ATHLETICS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 129, 13 March 1936, Page 6

ATHLETICS.

OBJECTION TO A STATEMENT. COMMENT ON BOOT’S RUNNING. .Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “This .is a very improper action for an athletic official, and one that shows bias,” was. the statement made by Mr li. Beattie at a meeting of the Canterbury Athletic Centre last evening, when he commented on the action of Mr W. F. Ingram, a member of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and Olympic and British Empire Games Association, in publishing a statement to the effect that the Canterbury runner, V. P. Boot, had no chance of inclusion in the New Zealand team for the Olympic Games. Mr Beattie said that the selection of the New Zealand team had not yet been made, nor had Boot yet had, the opportunity of showing his ability before the members of the Olympic Games Association. It was unfair and improper for an official to express ah opinion in. print before the athletes nominated for the team had gone through their trials. Mr Ingram had accused Boot of jostling another runner during the race at the Now Zealand championships at Dunedin. Actually Boot had not been concerned in the jostling, and the referee had warned another man. It was decided to send to the New Zealand Council a letter protesting against the action of Mr Ingram.