ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 253, 23 October 1909, Page 14

ATHLETICS.

A North of England writer says:—"R. E. Walker ran up against a man at Workington who bids fair to bo a notable sprinter if only he can continue to improve. Walker conceded this man, W. Hogg. 4i yards in the Invitation 100 yards, and could only finish second, the "time being 10 l-ssee. Prior to this Hogg had won°the 100 yards handicap off 5 yards in lOsee. In accordance with the decision arrived at at Berlin, the International Olympic Committee will address the undermen fioned queries relating to the amateUT question to the sporting societies and federations of the various counties:— 1. Are you of the opinion that a man cannot be an amateur in one sport and a professional in another? 2. Are you of the opinion that a professor can compete as an amateur in sports other than those he teaches? 3. Are yon of the opinion that when an amateur becomes a professional he cannot recover his amateur status? Do you allow any exceptions to this rule? What are they? 4. Do you allow «biateurs to receive their travelling and hotel expenses? Up to what limit? 5. Are you agreed that a man loses his title to amateUT by simply running with a professional? Replies are to be addressed to M. Jules de Muzsa, Budapest (for Europe). Mr. Theodore A. Cook, London (for British Empire), and Professor Sloane (for U.S.A.). A contributor to the ''Athletic Times" has an interesting article in a recent issue on the rules governing starting. He begins by quoting the English A.A.A. Rule Xo. 43 on the point as under: "03. —Xo competitor shall touch the ground in front of his mark with any part of his body.— (Rules of the A.A.A. for all competitions)." and goes on to say: "A week or two ago I mentioned th.it among the things Americans had taught us was the method of starting now popular here. Over and over again 1 have observed, as a hundred other people no doubt have, that the direct consequence of the adoption of the hands-on-the-ground method is that men are running a bit beyond their proper distance—only six inches, perhapi—but yet more than their contract. The reason for this is that marksmen and starters insist on the strict reading of rule 43 of the A.A.A.. as shown at the head of this paragraph. This may seem a small matter, but with handicap starts fined down to quarteryanls. the man who is so built that he cannot get down with hands and feet on the same mark is handicapped, and does not in reality receive the start the handienp soys he is entitled to. What the date of. the present rule re starting is I have not the least notion, but I have no recollection that there has been any chance since the old style of starting went out and the new came in. And if ='ich he the case, T see no reason why a mtin should n-ot be allowed to start with ■his hands over the nmrk, providing his feet nre not beyond it."