AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 137, 4 March 1908, Page 9

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. .SELECTION COMMITTEE CRITICISED. iOf recent years probably'no selection committeo appointed by an atlilotic body in the Dominion has .been moro taken to task than that upon which devolved the selecting of the .New Zealand representatives for the recent Australasian amateur championships at Mobart. ' •' In conversation with a Dominion reporter yesterday, Dr. Newman (president of the Wellington.Centre) mado somo outspoken remarks'on the subject. ' . ✓ "In my. opinion," observed Dr. Newman, "tho selectors —Messrs. Batcholor, ■ Green, and; Olliver—performed . their duty in a shockingly, slovenly fashion. ~. No one will ' deny that tho task. of '-selecting' a, 'team' to meet tho flower of • tho Australian • amateur' athletes requires tho exercise of . the greatest .thought and care. Mr. Olliver, it would, appear, did not attach much importance to tho'matter. Although .ho camo ; up to tho Now . Zealand Championships, lie does not seem to have assisted'in the selection of tho tcarii. ■ Why ho came up. I am at. a' loss to. understand.'' .When tho team' as picked by' Messrs. Batchelor and Green was .announccxl most enthusiasts wero, naturally, dumbfounded." Kerr, .-the.'greatest ••walker New Zealand has produced for years, left out, and the fifth placo'.in tho team to. be"filled either by tho slow" Stubberfield or' all-round champion M'Kay!"': ';■■ " Could you suggest in what way the present method, of. selecting representatives could bo improved upon, " Dr. iNewman' was asked. • ' ' ■ , " Every, athleto in Now Zealand should," ho replied, " demand that tho next selection committee shall consist- of three' men. thoroughly conversant with the capabilities of amateur athletes iin their respective districts:' The present committee Anew practically' nothing ; about ' the Wellington athlotes,' arid, what is more, they did not consult anyone with local- knowledge. And, further,, instead ofdevoting all their. time to I ,"the; various events,- -they wero occupied from'timo to time judging field ovehts./Tho success ; of M'Kay, Kerr, and Sharpe, who wero- not selected,- demonstrates' that tho present committee muddled things horribly. I hope that'tho next committee will consist of;.'say, a gentleman resident in Otago, another in Canterbury, and'the third in 'Wellington. • In; the -interests of athletes generallyl trust that tho Wellington Centre will demand a radical change. : Every true sport ; wishes to see the best' men picked, irre'spcctivo of the to . which they boloiig." " Like: inariy.'others, you would doubtless bo pleased to learn' of Kerr's success? " " I,was" delighted," said •..'•Dr.-. Newman, "but I never had any doubt-but that-he .would be successful. Kerr is a line fellowv•an athlete of the right stamp. A year ago, : ; Mr. I Coombes, the Australian expert, told him that lio was not walking fairly, and to:him his faults. Noxt day, be■foro ho had .-had. tijrie to master them, ho 'took part in another race, and was again disqualified, but he nover murmured.: Sub'scqueritly Kerr about -to improvo his style,. and upon the next occasion on which he appeared after, his return to' Wellington tho, judges Said ho had .'improved his style appreciably,. At t the i. recent Now Zealand championships Kerr .satisfied Mr. Batchclor in - tho mile, which was done, in fast time, but was disqualified in the tlirec-milo evpnt, which was done in slow timo.: All the local judges declared, that Kerr's stylo was riot open. to question, but Mr. Batchelor held 'otherwise.' : Who was right? - ■:■ ' ■'•'"The following week," 'continued Dr. ■ .Newman,'. ".