AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 138, 13 June 1928, Page 13

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

PROPOSED DOMINION VISIT. PLANS UNDER DISCUSSION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Steps are being taken by the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to secure a visit from noted overseas athletes next season, and it is already certain one of the world's leading athletes will willingly make a trip to New Zealand if asked. The council, however, is not issuing any definite invitation until it receives word from Mr. Amos, manager of the New Zealand team for the Olympic Games, who is to interview various noted athletes on the question of making a tour of the Dominion.

Lloyd Hahn is mentioned and a proposal that a British team should be invited to New Zealand has been made. A possible member of a team from England would be Lord Burghley. The American athletes, J. Kueh (field events), Charles Borah (college sprinter), Stanford (field events), Harold Osborn (jumper) are mentioned as possible visitors, in a letter to the council from Mr. C. G. Krogness, the council's representative in America.

COMPETITIONS AT DOMAIN. GREEN'S FINE EFFORT. The series of competitions arranged for the winter by the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Clnb was continued nt the Domain last Saturday. Large fields lined lip for the running events, and quite an interesting afternoon's sport was witnessed. T.h« 75 yards handicap provided a very fine finish, the first three meen running to the tape with only inches separating the trio. H. 8. Roper, the winner, is one of the club's most consistent athletes, but durißg'^the A. Clarke battled" on to gain second in the sprint. He "started off 15 yards, and with only about 20 yard s to go appeared likely to gain first place, .but Roper, who had the best of the track, finished too well for him, and beat him by Inches.

But for having to go round Clarke with only a short distance to the tape, A. Butler, who finished . third, would undoubtedly have seriously troubled the winner. Butler . will be racing on his home track next Saturday, and would be very hard to beat. Judging by the way he finishes in his races, Butler would be better milted by a 100 yarcft event than the 75 yards. The series on Saturday afternoon are gaining quickly in popularity, and when summer comes round the club should have one of its most successful series of recent times. » An unfortunate accident has befallen R. Willey, a very successful runner of the club. Shortly after completing the summer season's sport, he experienced some trouble with one of his feet, and, according to his medical adviser, cannot run for over twelve months. J. Green put up .liis best performance to date when he won the two-mile steeplechase last Saturday. Green was third until turning fi>r the last lap, when he ran up to within 10 yards of Wilson, going very easily. Turning Into the straight, 200 yards from the tape, Wilson led by over 20 yards, and appeared sure to win, but Green then put in his run, and, finishing very fast, ran past Wilson 30 yards from home, and went on to win easily by six yards. Green is the present holder of the Junior cross-country championship, and there does not seem anybody in sight likely to 'take his title from him this season. C. R. Wilson ran an excellent race to gain second place in the steeplechase, and appears to be running better with experience. He has a peculiar style of running and docs not appear to stretch out enough. J. W. Savidan could not finish closer than seventh, but there was an excuse for him, as there was no one to take him along, as both Kells and -Cooper were not competitors. S. C. Ferguson, an ex-Aucklander, is running very well in Wellington, states a Wellington writer, and is now a member of the Scottish Harrier Club. The Henderson Amateur Athletic dub are' holding a meeting at Henderson next Saturday. Big fields are expected in the events, as the athletes of the Auckland Club will no doubt attend.