ATHLETICS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 270, 29 October 1932, Page 2

ATHLETICS

AMONG THE AMATEURS COMMENT ON LABOUR DAY MEETING. CLUB ACTIVITIES IN THE BAY.

(By

“Spike.”

The Labour Day Sports Committee were unfortunate with the weather last Monday, and the boisterous conditions prevented quite a number of athletes from attending the gathering. However, sufficient braved the elements to provide competition in each of the advertised events. Ray Williams, Conterbury and Hawke’s Bay Rugby tlireequarter, who last year suffered a footballet’s knee, has taken to bicycle riding in tho hope of strengthening the injured member. He appeared in the Novice Handicap at Clive, and won in a style that suggests more impressive victories later in the season. Percy Robson, who, by the way, has experienced a most successful roadracing season, annexed the two-mile event, and a promising rider in W Fleming carried off the mile event in addition to running second to Langley in the sprint affair. Poor fields contested the foot running events, but it was pleasing to see R. L. Smith win the century dash, as ;n the previous two seasons, although a fairly regular competitor, success did not once smile on him. The instruction concerning the dis* tribution of numbers for registered competitors, reference to which was made in this column last week, has now been cancelled, and the practice of the sub-centre supplying the numbers as formerly will be reverted to. The latest decision of the N.Z.A.A.A. is no doubt the result of the strong protest forwarded from this sub-centre. • • • Eteveneaux Chip Challenge. The Hastings ladies’ relay team had their visit to Wellington last Monday for nothing. Bain fell in the city on Sunday, and Monday morning found the track a quagmire. The Wellington ladies then promised to bring the cup to Hastings later in the season —a very sporting offer—but the local ladies are nothing if not independent and they have decided to make the pilgrimage to Wellington once again. Arrangements have now been made for the challenge for the Eteveneaux Cup to be run off next Saturday, and if perseverance counts the Hastings ladies will get their reward then. Tho full team will again be available, and as Miss Kench is definitely not running, the task of the challengers is rendered ever so much easier, although, as previously mentioned, there is no club relay team in the Dominion at present capable of heading our champions off in a circuit of the track. w » • “Sham Amateurism” in Sport. Count Henri de Baillet Latour, of Belgium, president of the International Olympic Committee, has, during his tour of New Zealand and Australia, proved a popular figure.

The Count is apparently under no delusions concerning the abuses that creep into amateur sport, and in Australia he delivered himself of the following:—“J have no time for sham amateurism—for the sportsman who, receiving payment for services, claims that he is an amateur. There is no objection to the genuine professional, but I have an abhorrence to sham amateurs.” There are many who will agree with the sentiments expressed by the Count, and while there is little of what ho refers to, in respect to track athletes in Australia or New Zealand, his remarks appear very apt in regard to tho Australian test match cricketer. * • Opening Club Meetings. The Napier Club commence the season’s activities next Thursday evening on McLean Park at 6.15 with a programme that will take some getting through before the shades of night fall. Hastings follow on Tuesday, November 8, of which more next week.

The Napier Club have lodged an order for the lights necessary for lighting the park, and these, eight in number, will arrive from England about the middle of December. Meantime a commencement is being made shortly with the erection of the four 40ft, towers necessary to house the lights. Roger Dandy, crack sprinter of Gisborne last year, and Reg Knobloek, of Waipawa, last season’s provincial furlong champion, have, during the off season, removed to Wellington, where both have joined up with the Kiwi ,Club, which promises to bo a solid rival to the Wellington Club this summer. The Waipawa Club appears to be falling on evil times, and from reports received there appears little likelihood of their functioning this summer. There are nnv amount of vonng follows in Waipawa, and even if tho usual monthly meetings wore not held, tho club should maintain its identity bv holding one gathering during tho veor. Venue of Championships. The Gisborne Club are this year applying for the championship

gathering and if the sub-centre accede to their request the competitions will border on the farcical. None of the clubs down this way can now afford to attend in the numbers they did when the championships were last held in Gisborne, and the sub-centre will bo well advised to hold them this year in Hastings, which is central to clubs throughout the area. Such a decision will no doubt provoke a little comment with our Gisborne friends, hut it must bo remembered that they have never attended the championships in numbers greater than six when they have been held down this way.