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The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1931

The N.Z. 27th Inter-University Tournament

page 40

The N.Z. 27th Inter-University Tournament

The Annual Easter Tournament was held this year at Dunedin, and a strong team left Wellington on the 1st of April (atra dies) to do battle for the Shield. After a quiet journey by boat and train in which we renewed friendship with the representatives from Auckland and Canterbury, our team arrived at Dunedin in glorious sunshine to be riotously welcomed on the station by their hosts, who lost no time in getting the visitors away to their billets. It was here that the finest haka we have yet heard was performed for us by Knox College.

On Friday afternoon the Official Welcome to the representatives was held in Allen Hall, and after the usual speeches had been made deprecating the weather, which immediately was shamed into turning fine again, afternoon tea was served.

Early on Saturday morning a start was made with the hostilities proper, the tennis premilinaries being commenced while the boxing preliminaries were held at the same time in His Majesty's Theatre. In the tennis singles, McCarthy won his first match in good style but was unlucky enough to meet Stedman (A.U.C.), the present N.Z. champion, in the second round and lost after a plucky fight. Dive, V.U.C.'s other hope, was narrowly defeated by Christie (O.U.) in the first round. In the Ladies' Singles Miss Line lost to Miss Rankin (O.U.) and Miss Pragnell was beaten by Miss Ballantyne (O.U.), both in the first round. After this neither the men's nor the ladies' singles had any further interest for V.U.C. In the boxing preliminaries our fortunes were also on the wane. The winners of the Boxing Shield at Auckland in 1930, V.U.C., had fielded a strong team to defend the trophy, but found that other Colleges had done likewise. Logan, last year's bantam champion, lost his first bout to a mar, just as clever, who was in better condition. Hart, making his debut as a V.U.C. representative. narrowly defeated his man. Kent, boxing beautifully, was unlucky to run into a surprise punch from an opponent whom he appeared to have well in hand, and Cramond was defeated by Irwin in the wetter-weights. Armstrong lost his bout in the first round of the middle-weight contest by a narrow margin, but Mahoney revived our hopes by winning the best bout of the morning from Macfarlane (O.U.).

In the tennis, meanwhile, the V.U.C. colours were being kept flying by Misses Pragnell and Briggs, and by Long and Harris, the first-named pair winning their first match 6—5, 6—0 in the Ladies' Doubles, and Harris and Long defeating Bawden and Walton of A.U.C. 6—4, 6—0 in the Men's Doubles. Harris and Long were leading one set in in the second round when the match had to be abandoned on account of the light. On recommencing on the Monday morning they were unable to show the same form and lost 6—3, 6—2 to C.U.C. Our other pairs, McCarthy and Dive, in the Men's Doubles, and Misses Line and Dyer in the women's, were narrowly defeated in the first round by Stedman Bros. (A.U.C.), 4—6,5—7, and Misses Kane and Thompson (C.U.C.), 5—6, 4—6 respectively.

In the rowing held that afternoon, V.U.C. showed up well, and it is unfortunate that this was not a Tournament fixture. Rowed into a stiff breeze over a two-mile course, this was a gruelling face, and a thrilling finish saw V.U.C. win by half a length, the third boat being not more than a length away. The haka performed on the wharf by V.U.C. barrackers was delivered with a gusto which characterised it on that occasion only.

With only Hart and Mahoney to uphold its honour in the boxing finals on Saturday night, V.U.C. went determined to see that their two gladiators received a share of moral support. Much to cur delight, Hart showed greatly improved form, and won the feather-weight in splendid style. We hereby congratulate him on winning his N.Z. University blue and hope that it will be the first of many. Mahoney, who won the middle-weight the previous year, found Moorhouse of A.U.C., the present champion, a tough proposition in the light-heavy-weight class. He boxed splendidly and the display was the finest of the Tournament, but Moorhouse carried too many guns and won by a narrow margin.

The standard of boxing at this Tournament was the highest for many years, and our representatives have no reason to feel that they were not up to the standard of former times. The Boxing Shield was won by Otago, to whom we extend our congratulations

On Sunday afternoon the official photograph was taken to the accompaniment of the usual

page 41
1931 Tournament Rowing Eight

1931 Tournament Rowing Eight

Victoria University College Rifle Club'S Team,

Victoria University College Rifle Club'S Team,

page 42

number of witless remarks, and our hosts then tock us for a motor-drive round the Peninsula finishing up with afternoon tea at Cargill's Castle, where the draught blowing up the staircase to the roof proved a source of much embarrassment to the lady members.

