ATHLETICS.

Evening Star, Issue 12626, 4 October 1905, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

[By Spike.] Although tho University Athletic Club's m<*nt sports served as a proiogne to the athletio season of 1905-6, the athletes look to the annual general meeting of the D.A.A.C., which is to be held this (Wednesday) evening, as the opening of tho s?asrn. The report and balance-sheet of the D.A.A.C. for the past season furnish pleasant' reading, and is a true indication of the present high standing of amateur atliletici in Dunedin. The Committee and members of the D.A.A.C. have worked very hard to popularise amateur athletics, and it is gratifying to record the success that has attended their efforts. The season just conclnded was probably tlie most successful in the history of the club. The number of evening meetings was increased from six to" ten, and the greatest interest was taken by the public, who loyally supported the club in their desire to make the evening sports a complete -mccess, and tlie results were gratifying in the extreme.

The racing was admitted on all sides to bo of a very high standard of excellence, and tlie competition for the special prize for most points in the evening races was verv keen and the winner m doubt until the* final meeting. The annual sports were conspicuously successful, and the quality of the sport provided was greatly appreciated by the public. The club finances are in a Bound position, and the D.A. A.C. enter upon their twenty-first season with the brightest, prospects. The racing during the incoming year promises to be quite equal to that of last season. AH last season's runners will again be competing, whilst a large -number of new men will make their appearance upon the track. The visit to New Zealand of Messrs Duffev and Shrubb has had a wonderful effect upon athletics, and I look with confidence to the present season producing some new men of more than, ordinary merit. The first fixture to attract tlie attention of athletes is tlie Labor Day sports, wjjich are to be beld at Evansdale on Wednesday, the 11th October. The Labor Day Committee, recognising the increasing interest in amateur athletics, have catered well for amateurs, and the large entries received must haws exceeded their most sanguine expectations. The 100 yds and 200yda llat events should furnish capital contests, as the men have been in active training for some time past. The Committee's action in placing a teams' relay upon the pro. gramme was a wise one, and this event will probablv be the most interesting of the day's racing. Special attention tuts been given to harriers, who have been allotted a road race from Evansdale to Waitati and back. The various harrier clubs are all very keen on this event, and as the men have just concluded their winter season this race should bo exciting and full of interest. Mr W. M'Donald will handicap and sUrt tie amateur events. In connection with the relay race, each team must comprise the men entered and luindicappcd for the event. No alterations in the teams as originally constituted wdl be'allowed. Competitors in tho open events wdl require to have'a license for season 1905-6 before bein" allowed to compete. Licenses are obtainable from the secretary of the Otago Centre, Mr H. Mackintosh. Mr J. R. Wikon, secretary of the Labor Day sports, informs me that the entries recta ved for the various amateur events at above meeting are as follow:—100 yards flat, 12; 200 yards flat, 19 ; road race, 20; teams' relay .race, 6 teams. The Commit teo are having the ground put into first> class condition, and everything points to tho Labor Day sports being a big success. The teams competing in the relay race are :—D.A.A.C. : A team —Christie, Lomas, and MT'CTacken; B team —Hainann, Knox, ami M'Leod. Dunedin Harriers: No. 1 team —Sbu'doDald, Galloway, and Morrison ; No. 2 team —Burk, Mace, and Roineril. Civil Service team—M'Corkindale, Campbell, and Gollan. Port Chalmers Harriers—Love, Bauchop, and Collier. I anticipate a win for the D.A.A.C. A team, although the B team from tho same club and the Civil Service will made things merry. Matters in connection with the schools athletic championships and festival are well under way. and tho Joint Committee of the Otago Centre and the 6chool< teachers are getting everything well forward. The preliminary programme of events will be pubfished this week, and will bo circulated amongst tho schools of Otago towards the latter end of the week. The programme comprises thirty-five events for boys and girls, and the racing of the future champions of" Otago should prove highly interesting. In connection with tho athletic I championships, a display of maypole and fancy dancing has been arranged for, and this is certain to be aj brilliant spectacle. In addition, it is hoped that a physical drill and cadet display will also form part of the programme. Tlie greatest interest and enthusiasm is being shown, and the meeting, which is to be held on theCaledonian Ground on the King's Birthday (9tb November), is certain to prove a great holiday attraction. The suggestion that a Ixidies' Committee be formed has caught on, and the ladies have signified their intention of giving every assistance towards making the festival a success. The gathering pronu>«s to provide one of the finest outdoor eiitertarnments ever seen in Dunedin. The Otago Education Board and Board of Governors have granted their to the schools' athletic meeting, and have ex-

pressed the wish that the meeting witi be a mofrt, kncoearfftUoaely- r. ■<. .-.-w ; The D.A.A.C. will probably make a start with their evening meetings early in No< veinber. The inauguration of evening meetings iyaa one of the finest movements ever made bv the club. The present enviable condition of amateur athletics in Otagois (hie in a large 'measure to the introduction of tbfei evening .sports. The pubUcinterest was awakened by the grand racing'-provided during the past three years, and amateur races, to-day occupy a very largo place on spwts programmes. Only this week advice was received from Waimatet asking whether any of Dnnedin's runners would make the trip to Wainiafce on Boxing Day, as the Waimate Cororntttee intended catering largely for amateurs. It is highly probable that, as the meeting is bold on such a suitable date, Dunedin will be well represented. So fax the Caledonian Society have not yet placed any amateur event* upon their programmes. They will be wise if they do so at their forthcoming New Year's sports. 'There is not thy slightest doubt of the fact that amateur athletics are going ahead bv leaps and bounds, and the season of 1905-06 should be a record cave in Dunedin.

Althouirli nothing definite has been decided re the locality of the nert New Zealand championship meeting, I understand that Nelson will be the scene of tho contests.

Otugo m;ide a big effort to secure tb' championship shield last year, aDd with the large number of athletes available, Otago's representativeu should go very near winning tho shield this season. In view of the Labor Day aports, training operations are in swing at the Caledonian and Carisbrook Grounds, but I will refrain from commenting on tlie form shown individually, and will confine myself to saying that tho form generally is full of promise, and that indications point to some very fine racing and keen contests during the reason now commencing.