ATHLETICS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 July 1924, Page 11

ATHLETICS.

THE OATH OF AMATEURISM. To George Andre, the famous veteran French hurdler and high jumper, has fallen the honour of taking “the oath of amateurism” at the opening of the Olympic Games. The oath is taken on behalf of all countries taking part in the games, the selected athlete, who must be chosen from the country in which the games are being held, pleading absolute fairness in the competitions, and that no money is being paid to any of the competitors for competAndre represented France in the Olympic Games of 1908, 1912, and 1920, gaining a silver medal in 1920 for the runinng high jump, when he was one of the throe who tied with 6ft. 2in. for. second place to H. P. Porter, the American, who won at Oft. 3in. ARTHUR E. PORRITT The following is taken from the Otago University Review, 1923: Arthur Espie Porritt was. born at Wanganui on August 10. 1899. Of his kindergarten years • we "have no record except that during that time he visited England and the Continent at an age evidently ripe enough to maintain many impressions of the countrv to which he now returns. From 1909 to 1914 he attended Hurworth School. Wanganui. In class he distinguished himself and became dux before leaving. He represented the school at football and athletics, and in the latter still holds unbeaten records. In 1914 he began his c-areer at "Wanganui Collegiate School, and. although a junior, his work was well above the others of his years. At 15 he matriculated, and for the following three years was in the Sixth Farm, eventually becorhino dux

of the school. At sport, especially athletics, he excelled. He gained his football colours, and took no mean part in swimming and rowing. He left school at the end of 1918, and for a year acted as assistant master at Croydon Preparatory School, Wellington. In March, 1920, he entered the University of Otago, in residence at Selwyn College. During his first term lie was appointed secretary of the Athletic Club, and held it with much credit until he left. The sariie year he passed his intermediate examination in medicine, one subject only being below firstclass honours. At Easter the following yea r he represented Otago in the InterUniversity Tournament in athletics, thus gaining his blue, and in football played consistently for University B. The following Easter he practically won Athletic Shield for his team bv gaining Two firsts and two seconds, and tieing for the Ladies’ Cup. which is presented for the greatest number of individual points. A month afterwards he gained distinction in his first professional examination. Later in this year, 1922, he was elected vice-presi-dent of the. Students’ Association, of which he had previously been assistant secretary, and held office in some halfdozen other committees. Tn the interfaculty sports he broke the record in the 100 yards and 120 yards hurdles, and won the Barnett Cup for the most points. At this time he was nominated as Otago’s candidate for the Rhodes Scholarship, and in November he was awarded it. This great honour, of course, meant the end of his career in the Otago University; bnt he stayed on for another term, and besides being in a large part responsible for the organisation of a most successful interuniversity tournament, ancl winning four 'events for the shield, he passed his second professional examination. During the Christmas vacation previous to this- he competed in the New Zealand championships, and proved .himself New Zealand’s fastest sprinter by running third to Kirksey (U.S.A.) -and Carr (Aiistrnlia). DRAKE’S BOWLS. AUTHENTICITY OF THE SET AT . TORQUAY. Some discussion has arisen as to the authenticity of the set of bowls to have been used in .Tune at Torquay in the Torbay Pageant. It is claimed that those were the identical bowls with which Sir Francis Drake was playing on Plymouth Hoe when the Spanish Armada wag seen beating up the English Channel. ■While the evidence of the origin of the bowls,, which are among the treasures in The local museum, is not as con vineing as, it might be, the faith of the people of Torquay is by no means without warrant. The bowls form part of a wonderful collection of curios gathered by the late Dr. Paget Blake, naval officer and antiquary, who bequeathed his collection to the town. They were in the nossession of the Blake family for a hundred rears (according to the London Sunday Times). Dr. Paget was a collector and connoisseur of scrupulous honest integrity, and would have scorned to make a claim for any of his possessions which would not be substantiated.