ATHLETIC NOTES.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 10064, 16 June 1898, Page 3

ATHLETIC NOTES.

" Weekly Press and Referee.

[By Vattlter.]

I have neither space nor time to enter into any lengthy comment on the rejection of Mr Frost's motion at the N.Z.A.A.A. council's meeting, with reference to the New Zealand Cyclists' Alliance. It was strange indeed that the mover had not secured a seconder for the motion, which was nearly lapsing for the want of one, so it would appear. That staunch New South Wales amateur "Prodigal," who has worked very hard and conscientiously for pure amateurism in more ways than one, will notice that the N.Z.A.A.A. gave Mr Frost's motion " such a hoist," that it is not likely that it will come down at all, much less in "Lytteiton Harbour." The burden of M» Frost's song seemed to be that the Cyclists' Alliance rules were not of a strict enough character—that (like the N.Z.A.A.A.'s) they allowed the expenses of competitors at meetings* when thought fit, and prize machines to be sold— so as to assist in securing up-to-date cycles, suggested one of the members of the council. Mr Frost said that, owing to being pulled up by the chairman, he had lost the thread of his argument. This is a pity, because up to the time of his sitting down not one' delegate had really become impressed with anything Mr Frost had said to make them think that the old arrangement with the Cyclists' Alliance should be discontinued. Some of the cash cycling people say if it had not been for the support of the N.Z.A.A.A. the Cyclists' Alliance would not be in existence, and the general opinion of the members of the Council of the N.Z.A.A.A. appeared to be that Mr Frost's motion was really brought forward to serve the interests* of the cash governing body, though it is only fair to say that Mr Frost disclaimed any idea of League versus Alliance. All the same Mr Frost, we know, had been in consultation with League members over the business, and it is just possible he had become imbued with some of their views of the situation. I may, later on, return to the subject. A Wellington correspondent writes :— The veteran athlete "Jimmy" Doyle showed at a smoke concert at the Wellington Working Men's Club on the 30th ulto. that he has not yet lost his powers and skill. He lifted two men, weighing Bst 101b and 9st 41b, together and carried them across the stage, and putting the " Wellington Infant," weight 23st 121b, on a chair succeeded in lifting him with one hand six inches from the ground. Fancy club swinging and a lively spar with a very wiling pupil, H. Williams, of whom more may yet be heard, showed the versatility of the old West Coaster. Mr Jones, one of the finest proportioned men who ever stripped in public, also gave a fine display of weight lifting. Several prominent New .South Wales athletes took part at the Leichhardt and Petersham Friendly Societies' Sports at Leichhardt Park, near Sydney, on May 24th. In the 100 yds Handicap Stanley Rowley won his preliminery heat from scratch in 9 9-10 th sec, and he annexed the final in even time, but a strong wind favoured the runners. M. M. Roseingrave (scr) won the High Jump, clearing sft 7in, W. B. Dight of the University A.C, who was allowed 6in, being second with sft 6in. The Mile Handicap fell to A. F. Warner (110 yds), W. D. Cargill (115 yds) being second, S. W. York (10yds) third, and R. M. Gibson (scr) fourth. Time, 4min 51 fcsec. The Ten Mile Amateur Championship of Scotland was decided at Edinburgh on April 15th, when there were four starters, and W. Robertson, of the Clydesdale Harriers, won easily by 500 yards from D. M. Cameron of the same club. Time, 55min 10£ sec. On April 16th L. Hurst made an attempt to beat Crossland's record of lhr Slmin 54sec for running twenty miles at Burn Park track, but although he created new figures for sixteen and seventeen miles, he was then troubled with a stitch, and he took lhr 55min 33sec to complete the distance in. At a meeting of the Council of the New South Wales A. A. A. held in Sydney on May 18th, six months leave of absence was granted to the hon. sec., Mr A. L. Baird, who has gone to England. -The following officers were elected :—Record sub-com-mittee, Messrs R. Coombes, E. S. Marks, A. Morgan, and B. Harrison; permits and standing committee, Messrs R. Coombes, E. S. Marks, A. Morgan, B. Harrison, F. W. Maddocks, H. C Holden, and W. B. Alexander ; chairman of the Council, Mr E. S. Marks j delegate to the Sports Club, Mr A. Morgan; Messrs Bert Harrison and A. Morgan were appointed acting joint hon. secretaries during Mr A. L. Baird's absence. It was decided that the cross-country championship should take place on August 27th, at a place (either Kensington or Rosehill) yet to be chosen. The permit and standing committee were instructed *to inquire into the advisability or otherwise of holding the annual championship meeting at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Eight-hour Day. The Essex Beagles decided their Open Road Walking Race from Ilford to Chelmsford and back—a distance of 44 miles 960 yds —on April 9th. There were many changes of position during the race. J. Butler, who

