ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 53, 3 March 1900, Page 4 (Supplement)

ATHLETICS.

The Auckland Amateur Athletic Cluib hold their Autumn Carnival on the: Cricket Ground next Saturday, March 10th. Entries closed on Saturday last, and in reviewing- them one observes at once that there has been a great falling- off in numbers in the tap-hit ami middle distance evejits. Indeed it may be said that there are only half the usna.l number of entries for' two of the sprint distances, the 100 yards and 300 yards; but on the other hand the distance events show an increase. The 'cycle events, too, are none too heavily patronized, while the 120 yards hurdles as usual attracts 'but a small field. Is it that the war is affecting- athletics as well as every-* thing- else? We are informed that John Flan-' agaii, the world's amateur record holder, lias invented a new hammer, the i iinprove'inen't consisting- of a handle so | inserted in the hammer when in the. air. the head continually revolves on a-serit-s of ball bearing's. It is said that results lire lriosl satisfactory. Tinis may be so, but \intil the new 'implement is sanctioned by the A.N.A. of i the United States it will not (remarks j "Prodigal") be allowed in recognised i competitions, any more than another I hummer '■invention,"' viz., the trianI guktr lUindlp-pieee. Whilst regretting- the decision not to send an Australasian athletic team ; to England, a writer In London "Sporting- Life" says:—lt would appear that Australasia is not only short of funds wherewith to send an athletic team ;to this country, but ifc is hard down ! there to lind men of first-class ability j who could join the tour. To a great | extent, doubtless, the war is respon* j Bible for theTailure to meet the monetary difficulties, there being- other I more patriotic movements winch deserve public support. But it is still, i hoped that Stanley, Rowley, of New South Wales, may be able to come to this country. He won the Austral-: asian 100 Yards 'in November in 9 i)-10sec, and also put up an Australian record for 220 yards, winning-, that race easily in 22 H l-ssec. We. trust -we may have the opportunity of givingl I him a hearty welcome. W. J. Sturgess, the English am at en? walking- champion, has left England for the front. . The Sydney Harriers have contributed several members to the continjgents, including .j. English, the Australasian hignh and long, jump champion; J. W. Taylor, and G. E. Jordan, all line-built fellows, over Oi't. in j height. j .In connection with the representa* tion of Australasian athletics at the Olympiad at Paris and at the English j championships, it is said that although I there is seemingly no ohance of a team | being sent, yet determined efforts | will bfi made to send Stanley Rowley. The champion sprinter is, it may be added, quite willing- to go. It is now definitely decided (says an Kng-lish exchange) that the International Olympiad in. connection with the JPaTia International Exhibition will take place in the middle of July. This date was not quite in accord with the wishes or intentions of the French

'athletic committee,.but the American I contingent, a very strong one, insisted !on the middle of July being fixed for the athletic portion of the second Olympian game?. An the English championships take place on July 7, ! probably in London, the date will suit [the English representatives admirably; July 7 will also enable the maIjority of the American visitors to try their mettle first against the Britishers before both come together on the neutral ground of Paris. The English A.A.A. are almost certain to send a special team of the best men tio Paris, probably the winners of the English championships, or, at any ra.te, some of them. The hon. secretary of the Association already has the matter in hand, and is in correspondence with the chairman of the International athletic committee in Paris, the Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who has a. considerable knowledge of English 'athletic® of every description. The English members of the Paris committee -will be Mr C. Herbert (hon. secretary A.A.A.), Rev. E. S. De C, Laffan (an ex-headmastei of Cheltenham), and possibly Lord Harris in place or" Lord Ampthill, whose Colonial Office duties have compelled him. to resign his position on the International committee. Everything- points to a most successful athletic year in Paris in 1000. At the forthcoming meeting of the Amateur Athletic Club, several chains pions and ex-champions will compete, and the results should therefore be looked forward to with greater interest. In the tw.o-mile walk C. McAfter, the Australasian" Mile Ghamtp'on, will meet J. Dickey, who repre>sented the Club at. the recent Cham;pSons'hip Meeting). (>. Smitti is another competitor, and his recent performances at the Championship IXfeeting ,should give interest to his appearance. In the high jump, C. C. Laurie, the present N.Z. champion, will compete against W. H. Madil!, who tied for second place at the Australasian meeting". In the bicycle races • Cueksey, the ■ winner -of the championship at the Waikato A.A. Club's meeting, will meet H. H. Brooke, the' -winner, of the Two-Mile Alliance Championship of New Zealand.