ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 960, 29 October 1910, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(By Mkhodbt.)

FIXTURES,

November s—Sports Carnival (Newtown Park). '' ' '■ ' November 12.—Military • and. Athletic Tournament, Basin Reserve.

Newtown Park Sports Meeting. The official programme for the Newtown Park sports meeting on November 5 is : 'now to hand. Entries close to-night, so the'list of events is appended for . the information of intending competitors:— 100 yds. Maiden, 100 yds. Handicap, 220 yds. Handicap, 410 yds. Handicap (Ladies' Bracelet), 880 yds. Handicap, One Mile Handicap, One Mile Walk Handicap, Hop, Step, and Jump Handicap, InterCollege 100 yds. Handicap and One Mile Walk Handicap, High Jump; Handicap, Half-mile Bicycle Handicap (amateur), One Mile' Bicycle Handicap \ (amateur), Boys' Race (100 yds.), Obstacle Race (half mile)," Half-mile Walk (boys), Sack Kace (blindfold), Potato Race, Thread-the-Needle Race, Girls'' Skipping;, Contest, Best Decorated Bicycle (lady ..or gent.), Dancing Competition (Irish Jig, Sailor's Hornpipe, and Highland TTling), l .Boy Scout Fire-fighting Competition, Boy-'. Scout Hut-building Competition, Race for Girl Scouts (75yds.). Mercury" understands that Mr.\ J. W. Heonan is doing the handicapping.

Wellington Centre. . . ■' The annual .general meeting of the Wellington Centra is to be held on Monday. "Mercury" learns, that J. Jj. Short, last season's treasurer, and Mr. B. A. Guise, who, as honorary secretary, has done such good service of late years, are retiring from office. Both are keen capable officers, and one of the hardest tasks before the meeting will be to fill these positions without loworing tho standard of efficiency. To meet this end as regards the secretarial position this scribe would' respectfully proposo Mr. J. W. lleenan for the office. . ■ Wanganui A.A.C. 1 The Wanganui A.A.C. meeting, usually held on Boxing Day, will in ell probability not eventuate on that , date this year, the.reason.being,.he clashing with tho Webb-Pearco sculling match. This' will be a matter .of regret to' many ofour runnors, as - tho: gathering in question has always been popular, and the trip to tho cheerful little liver city has ever been a joyful :>ne. However, when Wanganui wants to ii.ck at Webb all else that is wise .comes dmyn from the skyline, which after all is quite natural under tho circumstances. Al the same time it is a pity about tho spor.ts meeting, but maybe it can be arranged for New Year's Day. Warm Words: The Walking Record. ; , The nttitudo of the council of the M.Z.A.A.A. comes in for some trenchant criticism' in an article in the "Auckland Weekly News" purporting to bo from the pen of, a Wellington sportsman. The matter in question is published for what it is worth, but it would have carried more weight had - tho writer been more argumentative and less abusive. Moreover, anything that follows is discounted by tho. .extremely ill-natured, not to l say ill-mannered, innuendo contained in tho opening remark .ns to 'what would have happened- had Korr been involved, and hot Wilson.. -"Mercury" ventures to think that if the council's critic is as' well posted in athletic affairs as ho considers himself to be, ho will, in his calmer moments, regret that ho so far forgot. himsolf as to use an insinuation Of that naturo as.an argumont. :,lho Article . runs: .. ~ . . . "1 don't know what is tho opinion of those right in the sport, but it certainly seems to. ono like myself, who is just on tho outskirts of it, that the council of the Ncjy Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has taken' up a strange attitude in regard to the walking record claimed by D. Wilson, tho Aucklandcr. I venture tli'i statement that if tho .record had been made by ll.'Kerr the quibbling that has followed its claim would never have ewntuated. If Wilson lias made a record,, and all tho conditions as to the surveying .of tho track and _ tho timekeeping, etc., ..have been carried out to the satisfaction 'of..'tho .council and its responsible oificers, t)io paltry fact that. the secretary l of the/ Auckland Centre neglected to forward' the, claim to headauarters withj--\» sixtj\da;ris of the date of

the race, should not be a bar to its being passed. Tlio council, I take it, is in existence to foster tho sport of amateur athletics, and it is not doinq its duty by casting a slur on such a line sportsman as Dave Wilson has proved himself to be. Another thing I claim, it was the duty of the secretary 'of the council to draw the attention of the Auckalnd Contro to the sixty-days' rule. Every member of tho council knew when tho record was made, and its responsible; officers knew a claim would bo mado to have it passed, therefore it was their duty to keep tho officials of the Auckland Centre up to the mark. "I have bad a lot of experience .in connection with sports bodies in the Dominion, but to my mind this matter I am writing about is- the most childish thing I have ever heard of, the proof conclusive being that the council was afraid to forward the appeal by the. Auckland Centre to tho Australasian Union. Why? If it were perfectly satisfied that it was doing the fair thing by the sport and Wilson, it surely could not have been afraid of a higher body reviewing its decision. Oh, no! it doesn't want its finding upset, but it has temporised by asking the Australasian Union to express an opinion as to the merits of the case, which, if I am any judge of the right thing, should be a straight-out blow from the shoulder to tho Wellington gentlemen who at present consider themselves the be-all and end-all of amateur athletics in tho Dominion at the present time. The fact cf tho matter is that the council mado a big mistake in the first place, and now, finding itself in error, instead of admitting the fact, like good sports, it has niada frantic endeavours to cover up its tracks. Those who have closely followed the history of tho Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association during the last few years, predicted some such mismanagement as the council is now displaying;"

Possible Boom in "Pro." Running,

There should be a bifj' boom in professional running in Australia during the coming season. C. E.' .Holway, the American, now world's sprint champion, and Jack Donaldson, th<i Victorian, and ex-holder of the title, aia already there; Arthur Postle, another, fix-holder, Reggie' Walker, late amateur (.print champion, and "Major"'Taylor, a Tasmanian who has; run himself into prominence in England lately, are on the way out. Truly the vultures are gathering to the feast.