ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 58, 8 March 1913, Page 16

ATHLETICS.

Although the proposed visit of an American team to New Zealand last year fell through, the New Zealand A.A.A. does not intend to let the matter rest there, and the Council has decided to ask the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States on what terms it would be possible to arrange a tour of New Zealand and Australia by a team of American champion athletes, commencing about the week before Christmas, and lasting about five weeks in New Zealand, and about three months altogether. The Australasian Union is to be invited to cooperate. The New Zealand Swimming Association is to be asked if it cares to go into the question of bringing an American swimming champion with the team.

According to advice, Reg. E. Walker, the well-known South African sprinter, intends to tour New Zealand and Australia. This trip has been taken upon the advice of a number of Australian sportsmen in England, and, in company with his trainer and manager, Mr. H. B. Kea-rUand. a well-known pressman in South Africa and England was due to arrive in Wellington last Tuesday. Efforts were made about four years ago, when Walker was an amateur, to get him and Heffernon, the Marathon runner, to tour Australasia, under the auspices of the Australasian Amateur Athletic Union, but negotiations fell through. Few athletes are better known than Walker, who as an .-amateur won the 100 metres race at the London Olympic Games in 1908. He was then only 19 years <rf age. Walker stands sft. Tin. in height, and weighs about lOst —a nice, handy sprinting weight—and is a native of NataL Walker won a nmnber of championships during his amateur career. Two or three years ago be decided to enter the arena of professional pedestrianism, and last year he defeated Postle and Holway—the latter several times. The South African has never yet defeated Donaldson. Walker has issued a challenge to the world. He may rest fissured that the "Blue Streak" will be only too pleased to accept.