NOTES BY AMATEUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 53

NOTES BY AMATEUR.

The Caiisbrook track has been looking very busy during the last week. Every night there has been a good attendance of amateurs on the track. Mr W. A. Low has been out giving the men some practice in starting, and they have all become steadier on the mark under his tuition.

The amateurs have a first-class high jumper in R. H. Grahame, who is just lately out from England. I am expecting to see a first-class exhibition of jumping on Saturday. M'Lachlan is another man who is jumping ver3" neatly, but he will have to have more practice before being a champion. Cuff is in great form just now, and will be very close up in all his races. Stalker is going very well, but he is still very slow in getting off the mark. Price has been gradually going back during the last fortnight, and has very sensibly taken a rest, which might bring him into fair form by Saturday, Jacobs is in very good form, and will hare to be reckoned with in whichever race he ■competes. Tarabull is, in my opinion, about the best of the maidens, and I think he will be very well up in all the sprints.

Nicolson is going very well over about 75 yards, but seems to ■ die away a lot after going this distance. Gollan has improved a great deal during the last month, and is sure to run good races in the handicap events.

Christie is going very fairly, but his stride it far too small for him to do much good on the track.

Murray is going very well, and should run good races in the One and Two Miles.

Caldow is also going very well, and hag improved a great deal since Labour Day.

Mathews is a very strong runner indeed* and will make the pace very solid in the distance events.

Olson is in training once more, but does not seem to be going too well. Gow and Divers are walking very well, and I expect to see god finishes in both the Half and One-mile Walks.

The 250 yds Championship will be a ivellcontested race, although I fancy there will be only three races. At the finish thero will not be more thau three yards betvacri

Cuff, Stalker, and Jacobs, who will, in my opinion, finish in that order. The handicaps for the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club s sports, to be held on Saturday next at Carisbrook, will be declared on .Thursday. I have received from Mr J. Geary, the secretary of the Riverton Athletic Club, a copy of the programme for the sports to be held by that club in Riverton on December 27. There are 13 events on the programme, chief of which is the Riverton Sheffield •Handicap — first prize £12 10s, second £4 10s, third £2, fourth £1. The distance for this race is 135 yds, to be run under Sheffield rules. Entry fee, 10s. Other events on the '.programme are: — 100 yds Maiden, 120 yds .(Youths' Race, Sawing Competition, Onemile Flat, Chopping Competition, 440 yds •Handicap, One-mile Bicycle, 130 yds Hurdles, .Two-mile Bicycle, Half-mile Flat, and 220 yds Plat; the whole making up an exceedingly good day's sport. The Wellington and Dunedin Amateur 'Athletic Clubs hold their spring meetings on the same date — Saturday. December 7. ' A. O. Barrett, the Victorian heel-and-toe exponent, will probably be the only competitor at the Australasian Championship meet- j ing in December next who took part in the 1&95 meeting at Ch.Tistcb.urch. ' L. C. M'Lachlan, the young New Zealand ihalf-mile crack, won the Half-mile from "^cratch from A. Green, who was .in receipt of 45yds, at the Dandenong sports on No- ] jvpmber 13. H. P. Mullen, lO^yds, won the Handicap, 120 yds, at the same snorts: M'Manus (the New South Wales «hampion, scratch) second, J. P. O'Connell third. Commenting on the World's Fair running on the 11th ult., the Melbourne writer "Fleetfoot" says:— The World's Fair Committee put forward a good programme of events for professional peds, which attracted "two champions — M'Manus and M'Lachlan — /who tried conclusions with each other lately at Newcastle, when the New Zealander beat M'Manus over half a mile, the latter conceding 10 yards. Both were placed in their •heats of the Half-mile yesterday in 2min 2 3-ssec and 2min 1 4-ssec respectively. The heats of the Sheffield were splendidly congested, Jones and M'Lachlan showing fine form. The times were simply marvellous, and made many knowing ones nod and smile. The first two heats showed 9 4-sseo each, the second two lOsec each, the next S 4-ssec, etc., etc. The winners of trie heats sin the Sheffield were : — J. J. Jones, L. C. M'Lachlan, E. T. Walsh, H. P. Mullen, A. !C. P. O'Brien, W. Young. W. Murray, J.

