ATHLETIC NOTES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9434, 4 June 1896, Page 6

ATHLETIC NOTES.

"Weekly Preas'and Referee^ {May 28th. Vaumb—O |p" With reference 7 to the of the Thames A. A. and C.C. A.A.C. for affiliation Association, the following is the copywflfche letter sent to the secretary of the former club by the acting secretary of the N.Z. A.A.A. after the meeting of the governing body to deal with the applications :—" Your letter of April 10th was considered by the Council on May 6th, when the general expression of opinion were in favour of rescinding the resolution passed at the last general meeting and granting your club the concessions under Rule 19, sections (a) and (6). Notice of motion to this effect was given for the annual meeting at the end of July. The next reinstatement meeting is at the beginning of July, but tho consideration of your applications will bs postponed until after the annual meeting, when the decision re concessions will be known. In order to expedite matters send in applications irrespective oßsection (ft)." I notice that some of the Auckland and other papers state there is no chance of' t_e special resolution of July 30tfa, 1895, being rescinded to give effect to the two above mentioned applications. From what I can gather, there is every chance of Mr Condell's notice of motion being carried, but I hope the delegates will not agree to the wholesale whitewashing of a lot of professionals to please anyone. Sentiment is a very fine thing when not carried too far. -Let us be either amateurs or professionals.

Mr J. M. Hamilton has been appointed treasurer of the Hawke's Bay A.M£f.i vice Mr F. P. St. Hill resigned.

A special meeting of the Wanganui A. A.C. was held la3t week to decide whether or no the club should throw in its lot with the Caledonian Sooiety in putting down a cycling track on St. John's Hill. It was resolved to appoint four representatives to act in conjunction with the Wanganui

Caledonian Society and the Wanganui Cricket Club to help in securing the right of tenure of Victoria Park, St. John's Hill, but that such representatives shall only act in this matter on the understanding that the Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club is accepted as it now stands ou the same footing as the other mentioned clubs ; also, that the representatives so delegated shall not be empowered to make the club liable for more than £130. Messrs McNauaht, Pownall, Ferguson and Goss were appointed as the delegates to confer with the other societies. At a subsequent meeting it was resolved to laydowna track in Cook's Garden, and Messrs Fergu*on, Pownall, Goss, and McNaueht were appointed a sub-committee to deal with this matter, to meet the Rugby Union, and arrange details with the authorities ; also that they be allowed a free hand in this matter. Mr Myhre, of the Pioneer Bicycle Club, Christchurch, attended the above meeting, and he said that iv company with Messrs Ferguson and McNaught, he had paid a visit that day to both Cook's Gardens and the Caledonian Society's' grounds, and there was no question whatever as to which was the better ground. Cook's Gardens, he said, was second to none in the colony from a spectator's point of view, and he had no doubt that if the club decided to lay down a track there, it would not be long before championship meetings were held there. He would, if he were a member of the club, urge members to select Cook's Garden, and he was glad that they had so unanimously resolved to do so.

The Ten Miles Amateur Championship of England was decided at Leicester on April 11th. Nine entries had been received, including F. E. Bacon, the holder of the title, but he and five others were absentees, and only G. Grassland, H. Watkins, and P. Biss started. Crossland was greatly fancied, and he won easily by 30yds from Watkins, Biss finishing more than four miinutes behind the pair. Tim;, 52snin ssec, Watkins taking Ssec longer to do the journey in.

Some good sport was witnessed at' the South London Harriers Spring meeting on the same day. In the 100 yds Handicap, C. A. Bradley (scr) won his heat in lOgsec, and A. R. Downer (scr) his in lOAssc. The final produced a great finish, all six runners finishing almost together. The judges gave their verdict a dead heat between Bradley and A. Grant with F. L. Stephenson (4£-yds) third, Downer not being placed. Time, lOJsec. In the run off Grant won by a yard, in 10£ sec. Iv the 75yds Invitation Scratch Race, Bradley beat Downer by inches, with Stephenson a foot away third. Time, Bsee. The Four Miles InterClub Team Race was won by the Essex Beagles, whose representatives finished first, second, third and ninth, Tee To Turn being second with 28 points, and Thames Valley Harriers third with 46 points. F. E. Bacon was first man home in 20mm 46&scc, J. T. Collins being second and G. Martin third.

E. C. Bredin (holder) had a walk-over for the 600 yds Challenge Cup, and E. J. Wil kins (holder) was only opposed by M. Davie, whom lie easily defeated, in the Two Mile Steeplechase Challenge Cup at the London A.C.'s Public Schools Championship meet ing, held under their auspices at Stamford Bridge on April 11th.

On Easter Monday J. Flanagan threw the 161b hammer from a 7ft circle 147 ft 4in, and with an unlimited run and follow he threw it 156 ft 4in, both performances being best on record. The new records were put up at the Irish Tournament and Sports held at Stamford Bridge, London. The previous best from a 7ft ring was 139 ft lin by T. F. jEjeihrjTj t and with-an 'Unlimited -gun _,the," record' Was • Flanagan's own of* -'148 ft. I 1 notice by a New York paper that Flanagan's throw* of 147 ft 4in did not stond long as a world's record, as on April 11th -R.: W. Edgren, a student at the University of] California in a* .trial in the presence; of regularty appointed officials, who carefully;, supervised the measuring, weighing, &c.,: from a seven foot circle threw the 161b ■ hammer a distance of 143 ft 6in., which; ifj all the conditions were fair, the! world's record for this style of throwing.

I notice that E. H. Flack, the Australian; took part in t)ie Lawn Tennis Tournament in connection, with.the Olympic Games at Athens last-month; but he was beaten in the first round of the* Singles, and he and Robertson, of Oxford, were defeated by a Greek pair in the Doubles.

A two mile scratch race was decided at the. Salford Harrier's sports on; April 4|>h, when there were eleven starters, and F. E. Bacort and G' Crossland fought out the finish between them, Bacon winning by 4yds in 9rnui 33§sec. H. Harrison, who finished second to. Crossland in the Cross-country Championship, was a bad third.

The return four miles match between Crossland, the English long distance runner and Mullin, the Irish champion, took place at Belfast on April 7th. The track was -heavy "owing to rain, but notwithstanding, '. the British record, for the distance was beaten by Crossland, who made the running 'throughout. About 120 yards from.home Mullen spurted and for some seventy-five <•-yards .the pair ran nearly abreast, but Crossland spurted the last thirty yards and won by ten yards, the Irishman falling in a faint that distance from the post. The first match at Christ mas was won by Mullen.

A. H. Holder arrived at Wanganui from Napier on the evening of May 20th, and he was met by a large number of members. An adjournment was then made to the Buffet, where some thirty,"blub mates entertained Mr Holder at a supper, and drank his health in bumpers. In proposing the toast Mr McNaught to the ; great'ihonour the club by^,establishing *x world's -' record \for the-""44oyds Hurdles of 60aec,"and also poirited>out thttt, in running 100 yds on a somewhat heavy grass track in lOJsec Mr Holder had certainly proved himself equal to.the best sprinters we have ever had in New Zealand —not even excepting Mr J. H. Hempton After Mr. Holder had suitably responded other toasts were honoured, and several speeches made. , .

C. Campbell, who competed at the Australasian* Championship meeting in Christchurch last January, won the One Mile Amateur Championship of Queensland at the Eight Hours' Sports held in Brisbane on May Ist. The time was 4min 42sec and Campbell won easily by fifty yards from C. C. Saunderson.

John V. Crum, lowa's famous sprinter, was elected City Attorney of Bedford, la., in March.