AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 233, 1 October 1936, Page 22

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

COMING TRACK SEASON. SEARCH FOR ATTRACTIONS.

Year in and year out, winter as well as summer, the Auckland Club furnishes weekly competition to all classes of athletes. Its record must be unique. In fact one knows of no other club in New Zealand which furnishes as complete a service to athletes. For years it was the only means that athletes had to obtain long-distance running in the winter. The cross-country | teams of Auckland were thus really Auckland Club and not Auckland provincial. , Gradually, however, Auckland has fallen into line with other provinces, and to-day purely harrier clubs are flourishing everywhere. This appeals to many athletes who do not wish to race each Saturday. Jt has brought an entirely new class of athlste into the ranks and added greatly to the interest. Moreover, with afternoon teas at numerous private residences and combined runs not only with other city but country and even outside provincial clubs, the social side has developed wonderfully. There is thus quite a difference of opinion as to the merits of the two kinds of organisations catering for the winter enthusiasts. In the writer's opinion both serve very useful purposes. The purely harrier clubs with their divisions of fast, intermediate and slow packs, cater for all runners. Moreover, the country raced over is very varied as it embraces bogs, streams, hills and flat, as well as fences. For purely racing purposes the results obtained by the athletes who attend the Domain each Saturday are very satisfactory. Savidan and Birtwistle are examples. It certainly sharpens the men up greatly. It is a pity that our field event section is not stronger in Auckland. Surely with a city of this size we can produce a few hammer-throwers and shot-putters who can challenge Spillane and Leckie of Otago, Munro of Wellington, and Steere, of Wanganui. With all the province in addition behind us, one-third of the total population of New Zealand, surely we can find the shot man to beat 40 feet. When we come to national championship day we often get excited and cheerful over a track win, forgetting that points are being taken from us, very quietly) by outside field event exponents. Tip-day, athletically, we are like a football team that has speedy backs and most ordinary forwards. Whangarei is again putting on a big sports programme in conjunction with tne "VS; inter Show people there. It may' suit some city athletes to make the trip North. If they do they will not only greatly assist the Whangarei Club but will find ample competition as well. Few will forget the great race there two years ago when Savidan competed against Wilson over two milos.

Wilson had built up a great reputation in the North because of his unbeaten record as a professional runner. When lie changed over to the amateur ranks there was much conjecture as to how he would fare against such an outstanding "lily-white" as Savidan. It was certain that all Whangarei was interested in the event, and when after a most thrilling contest Wilson won narrowly in fast time, there was tremendous enthusiasm.

Such an event means a lot to the building up of the interest in country athletics. Wilson is now well known to Wellington supporters. If we could only stage similarly spectacular contests in othor parts every year there would be no lack of support corning frpin the country. Some years ago it was suggested that inter-provincial contests should be staged with Hawke's Bay and Wellington.' These fell through because of other engagements, but the thought of reviving them should not be lost sight of. Outside of an occasional international team's visit, there is little to interest the public in the sport here.

Certainly this approaching season we are fortunate in having the national championships or games allocated to Auckland. These are only here every five to six years, however, and the time is ripe for Auckland to endeavour to arrange some attraction for every year. •The New Zealand Council has not greatly assisted in this respect, as when Auckland desired to invite an Australian side over, permission was not granted by the controlling body. Perhaps it was felt that such an invitation would encourage other centres to invite teams over on their own account, and thus create a departure from the idea of a nationally-controlled visit. However, the fact remains that not only was Auckland not able to bring a team before the > public, but was in the position that no counter attraction was offered to it by the Wellington people! Athletics to be kept vigorous and to command public support in the queen city, needs an outstanding attraction every year; not a feast or a famine. Let's hope that in the future we will see the Domain each season thronged with thousands of people who are eagerly cheering the exploits of the visitors as well as the "locals." With 230,000 people here, surely it is not too much to cxpect. As in business, one must have the goods and advertise them before the public responds.