THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10972, 28 January 1899, Page 7

THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The principal topic oi conversation in jjjateur athletic circles just at present is the jfeff Zealand Amateur Athletic Champion- ! ship Meeting, which has been this year alio- j cated to Dunedin, and will be brought off iu the Southern centre on Saturday next, February ♦. As usual the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club, who, in the best interests of athletics, have always deemed it their duly to send a team to these annual gatherings, bo their chances of annexing the ; coveted banner great or small, will bo represented, though it is to be regretted that the whole of the contingent originally selected . to do battle for the Northern province will bi) unable to make the journey to Dunedin, A. W. Bell, to whom the club looked to moke a good allowing in the distance running events having announced his inailily to accompany the team, while R. Oliphanl, always a useful man, and the chosen representative for the 440 hurdles, has been unauio to obtain the necessary leave of absence. The loss of this pair reduces the numerical strength of the Auckland contingent to a quartette, viz. G. Smith, W. H. Madill, D. Wilson, and Jas. To Paa, and although their prospectshopeful with the original toam—of bringing tho banner North are remote in the extreme, the Aucklandors may nevertheless be relied upon to render a good account of themselves, and to uphold the honour of the province they represent. Glancing through the names of the athletes who will do battle for tho sifter provinces, I cannot unearth a man likely to bring about tho defeat of George Smith in tho 100 yds flat or 120 yds hurdles, unless perchance some hitherto unknown quantity is brought to light; and although the task is a stiff one—feeing that the meeting only extends over the one day— hope to see the Auckland lad run well forward in both the 250 yds flat and the 440 yds hurdles, the lattei of which events will in ill probability come on for decision towards the close of the day. Already Smith has shown himself equal tc 26 2-ss, over 250 yds, and that through a field of competitors, at least so said watches held in 6iich reliable hands as those of Messrs. J. Marshall, F. Macmanemin, and G. Read, a time that must take a powor of beating, even in the presence of such a good man as Kingston, of Dunedin. In fact, win or lose, I am of opinion that the man that clocks 26 2-ss. will wear the championship medal for tho 250 yds, be ho from North or South, and I would not be surprised to find the time a trifle beyond Smith, in view of bis other engagements. A peat deal depends upon the arrangements of the programme. If, as anticipated, the 440 yds hurdles is run late in the day it is quito on tho cards that the Aucklaiidor may notch another victory for the Northern Tentro. Madill, who returned to town from up country on Wednesday last, is looking "rcsh and blooming, and, although he has ione no work to speak of, with either hammer or shot since the meeting at which he established new figures for the hammer, yet his condition, together with three or four days' work in the bracing Southern centre, seems such as to warrant my selecting him as the likely winner of the two field events mentioned. In addition to these competitions he has entered for no less than five other events, though it is hardly likely that ho will start in more than three of those at the outside; to ask more of him would bo ridiculous. He may possibly score a point or two in the jumps, but his prospect of doing anything more is very meagre, as it is understood that one of his knees is none too sound. and in no condition to stand a one or three mile journey. Had the "understanding" been all right, thir fine athlote might even have added one oi two more points to Auckland's score, as he is a perfect glutton for work, and although not a Bennett—as we known the Dunodinite in his halcyon clays, two or three years back— still considerably above tho ordinary as a distance runner. The question as to whether the plucky little Wellington "heel-and-toe" exponent, Goodwin, will bo a competitor at the meeting is uncertain, although it may reasonably be presumed that if the Wellington club is represented he will bo included, but even in his presence the one and three mile walks read "good things" for the present champion, D. Wilson, who, it will be remembered, experienced no difficulty in shaking Goodwin off at tho business ond in both walks at Wanganui last year. Last but not least of (Is Auckland competitors, is the native boy Jas. To Paa, who takes the place of the present Australasian champion, Hori Eruera, «s our polo-vault representative, in which he may be expected to do something handy to -10ft Bm-a height that should silenco all Southern opposition. Ho is also nominated for the long jump, in which ho may, or may not, score a point foi bis club. To sum up tie prospects of tho Auckland team, minus Inc. ' IPs and bats" that punctuate tho preceding remarks, the local club should be well satisfied if the contingent succeeds in carrying off seven of tho championships earned, made up as follows:—Smith, 100 yds tot and 120 yds hurdles; Madill, hammerthrowing and shot-putting; Wilson, one and three mile walks; Te Paa, pole vault. Even then it is hardly to be expected that they mil register sufficient points to entitle the Auckland Club to have its name erVazoned on the banner, unloss, perchance, Wellington « Canterbury bring off one or two surprises in other events, as Dunedin will bo represented by a very strong team, and 0110 that, a addition tc the firsts they may place to weir credit, should run up a formidable •core in places.