ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 46, 18 November 1925, Page 6

ATHLETICS

[By

Spike.]

FIXTURES. Nov. 23.—Evening meeting, Kelburn Dark (’Varsity Club). Nov. 30.—Evening meeting, Athletic Park (Wellington Club). Dec. s.—First Dewar Shield meeting, Athletic Park. Dec. 7.—Evening meeting, Basin Reserve (Athletio Club). Dee. 12.—Lower Hutt-Wellington road walk (Athletic Club). Dec. 16.—Evening meeting, Petone (Hutt Valley Club).

The Athletic Nursery. Congratulations to the Wellington Secondary Schools’ Amateur Athletic association on the success which attended the fourth annual tournament at Athletic Park on Saturday. Firmed in 1922 to promote athletic meetings between the representatives of the secondary schools in the district, the association has embarked! upon a work of inestimable value to the sport, since it is from the schools that the athletes zof the future are to come. The school is the nursery—the place where the uudding champions receive their elementary instruction. Each annual meeting held by the association has seen auvance in the standard of form displayed by the youthful contestants, but that reached on Saturday eclipsed all previous levels, and wrote a new chapter in the history of their activities. Furthermore, the gathering was excellently organised, and the advertising campaign carried out was one that should commend itself to all centres in general, and the New Zealand Council Tn particular. There was a moderate attendance of the public, but had it been known beforehand what splendid sport would be provided, the attendance would surely have been trebled. There is a tendency on the part of a section of the public to regard school sports as being a little below their notice—the game ism’t big enough—but never was a bigger mistake made. In school meetings the spectator will soon find just as much interest as would be provided by a bigger meeting, because the youngsters compete in exactly the same spirit as do their older brothers. Every athlete worthy of the name is in the sport for . the love of it: he runs to win, and if he loses he is the first to congratulate h's successful opponent. Winning shields, medals, cups, batons, or trophies of any description is not really the primary consideration; it is the act of participation and competition that endears the sport to the athlete. Such a spirit prevailed at Saturday’s gathering, and, as a result, the sport was of the best. Four records were broken and two equalled—a fine performance for a oneday meeting. . The future athletic careers of at least three of the performers will be watched with interest. If he keeps on at the present rate of progress, R. Hosken, the intermediate middle-distance crack, will become to Wairarapa what Kyle now is to Wellington. He is only a slip of a boy, but he knows how to run. He has a nice stride and a graceful action, somewhat resembling that of the present New Zealand quarter-mile champion, and he gives the iipnression of being a brilliant finisher. Carefully trained, a youngster who can lower three college records in the one day should become a champion. . , Despite his devotion to football and tennis, F. S. Ramson, the Wellington College senior champion, has already gone a long way in athletics, and for versatility is one of the best athletes the college has produced for some considerable time. As the result of his appearance on Saturday he _ created a new record for the high jump and secured the furlong, 120yds. hurdles, and broad jump championships. He was second in tho 100yds. and a member of the winning relay team. Ramson, who is eighteen years of age, is built admirably for athletics, and as long as he does not overdo it he will do credit to his school when open company redl'tos inter-collegiate tourpeys. to", should he beard of young Traill, o' Wairarapa, who cleaned up the l(iO, 220, and 440 in the junior grade, and represented/ his school in the winning relay W. Cameron, the 'Rechnical School jumper, who equalled the broad lump record: and G. McGregor, the "’inner of the intermediate 120 vds. hurdles clu>mp ; onshin in time equalling the existing record. The lastnamed has a style over the sticks and a useful sprint with which tn rmjnd thing’ off. A. Wply’ev, fb© St. Patrick's College intermediate, ran two good races to win the IMvds. and furlong to concentrate on those cHsHnces. K. Anderson, the St. Patrick’s Coljeg© senior crack, had no difficulty in winning the