•Hogan, and J. W. Cook dead heat, J. P. JO'Connell. and p. G. Mackley. The final resulted in a win for E. T. Walsh. 9iyds, ,with J. J. Jones, B£yds, second, and J. W. iCook, 9yds, third. Walsh won handily in p 4-ssec. M'Lachlan, in the semi-final, was Limfortunate enough to put his foot into a iholc, coming down heavily on his knees. ,The. starters in the Half-mile Handicap final .were A. Green, H. Bradley, W. M'Manus, iW. Hamel, L. C. M'Lachlan, W. T. Doyle, jßoxall, and W. Fleming. The result was a great victory for M'Lachlan from scratch, the New Zealander rather ' easily defeating (Boxall and Bradley, each 50yds start, after W fine race. M'Lachlan got away from his 'great rival, M'Manus, at the bell, and, after ]» Tain endeavour to get on even, terms again, M'Manus- gave in. Time, 2min C 4~ssec. ' The combined New South Wales, Vio*torian, and Queensland teams for the Aus.tralasian championships to be held in Auckland this month leave Sydney by the Mara,ioa on December 11. They will be accompanied by Messrs R. Coombes and E. P. 'Marks.

The entries received by the D.A.A C for their annual sports meeting next Saturday "compare very favourably with previous years. -The long-distance events are particularly [.■well-filled thia year, which should be the means of attaching more interest to this Jfaranch of sport. The committee have decided to alter the teams' steeplechase for a

relay race, owing to lack of support from ,the various clubs. _ * h Cricketers are provided for on the programme with two items, throwing cricket •ball and 220 yards flat handicap in cricket costume. As most of the leading cricketers 'of Dunedin have entered, considerable -Amusement should eventuate, i Training operations are in full swing

nightly. Most of the competitors are now ■-putting in their winding up work. Cuff is in splendid form, and should give a good "Recount ot himself at the meeting. Stalker is also very fit, and the race between him "and Cuff for the 250 yds Championship will be worth going a long way to see. Jacobs is not the man he was last yeai, but he can be relied on to always run an honest race. Frank Hotop, who last year

- won the Half-mile Championship, has been training hard at Queenstown, and is ap"parently running as well as ever. J. W. • Price is not showing his last year's form. Turnbull and' Nicholson, both maiden ran- • 'ners, are very fair performers, aud the 120 yds maiden race should be fought out between ;them. Muriay, of harrier fame, is going Very well, and Saturday should prove if he |s going to turn out a champion. Matthews is a very powerful runner, and must run well in the distance events. Burk, who is only a boy, 3hows considerable promise, and should he follow in his father's footsteps, •will take a lot of beatiog. R. H. Grahamc, ,wlic is just recently out from the Old Country, enjoys the reputation of being a real good jumper, and his appearance on. Saturday will' be looked for with considerable interest. P. H. Buck, ex long champion, is jumping well, and should easily keep up his reputation in this event. Munro, from Oamaru, is a weight putter And hammer thrower of considerable ability, and it will be interesting to see bow he shapes with R. Martin. The meeting this year promises to be a great success, and the only thing now wanting is a fine day and a large attendance of the public. Afternoon tea will be provided by lady supporters of the club, which wilL no doubt be an additional attraction to the meeting. As the handbooks are not out yet I will reserve my anticipations till Friday. My Auckland correspondent wires : — En- ' tries for- the N.Z. Amateur Athletic cham- . jpionships, to be held here on December 18, close with Mr J. P. Ohlson, secretary of the Auckland A:A. aad Cycle' Club, next Saturday. James Te Paa, the native pole vaulr -ter, has written to Mr Ohlson from Northern Wairoa, intimating his intention of compet- ,' ing at the championship meeting. With Te Paa and O. C, Laurie to represent us in the pole jump the Auckland Club should . take both first and second place. R. L. Rule, secretary of the Oamaru Caledonian Society, forwards me by post a programme, also complimentary ticket of the championship meeting of New Zealand, held /under the auspices of the N.Z. Association of Caledonian Societies. During the two days' meeting £404 will be given away in prizg monej..

