ATHLETIC NOTES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10265, 7 February 1899, Page 3

ATHLETIC NOTES.

[By Vattlter.]

Ten thousand people witnessed Sampson's feats at the Melbourne Exhibition Grounds on January 1«t--. His chain-breaking efforts were completely successful. He pushed fourteen men over a chalk mark in two minutes aud in two and a half minutes respectively. The tug-of-war against seven men resulted in a terrific, contest. Sampson pulling the men over the line in a minute and a half. Several innuentialcitizens occupied the stage as referee, timekeeper, and general supervisors.

F. W. Bowen, the well-known New Zealand l walker, called at the Sydney "Referee" office recently and said he was prepared to walk anyone in Australia from, one to twenty-five miles for from £5 to £25 aside, or, he will make one in a sweepstake. If riowen could not get on a match it was his intention to leave Sydney for this colony to-day.

Says a Brisbane "Courier" writer:—"The articles of association and agreement of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australasia were very minutely and carefully discussed at the full committee meeting of the Association on Wednesday last, and it is worthy of note that so satisfactorily is the document drawn up that our Association .were enabled to pass same for signature without any material alteration." I sincerely hope (says a Sydney writer) the Q.A.A.A. will not find occasion to moke any alteration at all, as I understand the Associations of New Zealand, Victoria, and N.S.W. have agreed to the constitution and laws exactly as they stand embodied in the agreement. These three colonies have, by the way, practically agreed to the racing rules as drafted, but as the Q.A.A.A. had made amendments it was decided to keep them back until the next conference, which take* place in Brisbane. The Queensland A. A. A- ia in receipt of a letter from the secretary of the Oxford University Athltic Club, acknowledging receipt of notice of the holding of the Australasian Championshp Meeting in Brisbane in August next. The letter concludes, "I am Bure all our members join with mc in wishing success to your meetings and to athletics in Queensland." The holding of the intercolonial carnival under the auspices of the Australasian Amateur Athletic Union in Brisbane during August next will doubtless be productive of Queensland athletes commanding a. good deal of attention throughout Australasia during the current year. The Queensland Amateur Athletic Association is a distinctly active body (says an exchange), and has for its president Mr Philip Frankel, with a strong executive, Mr S. Davis being honorary treasurer and Messrs W. Pritchard and Q. B. Smith joint honorary secretaries. During the season that has just closed some ten clubs produced 630 entries for open events held in Brisbane, and the following shows the number furnished by each club:—Eaßt Brisbane, 128; Toowong, 127; North Brisbane, 127; South Brisbane, 61; Western Suburbs, 61_, Ipswich, 25; Kelvin Grove, 25; Indooroopilly, 11; Church Institute, 10; Gordon Club, 10. These numbers may be taken to be indicative of the strength of each club. In the latest edition of the Badminton Library Volume on Athletics appears the following: —"Undoubtedly the best hurdler who ever appeared in this country was Godfrey Shaw, who competed at the amateur championship of 1886 without success. •• . and failed to get his 'blue' for hurdleß at Cambridge. Shaw after this date went to New Zealand, where he won the championship. ' By the year 1891 he had returned to England, and in that and the following five years he was the best hurdler in this country, having on more than one occasion covered the recognised distance under I6sec. At tne championship of 1895 he definitely secured the record of 15 4-sth sec, . .In the championship of 1892 he was beaten by a few inches in 16sec by D."._»'. Bulger, a veryspeedy Irishman ; the third man, Batger, the New Zealand champion,'being only a foot behind Shaw. Never did three such good hurdlers meet in one race before."

The Victorian A. A. A. have agreed to the date fixed by the .Queensland A.A.A. for the next Australasian Championship Meeting, which is to be held in Brisbane at the end of next August. .'.'■''