AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 733, 4 February 1910, Page 5

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

The, provincial amateur - championship meeting, which was postponed last Saturday on, account of tho , weather, will be held ~to-morrow, - and should prove -very attractive to the general public. Hardlngj of. Napier, arrives to-day, and is very fit.; Ho expects to make J. Wilton, New. Zealand-440. yards champion, lower his colours m the quarter-mile championship, and he also :oxpects to put up . good time in tho half-mile championship. His most dangerous opponent in this event is J.; F. Wilson, a locals runner of: great promise. As . Wilton and Wilson are. both' at tho top of their form, these;two races, should be! the most exciting on the programme. In .the. sprint events, Wooager will-show his best pace; as he is running very,-well at present His latest performance at Petone of running 100 yards in 10 2-sseo. on a rough track is very creditable. . Duncan and Hubbard are also both going well. Heffer;;- the vfavourite selection: for the - mile': championship,, is training-" hard, son theßasin >Re?ervei; as aIBO, are: F. Wilton,. Thompson - (ninner of . the Marathon' Eace), H,:: J. • and ,Beriiard. .These competitors should make' 'the . mile a very interesting race, also a very open one. . Keddell, the Wanganui; hurdler -and , high and long jum-: ■por f stayed over from last week, and is training .on' Kelburae Park. He, reports that he is in better form than on Boxing Day, .when ho beat Evensenin the, 120 yards . hurdles. Evensen ; himself; has never been in better . form, 'and as ho meets Keddell in no. fewerithan three events, - tie tussle; should; prove interesting. In the field events, numerous entries have been' -received, including those of> Cartwright. of: Woodville, who'has put up' several good performances with the hammer' and shot. L. M'lCay isgetting into form, and is. always a dangerous opponent. The meeting between Fitzgerald: and Leslie in the walking events is being keenly looked to, though Cashman.can be depended, 'upon to make mattersvlively. There are four starters in the mile event, and six in the three-mile handicap. The remainder .of' the ' programme ' comprises handicap events,' ancf excellent entries; have-' .beenreceived.' .The handicapper has' : set a hard ; task- to pick > the winners of these raco3, and 'he is to: bo congratulated. Afternoon tea will be dispensed ,on the hill • near the caretaker's , house, and this will give those who care for refreshment an uninterrupted view of tho proceedings. His Excellency the Governor has promised to attend if he is in town, and tho Petono Brass Band has been engaged to play selections during the afternoon. •