AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Evening Star, Issue 21285, 14 December 1932, Page 16

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

OTAGO CENTRE MEETING PERIOD OF ACTIVITY AHEAD Last night's meeting of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic and Cycling Association dealt with a considerable number of applications for permission to hold sports meetings in the course of tho next two months, and athletes should be provided with plenty of activity right up to the time of the Otago championships in March. The president (Mr E. L. Macassey) occupied the chair. FORTHCOMING MEETINGS. The Caversham Club was granted permission to hold an open evening meeting on Tuesday, December 20, and the Civil Service Club on January 25. The Secretary of tho Waipiata Amateur Athletic Club wrote advising that it would hold its annual sports meeting on December 26.—The secretary was instructed to write to the Waipiata Chib suggesting that the club should affiliate with tho centre and to point out that the amount of affiliation fee was identical with what the club would have to pay for a permit fee. Mr H. T. Bmmerson (sports secretary) , intimated that the motor cycle section of the Otago Motor Club intended to hold a sports meeting at Brighton about January 21, and the cooperation of the centre would be required. The Invercargill Relief Workers’ Association ' wrote _ stating that it was staging a combined sports meeting in Invercargill on December 17. As it had separate events for professional and amateur clubs and as the whole of the proceeds went to thd mayor’s relief funds for Christmas cheer for relief workers it asked the centre to waive iie rule whereby professional and amateur clubs could not compete at the same meeting.—lt was decided to grant the request. Tlie Secretary of the Caledonian Society advised that the Caledonian Ground had been granted to the centre on the evenings of December 14 and March 3 at a charge of 10s per meeting, and on March 4 for the Otago championships on the usual terms. Mr H. T. Emmerson was appointed to represent the centre at the Waipiata- meeting and Mr R. O. Johnson at the Alexandra meeting. It was announced that a number of city athletes and cyclists would be competing at both meetings, and that a party of ten from one club intended walking from Dunedin to Alexandra in time for the meeting. NEW ZEALAND ROAD CYCLING RACE. The Secretary. (Air L. A. Tracy) forwarded a copy of the minutes of the first annual meeting of the Cycling Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Cycling Association, which stated that a suggestion had been received from the Auckland Centre that the Palmerston North-Wellington Road Race be a permanent New Zealand championship.—lt was decided to hold over the allocation of the road cycling championship and refer this suggestion to centres for their consideration. Air J. A. Johnston said it would not be in the best interests of cycling if such a proposal were adopted. He thought the road championship should be allocated to the various centres. He moved that the centre express its opposition to the proposal and submit the suggestion that the race should be allotted to the various centres in rotation.—Carried. CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S SPORTS. The Secretary of the Caledonian Society wrote stating that the society had recently expended a considerable sum of money in reconditioning the grounds, and the results of the past year’s operations disclosed a considerable loss. The directors, in an endeavour to retrieve the position, were considering the holding of a monster sports meeting at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon, Alarch 18 next. At this meeting it had been suggested that in addition to the staging of running and cycling events the programme should include a quickstep competition for school bands, piping, and dancing, gymnastic display, display by St. John Ambulance, relay races, fancy dress stilt races, etc. Owing to the school vacation and to the fact that the band contest was being held in February, followed by the Otago and New Zealand championship meetings, the society was not able to arrange the meeting earlier. The directors asked for the support of the centre) and also for suggestions which might add to the attractiveness of the programme.—The secretary was instructed to advise the Caledonian Society that the centre would he willing to do all in its power to make the meeting a success, providing that the running and cycling events were confined to amateurs. It was also decided that the Sports Committee go into the matter of suggestions for novelty events., Mr Bennett' said that if the Caledonian Society wanted to make money it could put on two meetings—one amateur and tme professional. The Chairman said he thought the Caledonian Societv would be only too pleased to give the centre all the assistance it could. FOURTEEN-AIILE ROAD WALK. On behalf of the Pacific Club Air F.D. Gibson applied for permission to stage an afternoon meeting later in the season, and said that it was proposed to hold a fourteen-mile road walking race for the championship of Otago in conjunction with the meeting. A challenge cup had been secured for tho race, and the club was prepared to donate second and third.prizes. It was hoped the centre would also assist. It was resolved to provide a trophy for the winner, and the Pacific Club was granted permission to hold an afternoon meeting and to control the road walking race, the date to be deferred in the meantime. OVERSEAS ATHLETES. The New Zealand Council advised that correspondence received from centres concerning the question of the advisability of having a visit of overseas athletes this year had been received. Correspondence from the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association had been received offering an appearance of the American athletes, but it was considered the terms suggested were prohibitive, and that the athletes would arrive in New Zealand too late. It was decided that hi the opinion of the council it was not advisable to have a tour of overseas athletes this year. The Secretary of tho New Zealand Cycling Council advised that consideration had been given to tho advisability of having a tour of a cyclist, but after consideration it was decided to take no action. R EIN ST A T E AIE NTS. The New Zealand Council advised that A. G. Clark and W. I). Vorston (Maheno), C. T. George (Invercargill), and H. W. Rogers (Riverton) had been