On Monday morning the tennis was resumed. Misses Pragnell and Briggs in the Ladies' Doubles went down in the semi-finals to Misses Rankin and Seavill of O.U., 2—6, 5—6, putting up strenuous resistance, especially in the second set. As the Men's Singles, Ladies' Singles, Ladies' Doubles and Men's Doubles had now only an historical interest for us, we turned our attention to the Combined Doubles. Harris and Miss Briggs, who struck J. E. Stedman and Miss McIntosh in the first round, put up a good fight but went down 3—6, 4—6. Miss Dyer and Long managed to bring home the bacon in the first round, al-though hard pressed, winning 6—4, 8—6. In their second match they appeared to be still feeling the effects of their previous encounter and lost to O.U. although they went to 6—8 in the second set, after losing the first, 2—6.

V.U.C.'s part in the tennis was now played and although our representatives played better all round than they did the previous year, it is still apparent that something drastic must be done by the Tennis Club. For two years now the V.U.C. score-sheet has been as blank as the faces of its supporters, and it behoves us to see that the wooden spoon in tennis is given to some other College in 1932.

The Basket-ball team upheld its tradition and scored a point towards the Tournament Shield by defeating C.U.C. in the losers' game, 28—20 after losing to A.U.C. 24—34 in the first match. Weakness in defence was apparent this time, although the centres and goal-throwers were well up to standard.

News had been received by this time that the Shooting, fired on the home ranges of the Colleges, had been won by Victoria, and we wish to congratulate our shooting team on their splendid performance in winning the Haslam Shield by 68 points from A.U.C. To P. H. Meakin, secured the highest individual score four teams, we wish to convey our congratulations and hopes that he will secure a N.Z. University blue again next year.

After rain on Sunday night the Athletic Sports were slightly handicapped by the heavy ground, which, however, improved as the day went on. This was, as the official programme informed us, the first occasion on which Tournament Sports had been held on a self-owned University ground. We envy our friends of Otago their ground and the support and public spirit which have assisted them to obtain it.

V.U.C. led off in the morning with a win in Putting the Shot, Ramson doing 32 ft. 8½ in. Stephenson, a new representative, ran well to secure second place to Garlick, of Auckland, in the first heat of the 220, and Goodson won his heat in excellent style. The Long Jump proved another "goldmine" for V.U.C. punters, both cur horses being placed, Barker doing 20ft. 4½ in. and Mackay coming second with 19ft. 11in. In the final of the 220 Stephenson again ran second to Garlick, who had to cut one-fifth of a second off his morning run to win. Harley, of C.U.C., the holder of the record for both 440 and 880, won both of these, although Street pushed him hard in the 440 and Watt ran second in the 880, in which it appeared that a faster first lap would have given him the victory. In the Mile, Lovelock (O.U.) came first, followed closely by "Jack the Giant-killer," who also ran very well in the Three-mile, in which he collected another second place.

Owing to a shocking blunder on someone's part the 440 Hurdles and 120 Hurdles were run within 20 minutes of each other, and although it had been announced that the longer race would take place at 3.55 p.m., it was run at 2 pm. Ramson, in spite of the fact that he had just had a heavy meal, won it in his usual splendid style, but the effort caused him to be violently sick, and he was too weak to last the 120 Hurdles, which followed. It was scandalous that this mismanagement should occur, and it was especially to be regretted as Ramson would easily have won both events had a sufficient interval been allowed him in which to recover from the first race. In the 100 Flat Goodson ran third, the winner, Garlick, of A.U.C., turning in the splendid time of l0sec. In the High Jump and Javelin we were unplaced, although we noted that both were won by our old friend, Geoff Sceats, now wearing the blue and silver. We hope his record with A.U.C. will be as meritorious as his V.U.C. representation was. In the Mile Walk and the Hammer we had page 43 no representative. The Relay, which for the past four years has been won by V.U.C., was this year won by C.U.C., thanks to a splendid 880 by Harley and a fine quarter by Williams. Our sprinters, Street and Goodson, made up some leeway, but could not catch Manchester and Murphy, and another V.U.C. tradition went by the board.

