AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13596, 3 December 1909, Page 6

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

There waa a time, in the simpler days of fifteen or twenty years ago, when an amateur athletic meeting was something of "an event." It was talked of where young men, and older ones, met, the possible winners of this, that, or the other event, were discussed, and the sports themselves drew a crowd that made Lancaster Park seem full. It almost 6eem_ as if those times were coming round again, for there is undoubtedly a distinct revival of interest in amateur athletics. Tho name of the old club, whose representatives won victory on many a championship field', has passed from sight and knowledge years since, but a n?w club has come into being to carry on the old name, with, let us hope, all the old success. The Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club is at least a promising son of its father; it has many members who were glad to join for the sake of helping the cause of clean amateur sport, and many others who welcomed an opportunity of trying to emulate, undar the old name, the feats of their predecessor. So the new C.A.A.C. goes to its [inaugural meeting on Saturday with the best of jpTospects. The sixteen events on the programme, which have attracted nearly 400 entries, include the usual contests, with one or two unusual ones, among them an "old timers'" half-mile race, in which a number of ex-cham-pions will show that timo has not robbed them of their energy. A good feature of the programme is the attention given to boys, who are allotted six events. The great gathering at the Public School Sports at the Park last week .howec' several promising young athletes omong the competitors, and the seniors rightly do not mean to lose sight of the lads who in timo should succeed them on tho Tunning track. The Cricket Association has declared all its matches "off." so as to enable cricketers attend the sports, end unless all indicaitvbns are false, the gathering should be gratifying proof that athletics are coming into their own again.