THE AMATEUR ATHLETIC CARNIVAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9040, 19 November 1892, Page 6

THE AMATEUR ATHLETIC CARNIVAL.

All the arrangements in connection with the Spring Carnival of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, which is to be held in the Domain Cricket Ground this afternoon, are now practically completed, and should the weather prove favourable the success of the gathering seems to be certain. The club's sports have hitherto ever proved the most popular athletic meetings in each year, and the carnival this afternoon, which promises to be quite up to the high standard of its predecessors, will doubtless attract a very large and fashionable attendance of spectators. The children of the local orphanages have been invited to be present. Mr. F. W. Edwards will perform the duties of starter, and he has become locally famous for the punctuality with which he manages to get off the various events; so the general public need expect no wearying delays. In yesterday's issue it was stated that Mr. H. W. Batger would give an exhibition over the hurdles; but he desires this to be contradicted. He writes as follows :—" Sir, notice a paragraph in your issue of this morning stating that I shall be a competitor at the afternoon sports meeting of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club tomorrow. The paragraph is misleading, as I have made no arrangements to compete, nor have I any intention of doing so. I should feel obliged if you will kindly contradict this report.—l am, etc., Harold M. Batger, Mount Eden."

The paragraph referred to was based upon information supplied by the secretary of the A.A.A.C!. personally. Considering the large fields which will compete in the various events, and the satisfactory nature of the handicaps compiled, it is far from being an easy task to select the winners. In fact, there are so many uncertain elements to be allowed for, that anticipations as to the results, though based upon the most careful calculations and upon the most accurate knowledge obtainable, are always liable to be contradicted by the results. However that may be, the following expectations as to the results of the various events should not prove very wide of the mark :— 150-yards Maiden :A. J. Pilkington, 1; C. Hesketh, 2; W. G. Owen, 3. 100-yards Handicap: W. G. Owen, 1; Atkinson, 2; Gaudin, 3. 250-yards Handicap : P. Gaudin, 1; J. H. Bull, 2; Hill. 3. 440-yards Handicap: Ponsford, 1; Roberts, 2; Davis, 3. 120-yards Hurdles : W. H. Martin, 1; Roberts. 2; Hackett. 3. Half-mile Handicap : Musker, 1; Davis, 2; Thomas. 3.

Mile Handicap: Da vies, 1; Beere, 2; Farquhar, 3. Mile Walk : White, 1; Pople, 2; Creamer, 3. Two-mile Walk : Creamer, 1; Burton, 2; White 3.

Putting the Weight: O'Connor. THE BICYCLE RACES.

The entries this year are somewhat less than usual, the reason being that with the exception of Cobrough, the. riders of the solid tyred safety prefer not to engage in competition with the speedier cushion and pneumatic tyres. However, this reason is likely to be removed by the next sports, as Mr. Service is importing a batch of pneumatic tires, many of them to order, by the Mamari. When these arrive, we expect to see the entries regain their old number. The first race we have* to deal with is the Novice Roadster. There are seven entries for this event, and Lowe may be exprcted to catch the judge's eye first, followed by Surman and Firth. Next on the programme is the Half-mile Dash, for which Messrs. Reynolds, Dacre, Forth and Cobrough will start, and the three first places should be filled as named. ; The One-mile Bicycle Handicap promises to result in an easy win for Sunnan, with Dacre and Lowe filling the places. . The Two-mile Bicycle Race has seven starters, and Dacre, Surman Low should finish in the order named.

The Three-mile Bicycle has only ifour starters, and if Firth can hang on to ©acre till the finish he should just about win! The scratch man, Reynolds, though &"Oyds back, ' will, however, give the leaders a race for * their places. • • " ■-■< - e ■ ..;„■ U The final bicycle race is the five mile, and it will somewhat puzzle the public to follow the positions of the competitors, as out of the eight starters only one ha.s less than a lap, and two have two laps and some hundreds of yards. Surmau ought to come home first, with Dacre, Firth, and Lowe in close attendance. The winner of the "victor ludorum " will, we think, be either Surman or Dacre, the present holder. We are decidedly in favour of the chances of the new man.