There are 25 events on the programme of the first day of the sports, principal of which are : — Tossing the Caber (championship of New Zealand) — r'irst prize £5 second £3, third £1. Catch-as-catch-can (championship of New Zealand) — First prize £5, Becond £3, third £1. Highland Fling (championship of New Zealand) — First prize £5, second £3, third £1. In the running events there are five championships — 75yds, 220 yds, 440 yds, half-mile, and one mile. The one-mile event carries £10 first prize, £5 second, and £3 third. Running long jump, running high jump, and hop, step and jump are aho championship events, each carrying £4 first, £2 second, and £1 third. The Caledonian Handicap, 200 yds (run in heats), gives the winner £10, second man £7, and third £3. The second day's sports also contain a host of interesting events with, plenty of prize money attached. Championship of New Zealand events are: — Putting light ball — £5, £3, £1; wrestling, any weight (Cumberland style) — £10, £5, £3< bagpipe music (reels and strathspeys) — £5, £3, £1 : bagpipe music (marches and quickstep?) — £5 £3, £1; and sword dance— £s, £3, £1. The principal event on the second day amongst 25 others is the Oamaru Handicap (200ydi=), open to competitors in first day's events. This race furnishes the best prize of the two days' meeting— £ls first, £7 second, and £3 third. The Southland Pipe and the Oamaru Garrison- Bands are to be in attendance. Entries for running and jumping championships and for running and jumping handicaps must be in the hands of the secretary not later than Saturday, December 21.

The rx-Auckiander, A. O. Keating, showed as good form as any of those seen out in the sprints at the Picneer Club's recent sports at Christchurch. He won the final of the 100 yds from the 2yds mark in 10 4-sbec, and also shaped well in the 250 yds Handicap. Starting from scratch, he was finishing close alongside C. A. Harper, the winner, but was disqualified for running outside a post. The winner's time was 28 l-ssec. At the same meeting S. Pentecost, on acrafc*, ran third in the Half-mile Handicap, won by W. 0. Hart (40ycte), in 2min 3 l-ssec. There were no other performances of note.

Victorians just now are particularly interested in the doings of their likely opponents at the Australasian championships next month, says "Harrier," in the Australasian, as with a full team they hope to make a bid for victory. That their prospects of so doing are by no means despicab'e is clear, and "Prodigal," of the Referee, after referring to our recent championship meeting, adds : "I am more than ever convinced that the Victorians, with a full team, will be hard to beat in Auckland next month." The selectors at the council meeting sought authority to eend practically every man with a chance, in the hope that this year, for the first time in the history of- these meetings, Victoria .may be successful, and their desire was approved. Efforts are being made to obtain a substantial reduction in fares, and, as the party from Sydney is likely to total up 30 or more, it should be good' policy on the part of the steamship owners. I know several Victorians who would join the party under 6uch conditions who otherwise will not go. For the team proper 13 names have been published, but S. Duncan is unable lo go. Permission has been asked for Cummingto compete against Sutton in the Melburnian Hare and Hounds' mile race, at the Grammar School Sports, and W. T. Macpherson and H. ML. Duigan are being asked to show further proof of their form at the same meeting. E. W. Mitchell will run a further trial next week ia Benuigo. over the -quarter-mile. G. A. Moir and C. H. Gardner have been definitely selected. The high jump is giving the selectors some trouble. Of course, if J. P. English, the present champion, goes from Sydney, it i& useless sending anyone, for English can clear close on 6ft, but in his absence the following are the best jumpers: — For Queensland, A. H. Jones, M. Moran, W. Stirling, have all accomplished sft 6in, but none of these may go. New South Wales, in the absence of English, may send A. L. M'Alister, who has shown sft 6£in and sft 7£in ; and is reported to have done sft B£in. The best New Zealanders are C. D. White. sft 7^in : C. Haroer. sft 7^in : H. A. Prebble. sft bi'm : C. C. Laurie,( sft B£in ; R. Brownlee, 5f I 9 l-Bin; but it is said Brownlee will not bo competing. Laurie, as an Aucklander. will be on his native heath, and is a" very reliable jumper, and while sft 7in may win, it is more likely to require sft Bin. Duigan is capable of the former height, and with careful attention to practice, the latter may siot be*beyond his compass, and this is the question the selectors want answered.

