This Could Be the Athletics Meet of the Year

The last relay change was made and four runners received their batons simultaneously. Entering the straight they were neck and neck. Thousands of schoolboys yelled, screamed and bellowed, giving tremendous vocal support to their team members. The athletic quartet hit the tape and officials immediately went into a huddle trying to decide. A calm voice over the speaker hushed the excited crowd. "First, Marlborough Boys' College." Thunderous cheering drowned the other results.

This was the Nelson-Marlborough inter-college athletics meeting as it could be. Not as it was in Nelson recently. There were some excellent performances but a relatively small crowd saw them. A particularly fine feature was the long jumping but the pit was so far away from the main stand that only about 30 people saw Kim Gallagher and Murray Paulsen clear 20ft.

Unfortunately the meeting clashed with numerous other events but with a bit of future forethought this could be avoided. Each school should select its best competitor, or best two, for each event. Selection trials should be held. Representing one's school should be a keenly sought honour, not a matter of adding a name to a list on a notice board as was the case at one college.

Inter-secondary school meetings in many centres are highlights of any code. And the Nelson-Marlborough meeting, held for the second time this year, could be the same. If schools named their best for each event heats could be scrapped and events would be finals. Give points, that adds a goal to the competition. Have visiting schools organise buses so the team has the support of the entire school. Give the meeting the status it deserves.

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Determination and effort show on the face of Nayland College javelin competitor, Conrad Ireland

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The last event of the day produced a thrilling finish with Michael Collins, Nelson College, hitting the tape inches ahead of Ivan Beattie, Marlborough Boys' College, and Hugh Fearless, Nayland College