.

Despite the 'social' attitude of many of its palyers, and the depletion of its ranks during the holidays, the senior sixths remain at the top of their grade. Much of the success of this team is due to the efforts of Geoff Dyer at centre forward, who has scored the bulk of the team's goals. In the halves, Andrew Kirk on the right and Phil Gurney on the left are solid, as is the right fullback, Phil Alley.

The Porirua primary schoolboys' team is the club's 'ward'; a responsibility undertaken by the club in an effort to foster hockey in that area. Starting the season in the junior fourth grade, the team was promoted to junior third which It is now leading. Some credit for this is due to Mark Lumsden who has undertaken the coaching and organisation of these boys.

The most important social even of the year, the hockey club cabaret, is to take place on the 24th of July. It will be preceded by a dinner.

Karate Club; Autumn Camp

Thirty members assembled for the Karate Club's Autumn training camp held at Wainuiomata during the weekend of May 28. We travelled over early Friday night and spent the rest of the evening settling in, most people having an early night in anticipation of the following day.

We were awakened at 6.00am. Saturday morning and we staggered out into the dark, half asleep, to begin the day's first training session, which mainly consisted of a few warm-up exercises, breathing exercises and a seemingly endless period of running, kicking, bunny hopping and duck-walking. The session was concluded with a refreshing swim in the stream-fed pool. After a hot shower and breakfast, though the regours of the early morning seemed like a dream, we felt fit and wide awake.

A short stroll up to the bush preceded the second session which lasted until lunch time and was basically the normal dojo training routine, with special emphasis on kicking techniques. Again the proceedings ended with a swim in the pool, which still seemed as cold as ever.

After lunch we had another walk, this time to view the wonders of the Wainui stream. The afternoon session was given over to practising katas (formalised movements with combinations of blocking and striking techniques against five supposed assailants), and this was followed by light-hearted games of soccer and rugby, and the inevitable swim. The rest of the day was free, and after the evening meal there was an enjoyable get-together and singsong in the common room.

The Sunday programme started similarly to that of the previous day; with an energetic early morning session and swim. But for a change the session after breakfast was held in a clearing out in the bush; and the basic techniques, katas and free-fighting were practical on the rouqh ground. Certainly a very different situation from the dojo. The morning was concluded, not by a swim, but by each member having to stand beneath a waterfall! This was the final training session and after lunch the group dispersed, all feeling somewhat tired, but having benefitted considerably from the intensive training, and all are eagerly awaiting the winter camp. So the biggest Karate club in the city goes marching on.

Snooker and Billiards:

This year an inter-university snooker contest was arranged by the Otago University Billiards Club for Easter Tournament. The O.U.B.C. has been going for many years, and consequently its facilities are excellent. The competition went off very well, and the Victoria team won he snooker trophy and the trophy for the highest break in billiards. The Snooker Trophy will be displayed in the Student Union. This was a great achievement for a club only one month old at the time, and proves there is much potential within our university.

The club has held several club nights (Tuesdays) at the Saint George Billiard Room, as well as the knock-out and league competitions which have been arranged to gain more members. At the present time there are about 25 members of whom about 14 are actively participating in the competitions.

The main purpose of the club at present is to let students know that billiards does exist as a sport within the university, and can be played at Tournaments. Many play the game simply as a pastime, and fo relaxation. Surely compeition can only make a better play and thus create more pleasure.

Both billiards and snooker were only invitation sports in tournament at Otago, but if this competition can be arranged for four successive years then the sport becomes official and counts towards overall Tournament points. So, the interest-within the university must be maintained so that teams can be sent away to Tournaments each year and win points for their university. To do this a core of interested students must be established this year.

Both Otago and Canterbury have Billiard tables on campus and thus it is easier for them to keep clubs going. Our exec has just turned down a submission by the Vic Club to purchase a pool table (20c a shot).^* Such a pool table would pay itself off within a year, and eventually provide enough money to buy a full-size table. But since it seems this will not be the case, we must look to hiring a table for future use. All the sport needs is equipment; this cannot come from the club itself at the present time, and it should be the duty of page break the Union to support this sport, which is becoming increasingly popular.

After Easter Tournament a N.Z. University Billiards Council was set up, and all information concerning players is being sent to he Otago Club, the Central Control for 1971. The enthusiasm, imagination and confidence of the Otago Club is seen by their trying to arrange a Pacific University Billiard Tournament at Winter Tournament, 1972. This plan will not eventuate unless support from universites for their clubs is forthcoming.

A patron for the club is being sought, and tutoring may be arranged. It is hoped to arrange Snooker at Easter Tournament, and Billiards at Winter Tournament every year. If the clubs now in existence have the backing of their unions then universities at present having no club may be persuaded to take an interest in the sport.

Arrangements are being made to hold a Billiard-Compeition at Winter Tournament this year. The team will be picked after knockout and league competitions are completed. All players are welcome to the club - amateurs or professionals - at the end of the year prizes will be awarded to the top player, and the most improved player, in he club.

For any info., please contact:

Squash Raquets:

It seems apparent that one of the more urgent developments in sports facilites on campus is the building of squash courts. The present situation is this;

At the moment students are playing at John Reid's Courts. During the day, between the hours of 9am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4.30pm, members of the V.U.W. Squash Club are charged 20c per half hour, and non-members are charged 30c per half hour to play at these courts. But members are also paying a $3.50 membership fee, as well as a Club Night charge. (If we were to have our own courts, the only costs to students would be 10c or 20c for light meter, and a membership fee.)

This is the cost to students. What about the costs to the club?

In addition the club has had to pay a certain amount per member each year to the Squash Centre. Last year this amounted to $180.00.

