ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

CBx Mebcobt.) FIXTURE. August 18 and 21.—Australasian Championships (Briebano). Last Saturday's run of the Wellington Harriers was over a course set by, P. Harvey and Reynolds/ from Ngahauranga. Hilly country predominates in that vicinity, and, therefore the, outing partook more of the nature of a ramble than a run. About a .mile-' from the start the trail reached the hilltop some distance'to the north of Fort Kelburae, and the panoramic view of the harbour, and the . Strait obtained from this and other-vantage pouts was ample recompenso for the toilsome climb. Later the paper led in the direction of Johnsonville. and thence down the Gorge as far as the abattoirs,' and •back over a stiff hill to near the starting point. .Although short of training, C. Turnbull demonstrated the. fact that ho has'not lost his sprinting powers. Ho won the runin'.from E. S. Forne, a promising novice, The. riiti was attended by only twenty, mem- ! bersj - which is- the smallest, muster this season. " the nin takes place from OliffHouse, Island Bay. ■■. '.".,. ■, •■■.-.' ... - ■ ;•. The. following "Hints to the Hunted" ap■pearing in, an "Amateur's" notes in the ■Otago Witness," will; appeal to all thoso ;whose weekly missien is to pursue the paper scent:—"Now that tho harrier season is in full swing and paper trails are to be found on the hills all round the city, a little iritruction tothe "hares" may not be out of place.' Tho hares,' in-selecting the ground for the .afternoon's run and arranging .the .course for the paok coming on behind, snould always remember , that though ithere are only two' of them-.iin'. the front 'the , pack is considerably; larger*, and.may find it awkward and difficult to,make access through narrow paths or openings. I have seen a pack o5 thirty strong-stuck up fprseveral niinutes n<y ■gotiating places" where a little thought would , ■have, arranged- an opening. -• Another way hares can assist the pack is by spying out the land. Our; suburbs are all on , hills; and during an outing one is continually up and down gullies an H d :valleys—some of- them pretty stiff i Climbs—and if the hares from the top of one ; hill',took' a little' cafe and pickediout the! best;" course, r .oh many occasions they ■ could run round instead/of going down to the bottom of, the dip and ttan immediately; climb-: ing up the other,side. By.this',means many ; a swamp found at,tho bottom v bf .thegulliesi would-be oscapod. : It is always-wise on the part of,a captain to eend out men who.! have, previously, been on this country? likely to be; travelled, 6'yor,: for;, ah'. , old. runner will often remember,good and. bad ''country. , '. ■' ■ ■ , •The action , of 'thoWollingtbh.Ceritfe'at its last meeting in deferring consideration, of "Dorry" LeshVs .application - for reinstatement has caused some adverse comment,'; but a little consideration of the rules governing ireihstatementß. would convince ; the'objectors that the centre had absolutely no volition in the matter.' The impression abroad appears !to' ; be that tllo case was considered on its merits, and the application refused , after duo deliberation. ; This, of course, is not so. Under Clause B.of'toe section of the Australasian Union's: 1 rules governing reinstate-) 'm'ents; , -the'application;could-inot oven , rd-' ceivqveojisideration;" 'This : clause saye:—"No application shall bo considered from ■ any person who has; during any part of Mβ professional career, resided or competed within 50 miles of the headquarters of any; affiliated amateur athletic organisation in : which "he i mighthavo beencligiblo for membership 'un'less he shall have' absolutely■: refrained. from , professional jor'ae'tices 1 for. ,at least <' two < ■years'.'" • '{With''regard to/the term "professional practices", the' amateur'.definition : runs: ."An amateur is one . . .who .'has never, taught, pursued,. or assisted .in the, 'practice 'of any athletio' exorcise ; as a means of livelihood 'or for pecuniary gain. , " Again, in the jistVof athletic exercises laid down by -, the" union for the purpose of tlrie rnle, "football"''is definitely .mentioned.Thus it follows that, however desirous the members of' tho centre; may have been . tb. have seen Mr! Leslie "whitewashed" (and it is only. right tc say that every member and' indeed all amateur athletes in the city would welcome him into the amateur rinks), his re-' instatement is out'of.'the question until the conditions as laid down above have been complied with. ' ■ ■ ~ '. , ■ It has come at last! .English files to hand report that' on April 3•» Natality attended one of the many '■'"Marathon" foot-races that have' become so popular in ■ England. P. Rumsley, of the Hull and' East Riding Harriers, collapsing near the' finish of the 20•rmle'contest; and dying on the following day without/ having' recovered ' consciousness. Rumsley,who won the same race last year, had complained several times to his attendant during Saturday's race that, he felt dizisy,:but<he continued running.' ' The American authorities have 'already dealt with the matter. ' Tliese contests have becorite a regular craze in that country, and are being held continually in all the States. Large.entrics are,tho rule,-but. scarcely an. event spes . by without several- cases of collapse being recorded. Because of, this the American Amateur Athletic! Union was urged to; stop -the Marathon: enthusiasm.;. After due consideration the union refused to interfero on the grounds that the craze- .is spreading athletic knowledge and. interest all over the. land, and is developing distance runners by the score where previously only one or ; two came put. :TJie union, however, urges that there should be strict, medical examination of competitors, and prompt refusal of the entries of all.except hardy runners whose physical make-up fits them for the strain. ! . ~..,:,,