ATHLETICS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 92, 15 October 1927, Page 22

ATHLETICS

By "Sprinter "

AN EARLY START

FOR A BUSY YEAR

IMPORTANT EVENTS AHEAD

-....Busy.as the last athletic season was, the ,1927-28 season promises even greater activities. Interest in the sport has •increased; new clubs have come into existence; and everywhere the prospects are spoken of as being particularly bright. There is no doubt that the sport -has become more popular, and in this direction the efforts of the "Wellington Centre have been responsible 'to a large extent. The officials of the .centre, are fully alive to the importance ; of .the new season, and already a programme of meetings has been arranged in such a manner as to give local ath--letesj.'and cyclists every opportunity to top form in .time for the gatherings. in Auckland. -.- At.-,the present time there are indications^ that the sport will undergo a . great -revival,: in Auckland this season. Of;late the Auckland Centre has been criticised a good deal, but, judging jErpmTeports, it appears that the Northern officials are making a special effort to put the sport in the province on a. proper footing. A scheme has been formulated for constructing a cycling track,: and the realisation of this proposal depends upon assistance from the Auckland City Council. A festival scheme to Taise money for affiliated clubS'is also well under way. With in- ■ creased enthusiasm on the part of the athletes, there seems to be no reason why .the season in Auckland should not ;be,« record one. v Championship Meetings. . . ; In'.most of the: centres the season by this time ■is under way. An earlier start ;than usual has been made-in view of the big events to be held in December! The New I'Zealand championships are to take place at Christehurch on-,9th'and 10th December, and following -these there will be the Australian and~;New Zealand championship meeting, to be held in Wellington from 26th to 29th December, both days inclusive. -The. Wellington provincial championships are to be held after the Australian and 'New Zealand championships, probably about 31st January, 1928. .Australian Tour. -; The Council of Ihe New Zealand Amateur.: Athletic Association has in view a North Island'and a South Island tour : by two teams, comprising probably four members each, of the Australian athletes coming to New Zealand. A tentative itinerary has been arranged for submission to the various centres for their approval. During the visit of the Australian athletes it is the intention of the. Wellington Centre to endeavour to arrange for the visitors to compete at a special meeting in Wellington, the proceeds to go to the Olympic Games Fund. The Local Season. A good start was made with the seaBon in Wellington on Saturday. The entries were quite good for all events, and; in some instances splendid performances were recorded. While it was evident that Borne of laßt season's chamdone very little work yet, there were others who showed up very wejl; iC. H. Jenkins, in particular, was in quite good form, and this year he should be a difficult man to beat over 100 yards. The northerly wind on Saturday did not handicap him to any extent. From the scratch mark he won the first heat easing up in 10 3-ssec, and was successful in winriisg the final in 10 2-saee. P. Levy, off the syds mark, also showed up .to advantage, but it was apparent that J. T. Fleming, theother scratch man, has a good deal of worfesfo do yet before he will be at his vbeskM. '„.:. E. G. Sutherland, the all-round champion, was in good condition." He was too good for the other competitors in the high jump, and filled second place in the javelin event. A good- deal of interest attached to the 120 yards hurdles handicap owing to the fact that E. W. Lander, the New Zealand hurdles, champion, was making his;>first appearance since his return to 'Wellington from Dunedin. Lander is a prospective candidate for inclusion in -thii New Zealand team for the Olympic 'Games. He was not seen at his best on Saturday, however. Although Lander cleared the hurdles in fine style, he was unable to muster much pace on the flat. Ladies' Events. There was some keen competition in ;the ladies' events, in which Miss C. Millar was outstanding. The Wellington Ladies' Club elected twelve new members at its annual meeting, and with the increased number of competitors the ladies' events should provide some excellent contests during the sea"son..- While in the past the activities of ■tfce-il&dies have been confined to sprint-, ing, this season field events for them will find a place in the sports programmes. Daylight Saving Bill. The passing of the Daylight Saving Bill should tend to give amateur ath•letics, a further fillip this season: It Jwill certainly solve the training problem, f,or now athletes will be able to train it, becomes dark, and for a rnuah longer period. Gratification at the, passing of the Bill and of the long and sustained efforts of its sponsor, Mr. T. K. Sidey, has been expressed at various meetings, but at the annual meeting of the Wellington Centre this week, Mr. A. C. Kitto raised the question of the effect the measure would have on the electric light sports meetings^ which were a feature of last seaRon's activities. Working under the Summer Time Bill means that the electric light meetings would commence at ',7 o'clock, but the Wellington Cricket Asociation proposes that play in all grades should continue until 7.30 p.m. The position was to be considered at a conference between the Eeserves Department and representatives of the Cricket Association and the Wellington .Centre N.Z.A.A.A. last evening.