-Kerr .walked at .tho sports meeting at ;tho Hutt,', ; and the judges, Mr;-'Ross, •an ex'rchampion walkeirj .'arid Dr.' Purdy, who. won;numbers/of-races at Home, wero agreed that: his .'..style; was; faultless, y Upon, being requested, 50',,.t0 : do, Kerr sprinted at top /speed, and; tho, judgos were. still perfectly ' satisfied with His stylei ','A .fortnight later threo'new judges at'Duriedin allowed Kerr's .'stylo■ without .hesitation,'ione- of them,. Mr.' Holt, .a great.'authority,'holding that it was .admirable..'.',And;npw: cohies" word, that' Mr. Coombes has jiassed' Korr' in both events at" the Australasinh :championships.,'.-'Again,: I 'ask, who is .right ? Mr. Batchelor or all'the 'other judges?' : ' v . ..', ' : i : "Do you thirije. that Kerr should be. sent to'Englaiul next year?", i, " '"• "I am strongly of opinion".that': lie should be' spnt,',' was Dr. Newman's reply. . Con-. tinuuig, ; . ho: observed': "Homp,ton, Batger,' and '•Smith (who' ..won. the 120 yds., hurdle championship) were all sent Home. .If Kerr' gayo an.''exhibition' of, his speed I 'am. sure his.'iiumerous friends would rally round him. His recent, efforts were no, test of his .speed. ;At : /'Wellington, tho Hutt, Dunedin, and Hobart, ho came in ,on his , own—was never, pushed at all. I should-be. only too pleased to ••have van opportunity to.- contribute itowardsyhis. exponsos.''■ ; i ;■ / "Can you iaccount for M'Kay's fine perfonnarice?" • . , "I am not sure, .but I- think I can'explain how M'Kay came to break. the Australasian polo .jump record,'' said Dr., Newman, smilingly, in reply. i "You : will', remember,",? ho continued, "that at, the 'Now-Zealand chain-, •pionships M'Kay clcarcd ; 10ft.,/yot' the jump which: secured for him the! Australasian rocord three weeks later-iwas: over' lift. Sub.sequeut to tho : New, Zealand championships ■I said-toiMJKay: 'All.tho great pole jumpers .1, have seen, climbed up the polo hand over hand..'.Why- don!t .youSV He replied-that by: so doing' ho could clear a much greater! height) • but. climbing jwas ;-prohibited.' 1 .looked: up the rules, and finding that they contained not a word-- against tho practice, told him so. I supposej f.thereforoj-M'Kay J'climbed' at-Hobart.'" /; . ' .'.'.There can be no doubt that the Wellington' Centro 'is-'responsible ."for tho; victory?" t.'.yfjNot, the-. slightest;" remarked DiV Nowjiiaii, with • eiithusiasin:; : j-"And ; ) tho selectors must .put' up ••-with," it; : :-'M'Kay, ■ Kerr',' and • Sharpo/'! who';'were - sent at /the ; instancq of tho Wellington'Centro won four; out of'the seven which fell' to New Zealand competitors." ; ..,/ As "ho took I his leave,-.' Dr.. Newman remarked that the public could safoly be left to. jijdge; the.merits of the case. - "•

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TEAM'; KERR'S WALKING ACCEPTABLE ' ' ;■■■ ' ANYWHERE. - /'ax (Bl' TELEGRAPH.—PRESS : ASSOCIATION.) ' .- Hobart, March 3. : ' Mr. Coombos,i tlio well-known writer in tho Sydney- "Referee/".' and . an - acknowledged Australasian authority>on walking, has publicly stated "that Kerr's- walking :at 'the athiotic championship meeting was very fair,and would be acecptedanywhcro. The athlete had evidently. take_n heed, of the lesson received in Now Zealand,-when he was dis-. (lualified last .year.-,'at tho Exhibition raeet'ing. "■ • i .... - ■' ; The . New. Zealanders. .will : visit. Melbounio and Sydney. ,At the latter _city, Trombath 'meets Barker in the half-mile, to see who is the bettor. man, the - Sydneyite believing' •lie hvas .not at his best in-the contcst herey;M'Kay-- and Frawley will have another go at Alio polo-jumps, tho latter : thinking he can ;do bettor with a bamboo-polo. Ono is being obtained from Wellington. ' ' j-' Tho'team also competes in. seven University championships. •: