ATHLETICS.

Evening Star, Issue 13003, 24 December 1906, Page 8

ATHLETICS.

[Br Sfikil] —Fixtures. — 1906. December 26—Now Zealand Civil Service Championships, at Christchureh. December 29—rionecr A.A. Club's Sports, Christchureh. 1907. Januarv I—Tokomairiro Amateur Athletic Club's Sports, at Milton. January 1 and 2—Otago Caledonian Society's Sports, at Dunedin. January Australasian Championships, Tasmania. January 11 D.A.A.C. Fifth Evening Sports Meeting, at Caledonian Ground. January 18—D.A.A.C. Sixth Evening Sports Meeting, at Caledonian Ground. February 21 and 23.—New Zealand Amateur Athletic Championships, at Christchurch. February—Otago Centre N.Z.A.A.A. Evening Carnival. Intending competitors arc notified that in view of separate accommodation not being provided for amateur runners, the amateur racing at Oajnaru at New Year will not be held. A capital meeting was the verdict of all who attended the fourth evening yports meeting of {ho Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club, field on Friday evening last on the Caledonian Ground, which was in excellent order. The programme provided was an interesting one, and the public enjoyed a fine evening's sport. The long jump produced a field of eight, and the result, allowing a difference of 2in only between the first three men, was a triumph for the- handicappcrs (Messrs Brady, Rudkin, and Holt). Danscy, Macfarkiic, Pittaway, and ltuddock all jumped well, and the closeness of the- positions of the men created some excitement amongst the spectators. Dansey, ltuddock, Maciarlano all jumped well", whilst Pittaway showed promising form. The Half-mile Flat proved an excellent race. Thirteen started in this event, and the limit man (M'Donald) went off at a groat pace, Thcmsaa and Marxyatt being his nearest attendant*. When the bell rang M'Donald still hekl a. big lead, but his legs begrui to trouble him. He continued in the lead, but did not improve hie chajico of success by turning round to see where the next man was. At 220 yds froni_home Gordon—who seems to roll all" over tie tracw —made- a forward move, antt, passing M'Donald in the straight, won somewhat easily from Burk, whose only effort in the race appeared to bo at tho finish, with Marryatt, well up, third. The time for the race was 2min ssec.

The Civil Service 220 Yards provided good racing in both heals and linal. Nieol, M'Corkindule, Williams, Campbell, Pittaway, and Brown etaricd in the finaL From a capital start the men raced to the straight, tho handicaiJ positions remaining unaltered at the entrance to the straight. Fifty yards from liome Njcol, Fittaway, and Campbell put in their final sprints, and in a good finish Nieol reached the tape inches ahead of Fittaway, with Campbell close up, third. The held for tho putting tho weight comprised four —namely, K. Casey, Marryalt, Macfarlane, and ]>«lahunty. Delahnniy sliowcd his best form, and won without difficulty. Casey and MTadaae boti showed "fair_fonn. Marryatfc made his first appeaxaneo in. this class of sport, and although unsuccessful will do better next time. In view of the mimerqi»aUiletic meetings, the. form of the men on Friday evening was looked to with more than ordinary interest.

Half-mile.—Gordon, the winner, is in a winning vein just now, aad romped put this race. Gordon style is peculiar to himself, and he always gives one- the impression when, running that he is thoroughly exhausted. Although ho appears to cover an extraordinary amount of ground, he keeps on winning. On Friday Burk was only standing him fifteen yards, but never had a hope of winning. Gordon is a hardworking member of the Committee of the D.A.A.C., and hk wins are always popular. Burk's form was, to .say the least, disappointing. Ho never seemed to make an effort until the last fifty yards, and on the time of the winner (2min osec) Burk should not haw experienced much difficulty in winning. Burk will need to improve a lob to retain his reputation at the forthcoming New Zealand championships, to be held at Christchurch on February 21 and 23 next. Christie continues to run disappointingly, but .probably during the New Year meeting

