AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 16

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

AUSTRALIANS WELCOMED. A PROPOSED SUMMER TOUR. Large musters of athletes were again the oirder with the various Auckland harrier clubs on Saturday last. Great enthusiasm is apparent in all clubs, and competition is sure to be very keen when the championships are held later in the season. The Technical Old Boys' Club held a well-attended run in the Heme Bay district over a difficult course, which, however, did not detract from the a_teinoon's enjoyment. Norm. Cooper show-ed good form for his first cross-country outing of tlie season, while Les. Barker again demonstrated his liking for the hard going. It is a point worthy of comment that seventeen of those members who had taken part in the club's marathon relay to Hamilton on the previous day were nmong the starters. The Lynndale Club's run was over an interesting seven-mile course, starting and finishing at the pottery works, near the Whau Bridge. The officials of tins live club evidently spend time ill planning suitable courses for their runs, and their action is to be heartily commended. 1. A. Clark was first home in the run-in, aiid showed fine form, but he was closely followed by T. Witham, with the next four placed men all close up. The 'Varsity and Calliope clubs had their usual Saturday runs, which were both well attended, and provided good tests for members. The athletic section of the Australian Olympic Games team en route to Los Angeles by the Mariposa, had a brief glimpse of Auckland on Tuesday, and while the liner was berthed were taken in charge by L. F. Edmond and S. J. Gudsell, of the executive of the Auckland Centre, and royally entertained. All 1 members loosed their muscles in work-outs at the Domain in the morning, and then lunched at the Hotel Auckland. In the afternoon they enjoyed a motor run to the points of interest in the city and environs, and were all sorry to be leaving when the boat sailed at 5 p.m. G. A. Golding, the champion hurdler and quarter-miler, informed the writer that ho would concentrate mainly on the 400 metres hurdles event, and was not worrying so much over the 400 metres flat. A member of the Australian party stated that should Don Evans, the Dominion middle distance runner, bo placed at the games, the Australian Council would lodge a protest with the international body on the grounds of his being a reinstated professional. The Australian authorities have apparently not heard of the international body's ruling in respect of New Zealand reinstatements. Evans' position, nevertheless, still appears to be uncertain.

The Auckland Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. is sponsoring a proposed tour of the Dominion next summer by loading Australian athletes. It is tentatively suggested that eight athletes be invited to take part in tlie tour, the party to be divided on arrival into two teams of four, one team to tour each island, and then to combine at, Auckland and meet the cream of Dominion talent on the Domain. It is proposed that the team to tour the North Island should comprise a sprinter, a cyclist, a walker and a mile and three-mile runner, while the South Island team should contain a jumper, a pole vaulter, a quartermiler and sprinter, and a lialf-miler and miler. A tour such as this has the writer's wholehearted support, as the tourists would not be called upon to do so much travelling, and would thus be able to give a better account of themselves. Overseas athletes in the past have invariably complained that the travelling they have to do is much too arduous. The Australian Olympic representatives intimated on Monday that they would be available for such a tour. A member of the executive of the Auckland Centre when on a recent Southern visit, got in touch with the Wellington, Canterbury and Otngo centres, and ascertained that the general opinion was in favour of such a scheme. It is to bo hoped that the matter is not allowed to slide. The Auckland Public will readily appreciate what a wonderful dav's sport will be witnessed if the pick of .Australia meets the best in New Zealand in a Tost contest on the Domain. This would be brought about by both Australian teams combining.