Amateur Sports Meeting.

Free Lance, Volume IX, Issue 455, 20 March 1909, Page 18

Amateur Sports Meeting.

AGOODiLY gathering of tlie general public assembled at the Basin Reserye on Saturday last to witness the ' 'meeting of champions' ' advertised by the Wellington Amateur Athletic dub. There were running, walking, and jumping champions among the competitors all right, but I cannot help expressing a feeling of disappointment with the all-round display. I am one of those who believe that the public should be taken thoroughly into the confidence of the promoters of a sports meeting, but they weie not last Saturday in many instances. * * * The main object of several of the competitors seemed to be to secure places in. the team that is representing Wellington at the championship meeting at Dunedin to-morrow (Saturday). One cannot blame them over-much for that, but still it would have been much better if the runners had tried to wm the various events rather than to defeat different competitors in it. Take Woodger as a case in point. There is no question but that he is the best sprinter in Wellington amateur athletic circles at the present time. He qualified for the final heat in the 100 yds event, but disappointed the spectators greatly by not taking part in it. The reason he gave the officials for such a decision on his part was that he wanted to do himself full justice in the 220 yds handicap in which Stubbs and he were placed on the same mark. In the 220 yds, Woodger ran well until he got Stubbs measure, and then trotted home, failing to qualify for the final heat. Woodger is a champion, but when one speaks of him in the same breath as George Smith, the Aucklander, who won the 100 yds, 220 yds, 120 yds hurdles and 440 yds hurdles in the same afternoon, Woodger's record of a second and a third out of two starts during an afternoon does not read too well. The 440 yds trial championship was billed as a meeting between Wilton, Goodbehere, Woodger, Williams, Stubbs, Harding and Fisher. These seven would have provided a fine race if they had taken the track together, but Wilton, Williams amd Fisher were the only ones that faced the starter. Jimmy Wilton won rather easily, the ex-champion Fisher being a long wj,y below his correct form. Why the latter did not start in the 220 yds event was one of the puzzles of the afternoon. Burge was another champion, according to the programme, but his performances in the half-mile and mile showed that something had gone wrong with him. Probably, he was over-trained, or he had neglected his training. Whatever the reason, his showing was such that if Rigg, who started off 35yds, had changed handicaps with Burge, on scratch, the formeT would have won even then. Len McKay did some good performances with the pole, for which, by the way, he has had a special box made to preserve it, but the competitors in the field events are gradually dropping down year by year. There were no entries reoeiyed for the shot-putting, and Wallace, the ex-Wellington, champion now wearing an Auckland representative jersey, had to be content with giving an exhibition in the 161b ham-mer-throwing event. As he managed to throw the missile 121 ft., his chances of winning in Dunedin are very rosy indeed. * * * The best performances from a chamSion point of view were those of ' 'Pady" Fitzgerald, the Kaiwarra lad, in the mile and three-mile walks. In a chat I had with him a week or two ago, he promised a surprise in. the three-mile walk at this meeting, for he was giving himseM a special preparation to that end. And he did bring off a genuine surprise, too • so much so that, although four watches agreed on the time as 22min 36secs for the three miles, one of the time-keepeTS declined to give the time he had taken as official. From his view-point something was wrong, for the time was too good altogether for a walker of Fitzgerald's powers and experience. Then, the lap-taker was called over the <joals, and accused of making a mistake in his coumting. But he was positiye he had made no error, the

time-keepeis were also certain that they had started their watches and stopped them at the light time, and "Paddy's" time for the distance had to stand. And why shouldn't it have been accepted without any bickering? lhe track was in good order for -walking, a fine pace had been set all the way, and the competitors were triers right from pistol-shot. Fitzgerald during the last two years has improved out 01 all knowledge as a walker, both m style and pace, and is a creditable neprosentative indeed of Wellington,. • • " Sharpe, the three-miles champion, only did one circuit of the Basin Reserve, a lecent illness preventing him from showing the best that was in. him. It was deemed adyisable for him just to have a pipe-opener, and not to risk out-running himself in view of the championship meeting. His style was much admired, and the spectators would have been pleased to have seen more of him. Evenson, who is to represent Wellington mi the 120 yds hurdles, 440 yds hurdles, pole vault, and high jump, only turned out twice during the afternoon. He won the high jump, but with the pole he is m need of a lot of coaching. # . Among the younger runners,- Reed made a fine impression by the handsome way he won the half-mile run, as also did Rigg in the .mile. Both these lads are promising middle-distance men, and should be heard from again if they do not get weighed down with their handicaps. Bogle won the 440 yds hurdles _ (6yds was second in the long jump with a leap of 18ft. 3m., and also finished second in the 220 yds off 12yds. He is full of promise, as also is Burdekm, who won. the 220 yds off 12yds. Bogle won the 440 yds hurdles (6yds' start), and Wilson the 440 yds handicap (off 24yds). The boys' walk produced a good finish, a lad named Hicklmg winning after a great burst up to the tape. The meeting was well patronised, the sum of £74 being taken, at the gates. To the executiye of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club I would like just to issue one word of warning. And it is, if they promise the spectators any special -thing they should do their utmost to carry out their intention. The sporting public of Wellington' will attend an amateur sports meeting as long as they can get good value for their money, but they will forget to attend if the best runners prefer to watch the majority of the events instead of taking part in them. Another meeting like last Saturday's will cause the sport to decline in public favour, which is a happening not one of its well-wishers would like to see oome about. The word of advice I have to give is : Don't advertise the appearances of championis on the track if there is a possibility of their performances not being up to concert pitch, or of them failing to fulfil their engagements. {Continued on page 19.)