is said to have walked far more fairly than I lin the Polytechnic Harriers' twenty-one miles walking race which he won some time ago at Putney, cut out the work at too | great a pace, and soon after, leading at the half-distance in 3hr 33min 17sec to Endean's 3hr 37min 3sec, had to retire dead beaten. W. Endean, walking beautifully and sturdily, won by half an hour and 20sec from J. W. Bonnett in 7hr 33min 20sec, and J. W. Cole finished third. This was a grand performance (says an exchange) especially as the weather was of a vile description nearly all the way. E. H. Flack, the well-known Victorian distance runner, who has been in England and America for some time past, is expected to return to the colonies shortly. J. W. Bradley was beaten in the 100 yds Scratch Race at Cheltenham on April llth by R. W. Wadsley.ofthe Goldsmith's A.C, in Usee. Wadsley also won 120 yds Handicap in 12|sec of 3£yds mark. Fancy J. W. B. failing to beat Usee (remarks an English writer). An attempt is being made in Sydney to revive professional running. The "Referee," commenting on the prospects, says:—"All this leads up to the question of the possibility of a revival in this city, and as the public have had a surfeit of pony racing (which took the place of pedestrianism), and are seemingly beginning to lose interest in bicycle racing, a good pedestrian handicap would probably prove a payable spec, if properly conducted. ... In England professional running went so much out of favour some time ago that all the principal grounds closed up. Last year, however, saw a genuine revival, and it still continues on the up-grade, £5100 handicaps again being quite common, while there is no difficulty about backing a runner for £1000. There's no doubt this desirable state of affairs was in a great measure brought about by the matches which took place between the examateur Downer and other good men. Another thing that gave it a fillip was the handicap sweepstakes which were instituted,, and in the event of an attempt to reviVe the sport here it would probably be a good idea to go in for something on similar lines. An early revival is by no means an impossibility here either, as a gentleman called in at this office last week to discuss the matter, and stated that there would be no difficulty about finding the money for a £75 or £100 handicap provided he could get suitable grounds. In this respect he favoured Botany." When I was in SydneyHn October last, tlie grounds at Botany were in a very dilapidated condition, and had, indeed, gone to waste—very different to the time when the late Frank Smith was running the Sheffield Handicaps. Says "Prodigal"in the Sydney "Referee" of May 25th:—Mr Ben. Jonas, recently hon. sec. to the Frenmntle (W.A.) Harriers, arrived in Sydney last Saturday, and left for his home in the South Island of New Zealand on Monday evening in the Miowera. Mr Jonas called upon mc on Monday and gave mc all the latest West Australian athletic gossip, amongst other things informing mc that his successor as hon. sec. would be Mr J. E. Prendergast, late of the Manawatu A.C, New Zealand. Mr Jonas is now slowly recovering from a very severe attack of typhoid fever." Young Jonas, who was "at death's door" in the Fremantle Hospital, and who is the eldest son of Mr Moss Jonas, late of Timaru, went straight on from Wellington to Vancouver, where nis parents and the other members of the family now are. News reached town on Friday (says "The Queensland Sportsman" of May llth) last that Brisbane's champion and esteemed sprinter, to wit "Jack" Burton, had met with a very painful accident at Sherwood, which will necessitate his retirement from the track for a time at all events. He got his foot badly smashed as a result of the train shunting, and was compelled to have it sewn with half-a-dozen stitches. Later advice says that Burton had sufficiently recovered to permit of the bandages being removed from his foot. The Queensland Amateur Athletic Association has approached the Cyclists' Union on the matter of running a joint championship meeting, and writing on the subject "Ishmael" in the "Queensland Sportsman" says: —Q.A.A.A. are running a big Australasian championship meeting next year in tius city, when competitors from Victoria, New Zealand, New South Wales, and probably Western Australia, under agreement, will be competing. It is the intention of the A. A. A. to invite