reinstated, but the applications of J. F. Crawford (Oamaru). N. Carson (Oamaru), and G. L. Stove (St. Kilda) had been referred back for further information. . It was reported that Stove’s application had been completed, and the secretary was instructed to return the others to the applicants to have tho necessary information supplied. A. T. Bone (Otautau) applied for reinstatement as an amateur, and it was decided to forward it to the New Zealand Council with a favourable recommendation. GENERAL. The secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Council advised that a letter bad been received from the federation approving of combined ama-teur-professional meetings, and after consideration the secretary had been instructed to write to the federation advising that in the opinion of ,the council such a proposal was not considered to be an advisable one. — Noted. . A donation of £1 Is from Sir Thomas Sidey was acknowledged with thanks, and it was resolved to write expressing the centre’s appreciation to Sir Thomas for his continued support. The secretary of the New Zealand Council advised that he had received a letter from tho treasurer of the Otago Centre concerning athletics who had paid capitation fees and not registration fees. This had been considered by the association at its annual meeting, and he was instructed to write to the centre requesting that the sum of £6 16s be forwarded immediately by way of registration fees. This amount was to be collected by the centre, and the council pointed out that registration fees were payable by all athletics whether they competed in open races or club races. —Noted. A motion, moved by Mr T. M. Brydone, that no more relay events be included on the programmes at evening meetings, but that a special relay meeting be held later, in the season, was defeated. The sports officer (Lieutenant Carlill), of H.AI.S. Dunedin, wrote thanking the centre for its handsome presentation of a cup for the interpart running relay during the ship’s stay in Dunedin. Mr H. W. Alilner, of Oamaru, wrote concerning rule 45 in the N.Z.A.A.A. hand book re the 440 yards hurdles. This stated that the hurdles must be placed 40 yards apart with approach and finish of the same distance. However, in the books : Athletics,’ by Alessrs Low and Porritt, and : Training for Athletes,’ by H.AI. and A. Abjrahams, it is stated that the approach to the first hurdle is 49i yards. The distance between each was 38i yards j and the finish 461- yards It seemed | peculiar that such a difference should exist in the ruling of the event. These authorities included Lord Burghley and Gaby so that it would appear to be correct. It seemed then that if a world record for this event were established in New Zealand it would be disallowed by the English authorities.—lt was decided to forward Mr Alilner’s letter to the New Zealand Council and to advise Mr Milner accordingly. Air E. C. Isaacs was appointed chairman of the committee which the New Zealand Council had requested the centre to set up to procure and arrange material in regard to_ Otago athletics for insertion in a publication that was being issued in connection with the jubilee of the association in 1937. Air Emmerson said that a suggestion had been made by the secretary of the North Otago Club (Mr R. E. Dlmick) that a ladies) high jump record should -be recognised, and it was decided to approach the council suggesting that a New Zealand ladies’ record for the high jump should be established. It was decided that letters of congratulations be sent to Messrs H. W. Alilner, R. O. Johnson, A. A. Cameron, and AI. B. Spillane on their outstanding performances at Oamaru, and Mr W. J. Bennett made special reference to the improvement made by Spillane. He had trained during the last two winters in a paddock on his farm, and in the winter of last year had improved by 25 feet. He said then that he hoped to do 150 feet, but his improvement between April and the present was rather remarkable, and it spoke volumes for him that he was able to improve in such a manner.