C.U.C. retained the Athletic Shield, with Victoria second. Had it not been for the unfortunate bungling above referred to, our team would probably have regained the Athletic Shield. We trust that they will do this on Athletic Park next Easter.

(We wish here to deny the rumour that the 440 Hurdles is to be run at 7.15 a.m. on the morning the Southern teams arrive. We strongly advocate running it the day before.)

The Swimming Section of the Tournament was held in the Moray Pace Tepid Baths on the Monday evening. We wish to draw a veil over the performances of our College in this section, and content ourselves with the remark that our representatives showed superiority over those of the previous year in that they all finished—sooner or later.

The Tennis finals, on Tuesday, had only a passing interest for us, and we reserved our energies for the Tournament Ball held in Town Hall on Tuesday night. We have pleasure in acknowledging that it was the best ball we have ever attended, and its efficient running reflects great credit on those in charge. At an early hour in the morning we crawled into bed, to rise an hour or two later to catch the train home. A few indefatigably spirits caught the train at 8 a.m. and were farewelled by several gentlemen in dinner suits, who called at the Railway Station on the way home from the ball.

The journey up in the train was a most exhausting business and, for the male representatives, consisted of a series of bare-footed pilgrimages through the train in search of missing sacks and shoes. Fortunately, the boat trip was again calm and we caught up on some arrears of sleep.

Looking back on the Tournament, we have some pleasant memories. Otago entertained us in splendid style and the lavishness of the hospitality extended to us was unparelleled. The various sections of the Tournament were well run, and save for the unfortunate blunder in the Athletics, most efficiently controlled. We wish to thank our hosts most enthusiastically and to assure them that the standard they set will prove very difficult for us to emulate in 1932.

The following V.U.C. representatives won New Zealand University Blues:—

Athletics: D. W. A. Barker, F. S. Ramson.

Boxing: W. C. Hart.

Shooting: P. H. Meakin.

The following were the V.U.C. representatives:—

Athletics:. 100yds., J. N. Goodson, R. T. Street; 220yds., J. N. Goodson, J. B. Stephenson; 440yds., R. T. Street, D. W. A. Barker; 880yds., J. C. Watt, J. R. Bennell; One-Mile, L. W. Rothwell, J. C. K. Fabian; Three-Mile, L. W. Rothwell, J. C. K. Fabian; 120yds. Hurdles, F. S. Ramson, N. M. Hislop 440yds. Hurdles, F. S. Ramson; High Jump, N. M. Hislop, D. W. A. Barker; Long Jump, D. W. A. Barker, J. D. Mackay; Javelin, J. D. Mackay, N. M. Hislop; Shot Putting, F. S. Ramson; Relay, (880) J. C. Watt, (440) J. B. Stephenson, (220) R. T. Street, (220) J. N. Goodson.

Boxing: Bantam, J. K. Logan; Feather, W. C. Hart; Light, J. B. Kent; Welter, A. R. Cramond; Middle, C. N. Armstrong; Cruiser, M. E. Mahoney.

Basket-ball: M. H. Line, I. M. Morice, E. G. Boden, M. M. Patterson (Capt.), P. M. Quinlan, K. M. Wood, Z. V. L. Lowry, J. M. Dunn, H. M. D. Curtis; Emergency, E. M. W. Burrell.

Shooting: C. D. Banks, T. F. G. Harrison, P. H. Meakin, D. F. McLeod, A. J. McWhinnie, S. T. Rockell, A. B. Sapsford, C. E. Wiseley.

Swimming: 100yds. (Men), J. Cowan; 220yds. (Men), C. N. Watson; 50yds. (Women), S. Breen; 100yds. (Women), J. Anderson; Dual Relay (33 1-3yds.), Misses S. Breen and J. Anderson; (66 2-3yds.), C. N. Watson and J. Cowan.

Tennis: Men's Singles, J. J. McCarthy, W. J. Dive; Women's Singles, M. H. Line, D. A. Pragnell; Men's Doubles, J. J. McCarthy and W. J. Dive, W. S. Harris and R. H. Long; Women's Doubles, D. A. Pragnell and M. Briggs, M. H. Line and V. Dyer; Combined Doubles, Miss M. Briggs and W. S. Harris; Miss V. Dyer and R. H. Long.

Tournament Delegates: C. S. Plank, J. L. MacDuff.

N.U.S. Delegates: Miss M. Briggs, W. P. Railings, H. J. Bishop.