mile championship. The pace was an easy one throughout, and the winner did net exert himself until about 3COyds. from home. Had the Wairarapa School been a trifle stronger in the senior grade, the shield would have gone to them. They did practically as they liked in junior and intermediate sections, but they were up against strenuous opposition from Wellington in the senior division. The relay race which decided the issue was one of the tit-bits of the meeting. The following officials were responsible for the control of the meeting President, Hr. H. Amos, chairman, Mr. M. McWilliams; hon. secretary, Mr. J. Y. Walls; referee, Mr. F. Wilton; marshall, Mr. J. N. Millard; track j’udges, Messrs. J. W. Heenan, A, C. Kitto, A. W. Watts, A. W. O. Travers; field judges, Father Murphy, Messrs. T. S. Ronaldson, J. Sharpe, E. G. Guy; megaphonist, Mr. P. Martin-Smith; starter, Mr. T. W. Leslie; timekeepers, Messrs. T. Ballantyne, A. E. Gifford, A. Jackson, and J. O’Sullivan; Press stewards, Messrs. McLeod and Russell; call stewards, Father Cleary, Messrs. Bird, Enting, Heron, Marks, and Thompson; results board, Father Kingham, Messrs. J. T. McCaw and M. McWilliams. Athletic Club's Road Walk.

The Athletio Club is applying to the Wellington Centre for permission to hold its annual handicap road walk on Saturday, December 12. The course will be from the Lower Hutt Post Office to the Town Hall, Wellington. Last year about thirty competitors started in this event, but in view of the increase in the number of walkers this season it is anticipated that the entries will be considerably larger. The present holder of the cup is S. G. Mclntosh, the ’Varsity champion, and he is sure to defend his title. The walk is open to all bonafide amateurs whether members at present of the athletic clubs or not. The club has also applied for permission to hold an afternoon sports meeting at a date to be decided, and the possibilities are that they will be joined in this undertaking by the Wellington Club. Sub-committees hayo been appointed to armnge the details. Evening Meetings. The evening meetings are now in full swing,' but an unforeseen difficulty has arisen which may upset arrangements to the extent of altering the grounds originally decided upon. For the use of the Basin Reserve for Monday last the City Council fixed a charge or £2 10s., and as this figure was too iiigh to be even considered, the centre switched the meeting over to Athletic Park, where the cost is much cheaper. The only advantage possessed by the Basin Reserve is its closer proximity to the city, but if the corporation is intent upon .levying prohibitive charges for its use, it cannot expect the patronage of a sport that is not run as a commercial proposition. The object of the evening meetings has always been to give some form of concerted practice to the runners, and at the same time popularise the sport. There are no admission charges to these meetings, and as the entrance fees do not cover the cost of the trophies, or barely cover it, the meetings are usually a financial loss. It is to be hoped that the City Council will reverse its decision and show a less relentless attitude in the future.

Another very successful evening meeting was held at Athletic Park on Monday, and was conducted by the combined Brooklyn and Olympic Clubs. Amateur athletes are indeed fortunate in hairing such a capabls and enthusiastic band of officials. Headed by Mr. A. C. Kitto, .they turn out to every meeting, and it is undoubtedly due to their efforts that these evening meetings are proving so successful. Five teams started in the relay race.) They were: 'Varsity (Tracey, Leadbetter, Hill, and Eastwood), scr.; Wellington Club (Paris, Fleming, Matthews, and Kyle), Syds.: Olympic (Campbell, Davidson, Marple, and Phillips). 9yds.-, Athletic (Murphy, Stevenson, Clark, and Evans). 11yds.; e plwyn 'Sergeant, Scadden ; McFrederics, and Makin), 12yds. ’Varsity soon made up the handicaps. Tracy had only to maintain the good lead to win without any trouble, from Kyle (Wellington). Athletic were third, and Selwyn fourth. Kyle was in great form, and although giving aw: v big starts had no difficulty in accounting for the field in the 410 yards handicap. . . Flett had a very creditable win in the three mile cycle event. He rode a nicely ’u-’ged race and came up in time to just beat 1 Robinson bv half a wheel, e’arswell also rode well, but the young rider did not have anything in hand for the all-important final burst. Silver, who won the three-mile run in effortless fashion, has a good, style, and more should bo heard of this promising young athlete.