[unclear: The] next point to consider is the availability of facilites. The Club runs for the middle term only. Any student may play throughout the year between 9am and 12 noon, and 2pm and 4.30pm, but it is virtually impossible to obtain courts at night. In any event, students playing at night time or in the weekends, pay 60c each per half hour. Another disadvantage is that there is no club Room. This seriously hampers the social activities which play such an important part in the functioning of any club.

What then is wanted by the Squash Racquets Club?

Ideally our own squash centre which should contain three courts, two changing rooms, a club room overlooking all 3 courts, and our own hot water system.

The advantages of our own courts would be that any student could play squash at any time for a minimal cost. This would ensure that membership and spirit in the club were high, that the standard would increase, and that tournaments (including Winter tournament) would be much more easily and efficiently run. Winter Tournament would be much cheaper to run, and we would not be required to fit in with permanent bookings beyond our control. The estimated cost of a sperate building containing these facilites would be about $60,000.

It is worth pointing out that at Otago University, 800 students are willing to pay a much higher sub than our present one to enjoy facilites very similar to those we would like.

(Thanks to "The Report of the V. U.W. Squash Club" for the info needed for this article).

Andy Wright Says:

1971 Summer Blues.

The Following Blues have been awarded;

Water Polo: (team came second at Easter Tournament) B. Britten - member N.Z.U. team and N.Z. team: G.Stephen - N.Z.U. teeam, Wellington A: M. Mc-Kinley - V.U.W. captain and N.Z.U. team: V. Pickett - Blue 1970.

303 Rifles Team: (second at Easter tournament) J.R. White-man - A grade N.R.A. Wellington Rifle Assn team Rep: R.J. McKinley—A grade.

Athletics: I Finlayson - 1st N.Z.U. High Jump Tournament - 6ft. 1st National High Jump 6′3″ 2nd Provincial 6′1″. Member of N.Z.U. team against A.U.: C. Banks Best height 6′1″ High Jump. 2nd place N.Z.U. athletics div. 3rd placing N.Z.U. vs Australia University test Dn; P.Kear - 1st National Champs 400m 48.8, 1st Tournament 400m 48.3, 1st Wellington prov. 400m 49.1, Wellington record 400m 47.4 Nelson 17/2/71, 1st Wellington prov 200m, Member N.Z.U. team against A.U. Impressive eh Wot? Phil is also the chairman of Sports Council.

Cricket: in recognition of the teams efforts at Easter Tournament in cleaning up the opposition: R.Priest - N.Z.U. Team 69,70,71, V.U.W. Blue 1969,70,: T. Druce - N.Z.U. team (tournament awe 22.8): P.Ried - N.Z.U. team (Tournament ave 15wkts at 16.3 31.5 batting): J.Greenwood - N.Z.U. team (tournament ave - 16 wekts after 10.4 37.5 batting).

Blues Control. Just a thought. We give recognition to outstanding performances in competitive sport but no in other sports. Outstanding contributions unnoticed should we institute some form of recognition or abolish the lot...?

Winter Tournament

Teams had better start pulling their fingers out. Eligibility and billeting forms must be in to Stud Ass by Monday 26th July. Forms can be picked up there now. Team lists must be in by this date. Anyone who withdraws after this date may find themselves liable to pay the compulsory charge of $1.00 for entertainment levy and 50c for billets (if they asked for one).

Travel will be by special train to Auckland on Saturday night 14th August. Return will be by special tram on Friday 20th leaving Auckland straight after the ball at 3am. All piss heads can go straight from the ball to the train. This time is necessary as the train has to connect with the ferry in Wellington and to do this must leave by 5am. Seems better to take off straight after the ball/party/piss-up - call it what you will!

Letter:

Now then, just who is "Gabriel Veysey"? Science has not yet achieved quick-change personalities but chum if you read this turd's twaddle in the last issue, you can't help but note that the worst qualities of "two certain rugby writers in certain local newspapers" have been combined in one crap-composing correspondent describing himself as the said "Gabriel Veysey".

I don't know whether he has been tossed out of the Rugby Club's rooms by Ian Dunn for blocking the bar or some other misdemeanour but he sure seems to be uptight about that guy. While I. Dunn may not be exactly reticent in what he has to say, (and his stories certainly bear this out), merely a subjective tirade such as that in the last "Salient" goes too far.

At least we do get opinions from some rugby administrator even if we don't all agree with his comments. Anyone with only minimal journalistic experience would surely prefer Dunn's waffle to the stubborn "no comment" voiced so often by other and more prominent rugby administrators.

If "Gabriel Veysey" wanted objectivity and coherence in the sporting section I would have thought he might lead the way. Opinion, even egotistical, provocative opinion, makes easier reading (and probably better circulation figures) than dull statistical processions analysing results which are stale in my case.

What do we learn from this individual's criticism?... Nothing! - Except that he has a capacity to creat a cacophony of crudity. Sorry about the alliteration but if cruds like him can't be constructive and objective (Hell, even his quotations come from "a certain newspaper" and not classical sources as those of Ian Dunn) is that he should either keep his mouth shut or ask the good Chairman Mao for some literary advice!

Alex David.

There are 17 playing teams in the rugby club. Not one repesentative of any of these teams approached me at any stage with copy about his team and its progress.

But this apathy (excuse the cliche) is not only typical of the rugby club It extends right through the sporting life of this university. I am constantly ringing the same administrators of the same clubs to get them to contribute. It appears that no amount of begging or cajoling on my part will every meet with success except with the handful of willing contributors to whom I shall be eternally grateful.

Ian Dunn is one of these, and I wish to publicly thank him for the work he has put into the sports section of this newspaper.

Peter Winter