"Prodigal" is in a position to give some additional information as to the likely personnel of the various teams from New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, and the news should prove interesting tc readers in New Zealand.

Five members of the Neiv South Wales team have ben selected, the personnel at present being as follows: W. O'Reilly (hammer and shot). W. Lindsay (hurdles and broad jump). S. W. York (mile and three miles). A. A. Oxlade (quaiter and half-mile). H. Henderson (sprints).

Until A. L. M'Alister ha? done his "test " runnin'g'high jump (it is to take place before a local committee at Goulburn), the selector cannot determine whether to select a high jumper or a walker foi the sixth place. If funds would admit of it, and the jump is satisfactory, it would be advantageous to send both M'Alis>ter and Penny. — [M'Alister has been selected. — Amateur.]

The selector (Mr It. Coombes) has asked Mr E. S. Marks (who wa? honorary manager of the N.S.W. 1895 team) if he could see his way to act as honorary manager.

The Victorian team, it is announced, will not include a hammer oi shot exponent, or a pole vaulter. With S. Duncan unwell, and W. Cuimning very doubtful, I think it pretty safe to assume that the team will include all or most of the following : G-. A. Moir (sprints). W. Shea (sprints). H. P .Hunter (sprints, hurdles, and bxoad

jump). E. W. Mitchell (440 yds and 88Oyds). H. Sutton (mile). George Blake (one and three miles). C. H. Gardner (hurdles and broad lump). L M. Macpherson (hurdles and broad jump) H. ML. Duigan vhigh and broad jumps). R. Purbrick (walks).

Other possibles are A. H. Wills (middle distances) and A. O. Barrett, who might be induced to go for the three miles walk. The Victorian team will be a very strong one, and will have the advantage of duplications in a number of events.

The Queensland selectors are now busily engaged in their task. The selectors (Messrs Pritchard, Burton, and Crawford) ha\e defijubeiy chosen the iyHsmiujti.

Geo. Hawkes (hammer and shot). D'Arcy Wentworth (440 yds, 880 yds, and one mile. P. F. Coriigam (walks).

I have seen no mention made of A. B. Wilcox (Bundaberg), one of Queensland's best-known performers; but C. Campbell, of Maryborough, is to be offered the opportunity of being "tested." Chas. Campbell, ex-440yds and 880 yds amateur champion of Australasia, and present 440 yds amateur champion of New South Wales, is certainly one of Australia's representative champions, whilst anyone who caw Wilcox do 6mici 50sec for a mile at the North Sydney A.A.C. sporvs, fair Leel-and-toe, under the new rules, must admit that it would be hard to pick a walker in Australia to equal the performance under the severe conditions imposed by the new code. The selection committee have arranged to hold a series of test races at the Exhibition grounds, and have invited the following runners to compete in the 100 yds, 220 yds, and 440 yds events: C. Campbell, A. J. Scanlan, A. Scott, G. J. Bennett, J. J. Citmmius, W. J. Oilier, and H. B. Radford. Furthermore, J. P. Mahony, C. C. Saunderson, C- Campbell, H. B. Radford, and A. Wildman have been invited to compete in the 880 yds event. A week later, Mahony, Sanndorson, and Wildman have been asked to run a three miles' test race.

The test meeting held to decide the Christchurch representatives for^he New Zealand championship meeting resulted as follows: — 100 Yards. A. O. Keating; 220 Yards, Keating ; 440 Yards,, E. T. Harper ; Mile, W. F. Simpson.

A Christchurch telegram says : — The second annual sports meeting of the Public Schools Association at Lancaster Park was a huge success. There was a very large crowd of spectators. The massed drills by 2000 children was most impressive. There were 3500 entries, and 1500 competitors. The Normal Schoel won the shield. Considering the large number of entries, the management was excellent. The 880 yds Championship was won by T. Leader, of the East Christchurch School, with R. Ryder (Ea»t Oxford) and C. Canavan (Opawa) second and third. Time, 2min 21 2-ssec.

Mr E. L. Macassey, secretary of the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Chib, has received a communication from his Excellency the Governor, granting his patronage and presence for the sports meeting to be neld on December 7 on the Carisbrook ground.