THRIVING AMATEURISM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8725, 26 November 1913, Page 3

THRIVING AMATEURISM.

IS THERE A BOOM?

" Olympic,?' writing in the "Sydney Telegraph," says:

Amateur sport is coming into its own, and is beginning to Hqurish in Sydney. A'few years ago amateur running was practically dead. The same might be said of 'amateur cycling. But there is a different tale to tell today, i ;

. Amateur athletics have now become so popular that at the present time there are hundreds and hundreds of youths training daily to win some of the honours that the cinder path leads to. In Sydney there is a boom in amateur running, and it is the same with the cyclists.

Amongst the professional runners there are men credited with doing wonderful things. Men like Donaldson and Walker stand out, but taken generally, the best amateurs can hold their own with the best professionals. To gain some idea of the rapid advance in amateur athletics in Sydney one has only to visit the Sydney Sports Ground any Wednesday, evening. The ground simply swarms with men careering here, there, and everywhere. Last Wednesday night five! walkers were circling the 'outer portion of the track in an attempt on the one hour walking ■record; whilst a 440 yards run was taking place. On the sprint track a 75 j yards handicap was being decided, and i there were, .-men striding the hurdles, I arid stillmore runners "jogging" about, I iat various parts of the ground—-a veritable hot-bed of amateurism. The sport sxxpplied is of /'the best, the racing j throughout being keen and clean. Many of the races carry no prizes at all, and the competition is as keen as if "big pots" were on offer. Whilst the present prosperous condition of amateurism maintains we are sivre of the=best traditions of sport being uphekrf The high standard _of proficiency that, rowers, cyclists, swimmers, and runners are attaining is dispelling a false old idea that the amateur is the "mug" in sport. If the '. amateurs continue to improve at the same rate as has been the case during the last few years, professionalism, from the competition point of view, will not have anything the better of the deal. "