AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 27, 26 October 1907, Page 9

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

[I!v OiU'HF.US.] : Mr. A; "T. Parkes Ims , been elected Secretary, .and.; from;..present indications -should prove the right man in tlio right! place. M nm told that nt the close of the summer season a harrier.-branch is to bo attached to the club. This is exactly what is required; and should swell the membership of what promises to.be the'.biggest, club in AYclingtori. .

■Mr. fJ.'-'HV Strong,, hon. secretary, of. the' NvSiAV. ..I'nhlic'Schools A.A.A., ; ; is at present on a visit to tlio Dominion; and is now-ill the

thermal district seeing the sights.- Should ir come to 'Wellington iie : might bo able to give the public; school \ authorities here sbme lunts.lis to forming"a similar .association.in this city.

. It is satisfactory to note that H. E. Kerr's mile record, put -up on tlio Hiisin Reserve last New Year's Day, has been pass-id by the N.Z.A.A.A. It now. .remain's" to' Im sse'h .what'! attitude the Australasian',, Union will ac]opt wheii it comes before them. When Kerr was. competing at. the N.Z. Chanipion'•ihiiw ho. tya-v disqualified, because, it was, alleged, . he,[ did not "lock" his knees. , • The question, arises—ls this a sufficient reason lo disqualify a. and under which rulo ol the Australasian body is it defined p ;

...The writer foils to sco any mention of either the. bent knee or 'locking .in the definition; of talking, .as contained in, the Australasian rules.' ■; : ■' '' ■■■' ■ ' ■

'■■A' definition of walking/given by' nn: Jinglisli, expert (clipped from: tlio columns of a contemporary)...might bo of interest hero,- although, of courso, it does not follow ;that 'tlio. ; rulo that.- governs • walking in-' 'Englandmils,'; liccossTrily govern it in the C-oloiiics.' Mr. Hugh W. Innes, writing to the London'

" Sporting Life,", recently,. ...says:—" The, opinions of ' An Esperi '/aro'alWaysiyory well worth listening to;. His suggestion 1 that.there should be an authoritative aofinition of-walk-ing, will appeal (o all who have experience of the difficulties or a referee. " Oil the one hand, there is a danger of-giving offence to competitors who think they are unjustly treated; 011 the other, the- claims of-the handicapper (whose work is ruined by lenient judging),,and,of tho record-book (which tends to become a useless cliroriiclo "of impossibilities) must be kept in mind. I venture to suggest that the-plain . difference between' walking and running,' as' known' in tho ordi-, nary ' business of life, should 'bo recognised ?, s ' difference - m athletic contests., luiniiirig is of springs,: both'feet being. periodically ; off the ground,'-'while the end -' of • each : spring : one' - foot only . touches'- tho - ground. ■ -WalkihgV is a succession of steps, both' .feet .never", being off tlio'ground-at-'fclie same time; "while at'the end of each strido-both are in-momentary contact with it. As for upright carriage, the Straight knee,,; ai)!d'-cv,eu.,,\|icel 'and toe,',— these are counsels of perfection., the advice a' mentor should give to -nis ;novico?"biit-they are 110 substantial part of .thef'tru edefinitiop; ion can..' walk ! ori 'you.i',.tQes-'.-rrbnt yoii can-' not win that, way:' The straight.knee serves ■hest for that most-artificial • feat, sprint' liking;. but, sejiiiig-'thafc ; - : it" is;¥hsuitable for .'long . dißtaiiccv'''work,%' aVid pleasure:" tripsV'-it"oiiglit'■' 'not "to" bo" footed: timiatur'ally.; upon" the',"dftfihit'ibri.'of-'.a'.ls'orcL in! .qommpivuse.)-Finally;' it; iH..tho .'..ljoth .feet.': rule that makes the real difference in- the speed of progression; v 'Steps cannot compete with springs."', v '.

. A niimbsr, of our propiinent';rinincrs;-haye already made ;a-start •ivitli their, training operations in view-of- sovbral- meetings to be held :shortly. The-.Civil:Service.'UlU'hiritehds .holdings, its;, first'-yeveniiig 'mcetiiig;"'6n'.''AVddncsdaiy nest;- when Jt-will put on three events; consisting.of 7oyds;, open handicap,.'and : 44oyds. and 0110: club' events. ". '■

'At..the.next ' New . 'Zealand .Champiorisiiip meeting a' new feature,will bQ'.introauced.Vin the shape of';m':":'All-rbund. Championship:" A Dunedin gentleman: (Mr. -\V. L. Hooper) has signified his.' intention ■of presenting a gold 'medal annually, for'this'"new. event.' Itshould be. a great 1 incentive to those athletes who <do not excel in any 'one distance "or event,"but wlio are fairly good all-rciuhd| to mako, an offort' to annex the -Hooper medal;' Tho annual report and'balance-sheet of the Wellington Centre discloses a.healthy state of, affairs in.patters athletic in: this district. The report states that there, are ait'present thirteen clubs affiliated,' and'another is'now in course,', of, formation in Pctbne.!." A'isource of:great satisfaction, is" the return' .Of the Championship .Shield- to .Wellington; } The financial portion' 1 .(ifthe''report'''Slows 'that',' notwithstanding tlie expense of ','sending a' team to.the Championship meeting,at,Christchurch, tho season .closed with, a cash balance of over £10, arid a-'balaiice of -assets 'over' liabilities of about- £30,' which should ba considered very, satisfactory.

Tho annual meeting.of/the'AVellington A.A : . Club, which ha.d_ been- previously fixed for October 25, has; bfjep- postponed -until October 28, so;as not to clash' with'tho date'of the Contrc's. meeting.;;'* " .