the cyclists to co-operate in running the meeting, which it is proposed to hold about Exhibition time next year, and which undoubtedly must prove a big draw. If this co-operation is to be carried out, the present time is a splendid opportunity for the harmonious working ot" the two bodies, for it is essential that the two associations should be on a perfectly experienced footing, and possibilities of friction eliminated. At a meeting of the Queensland A.A.A., held in Brisbane on Alay 9th, Messrs W. G. Wolfe and S. Glassop presented accounts | with open orders for clothes and umbrella respectively. Payment was refused, and the accounts referred back. I notice (says a Sydney writer) that English writers are suggesting that their A. A. A. should drop the pole vault from the championship programme and substitute a 220 yds race. 1 certainly think that the inclusion of a 220 yds championship would be advantageous— flhe jump from the 100 yds to the 440 yds goes from one extreme to the other in spriifing—but why the necessity to drop the pole vault, which, if the competitors are of good class, is perhaps the most attractive item on a sports programme, i.e., from a spectator's standpoint. »'. The New South Wales Sports' Club is a veiy successful institution, and as the rendezvous of amateur men is a great boon. The second annual meeting of the club was held recently. The annual report set forth that three associations and eight contributing clubs have their headquarters in the rooms, while the number of members enrolled totals 241. The new rooms atyout to be taken over will, when ready for occupation, provide many additional facilities. Special spaces will be set apart for purposes of reading and billiard rooms, bar accommodation, and gymnasium. The financial position of the-club is most sound. With no liabilities to meet, beyond current expenses, the bank balance totals £59 16s 2d, while the club .furniture, &c, is valued at £251 18s 10d. I should like to see similar clubs established in the leading centres of New Zealand. They do a great deal in bringing the men together and helping amateurism. The Sydney club was taken in hand by a few young enthusiasts, and their efforts have been amply rewarded by the successful growth of the institution. Referring to the Surbiton sports a London paper of April 23rd says:—"The applause which greeted Dr. Munro while lie was making his brilliant effort, in the last lap of the Two Miles' Handicap, was enthusiastic and prolonged. There is no more popular athlete on the path than the Four Miles ex-champion; and, if he can regain the title this year, the satisfaction of all who admire British pluck and genuine amateurism combined will be complete. His style of running is perfection, and evidently aroused the enthusiasm of an interested onlooker, who, knowing that Munro was a veteran athlete, remarked, 'Ah! what must he have been like twenty years ago':" The humour of the thing lies in the fact that though *the Doctor' is prematurely grey and is quite an old hand at racing, he is only about thirty years of age." "At the South London Harriers' sports at Croydon, H. G. Gerdes, in the open spruit, caused some astonishment and not a little amusement by producing a jackknife and promptly digging footpits from which to start, after taking tne precaution to ask the officials whether making of holes was allowed. The reply was in the affirmative; but nobody expected to see the hole-making carried out by a University man in such a complete and workmanlike way." W. B. Fetterman, of the University of Pennsylvania, created a new American intercollegiate one mile walking record at Princetown, N.J., on April 23rd, by walking the dstance in 6min 50sec. R. C. Lynas, the Victorian distance runner, who"finished second in the One and Three Miles Australasian championships in Sydney last October, haa decided to abandon the running track and take to cycle racing. A correspondent well versed in pedestrianism in South Africa writes to the London "Sportsman" from Johannesburg, his attention having been called to some remarks which appeared in a recent issue of the "Sportsman" concerning the withdrawal of one named Quartermaine from the Sheffield Shrovetide Handicap. He says he" has never heard of the name, and thinks that the man must really be one of the many Australian professionals who visit the South of Africa . and run m amateurs..