'a few wins will po Lis way. Running at] I-forty-five yards on Friday, his failure to secure a _place is inexplicable. Smith, a now .runner, showed fair form, and is a promising lad. M'Onrdy well deserves a '. win.- He got bumped considerable during the race. He is improving with each mectjling, and a win for this young runner would be well received. Maco seems to have gone right off. If ho wishes to represent his province he will need to improve upon present form. 220 Yards Civil Service.—Nicol, the winner, luns an excellent 220 yds race. On Friday ho again showed his ability to sprint, and, running with judgment, won a. clever race. Pittaway is another promising runner, and improves with each meeting. Campbell, one of the strongest finishers in Dunedin, came with a rattle at the finish, and was very closo to the winner when the tape was reached. Williams also showed improved form on Friday. Brown seems to havo lost- his dash, .and is j,ot running up-to last season's form. M'Oorkiixlale finds running off the scratch marks makea the difficulty of winning a harder ono than when he first ran off good handicaps. He is in good form, but lias done, nothing this season. Tke> Civil Service Club look to him to 60 great things at the New Zealand Civil Service championships, to be held at Christchurch on Boxing .Day. Long Jump.—The long jump provided capital sport, and the spectators were greatly interested in the event. Dairsey jumped 20£t 9in, Maefarlane 19ft Shi, Ruddock 18ft 6in, and Re-id 17ft 10in. With the handicaps added, Maefarlane won with 20ft llin, Reid being second with 20ft 10in, and Dansey (scratch) third with 20ft 9in. Keddell' (Otago's champion jumper) was an interested spectator of tho jump. Putting the 16lb Weight.—TheD.A.A.C. havo catered for years for the field-event went, with results«oflietrm<B encouraging ;ind sometimes otherwise. In tlie bygone days, when It. Martin and P. Doull (two of the finest sports who ever took part in athletics) were competitors in putting the weight and throwing, the field contests were looked forward to by the competitors with interest and pleasure". At the prsent time some of tho competitors expect the secretary to make out their entry forms, pay licenses, and generally place, himself at the disposal of intending competitor's. The putting tho weight appeared upon the programme of the- second evening meeting, but only ono entry being received, the event was not held. The Comrmtteo made another effort for last Friday, when tiro event, after a lot oi luinecssary coaxing of tiro intending competitors, was held. Of the five who entered ono dropped out because the Centre license fee (2s per annum, or 2d per month) was such an apparent hardship. It is the cry throughout New Zealand that tho main difficulty in connection with athletics is with tbo fieldevent men. Somehow or other, they fail to realise that a secretary lias other brandies of the sport to attend to. 1 understand! that tbe D.A.A.C. intend carrying out the full programme of field events, and the future of this branch of .'■port trill depend upon the support given by the competitors thereof. On Friday's form Delahimty showed up belter than "in any of his previous performances. With practice. Ire will be handy for Otago at ohampionAip time. K. Casey has not had much practice, and has done better. Maefarlane has also done better, but had apparently exerted himself too much in tlie long jump. Marry att, who made, his first appearance in this class of sport, will improve with experience. The management of the meeting wasfirst-cla-'s. Events were got off sharp to time and the public kept clear of the enclosure, thus enabling a fine view of the. events to bo obtained by all. Messrs J. R. Wilson, (clerk of course). Mackintosh (marksman), \V. J. O'Kane, V. S. Jacobs, L. Sanderson, and R. G. Anderson (judges) all worked hard to make the meeting a success. The time-keeping, of Messrs W. J. Burk and J. B. Nelson was well attended to, while the hon. secretary (Mr J. T. Hamann) had all matters well in hand. Mr A. Marryatt (president of the Otugo Centiv) wtis an interested spectator at the meeting. With the advent of the holiday season a break will be mado with the D.A.A.C meetings.

On January 11, 1907, a start will he made with the second, half of the programme, wlien the fifth, meeting will take place at the Caledonian Ground. The progfiunmo comprises the following:—44o Yards Flat, Two-mile Walk. Putting 161b Weight. 75 Yards Flat. Halt-mile (Dunedin Harriers). Entries for all above events drew with the secretary (Mr J. T. Hamann, 14 Crawford street) on Friday, the 4th January. Tho Tapanui Amateur Athletic Club held their first evening meeting at Tapanui an Monday, the 17th inst. A delightful little meeting was held, and one that was distinctly' encouraging to the club. The results were: 100 Yard's Flat.—First boat : W. Quin (syds) 1, A. M'Eachen (scratch) 2. Time, liisce. Second heat: P. Quin (3iyd6) 1, T. MTvenzie (6vds) 2. Time, Final : P. Quin" 1, W. Quin 2. Time, lliece. The final was a really good race between the four starters. Tlio finish was close and exciting, not mo.ro than two yards separating tlie four runners. The course was downhill, thus helping the time recorded for the race. 220 Yards.—First.: G. King (22vds) 1, A. Quaylo (13yds) 2, E. Sheddon. 3. A fine race, each runner fighting out Die finish. King won from Quaylo,'with Slieddon dose up. 440 Yards Handicap.—A. M'Eachen (scratch) 1, P. Quin (scratch) 2, G. Wilson (25yds) 3. Time, 57|sec. MTUwhen. ran with splendid judgment, reserving his sprint until 100 yards from lioiw, when ho went to tlio front, winning with, something to spare. Quin. and Wilson fought out a good race for second place, the former seenring that position by inches. 100 Yards Boys' Race,—P. Fahev 1, H. M'Leod 2, B. King 3. Tho sport provided was full of interest, and the meeting was universally acknowledged to be a. success. Tho club intejid holding similar meeting's throughout the season. On Boxing Day i-he Lawrt-noo Colcdraiiau Society's sports take place. The amateur 200 yards event is attracting much interest, and with largo entries tho race will be full of interest. 'The o'pgo Caledonian Society's sports en January 1 and 2 are attracting much at tentiou. The- amateur racing iii a feature of tho meeting, ;uid with some of Dunedin'J 1-cst runners competing interesting racing will be wtirucascd. In connection with tho application of the. Oamaru Caledonian Society for a permit to liold amateur racing at their Ncir Year meeting, tiie Otago Centre Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association decidi*! (o grant a permit, subject to tho society pro viding separate accommodation for anwtenns. The society, in reply, advised that tliey could not provide tlio separate accommodation asked -for. In consequence, therefore, the permit will not be granted, and tho amateur races will not take place at Oamaru. To all athletes and supporters of amateur athletics I extend the compliments of the season.