ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 53, 2 March 1907, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

Nigel Barker, of the Sydney University A.C., gives a hint about something which may prove of value to our clubs when arranging programmes. He states that at Columbia University (U.&A.) they Teeenily had a race stated to he as "from two to four miles," the officials ringing the bell to announce the last lap at some unknown (to the competitors) time—perhaps at 2i miles, or perhaps at 3| miles, or any intermediate distance. This causes unusual interest, and the competitors have to keep constantly on the gui vivo, and be ready for the last lap spurt. Athletic circles in Auckland have sustained a loss in the transfer of Mr Arthur Skinner to Wellington. He was one of our best-known and most successful athletes, and he carries with him the best wishes of a host of friends. He claims the "world's records for throwing the 16-lb straight-handled hammer a distance of 167 ft llin, and for putting the 561b shot from a 7ft circle a distance of 40ft 7in. Mr Skinner also claims the Australasian record for throwing the stone, Irish style. In the wrestling field he and his pupils have gained most of the honours during the last seven years, though a notable defeat was when Cameron, the British wrestler, beat Mr Skinner in GraecoRoman and catch-as-cateh-ean, the latter proving victorious in Uie Cumberland style. He was also responsible for the inauguration of the very successful physical culture school in connection with the Auckland police, and it was through his efforts that the vote for the new gymnasium has been passed. The gaslight sports promoted by the local Captain Cook proprietary have caused quite a boom in professional athletics. The two meetings which have been held have been highly successful both from a running point of view and from a spectator's. One innovation the management are to be commended on is the drastic manner in which offenders are treated. There is no accepting halfhearted explanations; the matter is disposed of summarily, and there is no appeal from the decision. If the sports are conducted in the future in the same way as the first two meetings held there promises to be a successful revival of professional running in Auckland. Amongst the nominations received by the Captain Cook proprietary I notice the names of several prominent amateur runners. So far only two of these professional handicaps have been run_, and they seem to have taken a great hold of the runners in Auckland, and when one considers that the last event attracted no less than 104 nominations it will be easily seen that the Amateur Athletic Club will have a stiff contract before it to keep its members from entering the professional ranks. During the past few years the club has been struggling along trying to gain its former prestige, and the meeting held in the spring was sufficiently encouraging to the management to give them hope that the tide huA turned and things would get back io their former state. Now, ho'.YPvpr. it looks as if the new venture just started will entice the members one by one over to the professional ranks. The outlook ahead for amateurism certainly looks very black, and it is hard to discover a silver lining, but one can only hope for the best. The man who can suggest any practical scheme that will put the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club back into the proud position it once held as thr; premier athletic club of Australasia, will be deserving of a national monument.