THEE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 282, 29 November 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

THEE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Now that our own sports are over.thsnext athletic meeting to engage attention is the Championships raeeting to bo held in February next. Only about nine weeks from now the best runner 3 in the colony will meet to try conclusions, and an Australian team will also bo present to try to down our men. Last year's big meeting in Sydney, and tho championship meeting in Dunedin, cruised much excitement throughout tho colony, bub the forthcoming one ehovild bo even rnoro attractive. There are four bicycling championships to be decided also," find these should bo very Interesting. Hall, the best rider in the colony, will be pretty certain to compsfce. Then liempton and McPherson will probably meet again ; Batger will almosb certainly compete in the hurdles; Morrison, the great mile runner, will have to meet a crack Sydney man ; and of course, our own men will have to do their bosb for the honour of the province and of the Auckland There are 18 championships in all. The first day will be oecupiod by the decision of the Throe Mile Walk, I<X) Yards- Flab (heats), Five Mile Bicycle, High Jump, Half Mile Flat, 120 Yards Hurdles (heats), 250 Yards, Ten Mile Bicycle, Long Jump, and Three Mile Flat, while on the second day the One Mile Walk, 100 Yards (final), One Mile Bicycle, One Mile Flat, 120 Yards Hurdlea (final), Quarter Mile Flat, Putting 161b Weight, Quarter Mile Hurdles, Twenty-five Mile Bicycle, and Pole Jump are down for decision. The N.Z.A.A.A. offer two prizes—gold and silver medals — and theN.Z.C.A. three prizes—gold, silver, and bronze medals —for each of their events, Tho N.Z.A.A.A. also offer standard eupe to all competitors reaching standard, and their Champion Banner will also be competed for by the clnba. Entries for all events close on January 24fch at Christchurch, athletic events with Mr L. A. Cuff, and cycling events with Mr V. G. Withers. Our men should keep up active training right from the present) time. Of course, the number of men chosen to represent the Club will nob be great; but others should enter for the various events to try their stride with the great guns. 2\To one knows what two months' steady training may do. The Auckland Club' 3 banner will be out for its first airing on the days of the championship meeting. A meeting of the Nevy South VVale3 Amateur Athletic Association was held a fortnight ago. The meeting was called for the purpose of taking steps to send a team of athletes to compete at the New Zealand Association's Sports Meeting. After some discussion Mr Marks moved, and it was agreed to, "That in the opinion of this meeting ib is desirable that endeavours should be made to send a representative team of athletes to Auckland to compete at the New Zealand A. A.A, Championship Sports Meeting, to be held on February 6th and 7th, 1891." Regarding the way in which the team should be selected, it was decided to hold a test sports mooting on or about January 14bh, the Council to have the final selection of the team. The question of the finances was tihen considered, and ib was agreed that subscription lists

should be issued, Ihg Association heading the list with a grant, nob exceeding £15. I believe Mr Jas. Halyday is likely to go down to Chrisbchuroh next week to urge on the Association the advisability of having some sports for tho sailors on the programme. Several ships of the Squadron will'be here during the time of tha meeting, and bo popular are such sports that the finances would benefit largely by having them. For the life of me I can see no objection to having such, or even a few handicap races, during the two days. The Association will throw away at least £50 if they do not see this matter in the eamo light as the Auckland Club. last Thursday's Star it will be seen that the Club has chosen certain men in a preliminary way to represent it at the meeting. I hope this will nob deter others from having a cub in. Boord I should like to sco go for the long distance bicycle races.

Clarke, the mile runner, will bo in Whangarei for some time, but will corns down to train before tho sports. Ho intends to keep up his form at Whar.garci. Service has ordered from England some pneumatic tyres for use by our men in the bicycle races. They will be most serviceable fno pun), and will pub our fellows on a level with the Southerners, who use them. I believe Service has ordered one or two now machines.

'Buchanan has boon trying a binjeer machine lately, and if it suits him Ida pueo will bo considerably increased. Clarke has been very generally urged to come out for tho championships, but business is boo hard oi> him.

There is just a ohanco that Burton, our champion walker of a low seasons back, wul ccimo out for a laet go. Roberts, who v/ent so near tho double soma time back,may bo brought ova for tho quarter. He ia now in the Waikato. The Wellington snorts take place this afternoon, and should give a line for our men.