ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11620, 6 April 1901, Page 7

ATHLETICS.

The Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has written the J Auckland A.A. and C.C, asking if the club has any intention of applying for the next New Zealand athletic championship meeting, and informing the Auckland body that the Australasian championships will in all probability go • to the district running the New Zealand gathering. , From what I can gather," the local* club intends applying for both meetings,- and a meeting of committee will bo summoned

shortly, to consider the question as to the most suitable and convenient dates. H The last New Zealand'championship meeting, held at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, resulted in a deficit of £45 3s 9d, the receipts Being £94.5 19 3 4d, and i the expenditure ' £140 os Id. This. reduces the - credit balance 'of the N.Z.A.A.A. to £17. ' ' A. O. Keating, the ex-Auckland amateur I runner, whose suspension for two years for [ questionable running recently expired, was a competitor at the Pioneer Cycling and ' Athletic Club's sports at Christchurch last Saturday.: He finished second in the 75yds handicap (won in 8 l-55.) from the Iyd mark, and third in the 120 yds handicap (won in 135.) from the 2yds mark. Another Auckland boy who competed was Eric Rice, who got second in the - 120 yd? hurdles, won in 18 4-55., by L. J. Anderson, owing 12yds. Rice owed Byds. A capital portrait of J; Davison, of Ashburton, who is credited \ with having covered 135 yds in 13 2-55., at Ashburton, on March 13, is published in the last Cyclist to hand. The Canterbury crack is considered by his friends to be capable of equalling even time under fair conditions. •• \" - - 'The plucky little Canterbury distance runner, S. Pentecost, put up a very good performance at the Pioneer Amateur Cycling and Athletic Club's sports last Saturday, when he won the Reeee challenge cup (halfmile) in 2m. 1 4-ss. M. J. Lynskey, who was second in this race,- also filled third place in the 440 yds, and must have got over the ground at a brisk pace if he ,was. anywhere handy at the' finish, as the winner's time (T. Sims, 15yds) was returned as 50 3-ss. . I hear there is some probability of arrangements being made with Messrs. F. Weiss and C. Memmott, the two billiard cracks, for an exhibition game at the Amateur Sports Club's Rooms. Weiss and Memmott, who arrived here a few days back, intend touring the colony, and will remain in Auckland for some eight or 10 days from date, giving exhibitions, and the tour through New Zealand will probably occupy the best part of three months. .■ > • The Auckland professional runner, L. C. McLaughlin, figures amo.ig the entries for the Stawell A.C.'s sports, to be held at Stawell _ (Victoria), next week. This club's meeting is one of the most important held in Australasia, £300 being giveu in prize money. According to the Westport Times, a wrestling match is likely to be arranged between Harry Dunn and R. J. Scott, the Otago champion, who defeated Dunn at the recent Caledonian gathering at Napier. The Sydney writer, Prodigal," after briefly summing up the recent meeting of the Auckland Amateur Athletio and Cycle Club, refers to the necessity for some special attraction to cause the public to roll up at sports, and then goes on to say:—'"l'll have to find them another 'attraction.' How would O'Reilly v. Madlll do for a draw-card? or, if field games are not exciting enough, Oxlade against their best middle-distance runner? But the best attraction they could get hold of would be the presence of W. Shea, the Victorian champion ; sprinter." I can assure tho Sydney writer that the Auckland Club would gladly extend an invitation to either of the athletes mentioned, and, in fact, had discussed the question ' of inviting Shea before, the last meeting. . The matter was, however, allowed to drop, it being anticipated that Shea would probably be a competitor at the next New Zealand championships, and would therefore not be likely to be able to make two visits to this colony. Norman G. Pritchard, the Indian athlete, who ran : second to A. C. Kraenzloin, the American, in the 120 yds hurdles championship of England, last summer, has announced his intention Of retiring from the running path, but prior -to taking that step he will essay the task of equalling M.W. Long's record for the quarter-mile. . At the annual meeting of tho Victorian Amateur Athletic Association, held recently, the financial- arrangements for the sending of a team to New Zealand to attend the Australasian championship meeting were referred to the new Council for prompt attention.

Edward Dinnie, son of the fine old Scotch J athlete, Donald Dinnie, who stayed for some years in the colonies, promises bigger things than his sire ever did—big and all though they were. Edwin, who hasn't yet touched 24-, can put up over 1901b with the right and 1701b with the left hand. Some of -his best feats are lifting simultaneously with both hands bells weighing 1201b and 1121b. He scales I3st 31b, and is sft , high, has a 45in chest, and. measures 16|inr round the biceps, arid 14iin round the forearm. , I notice that in the putting the 161b shot handicap at the Brisbane St. Patrick's Day sports, that fine athlete and popular,., sports-' man, George Hawkes, was "fouled", for throwing the implement instead of putting it ■in the orthodox manner, says "Prodigal." The news causes me no surprise, and as, presumably, friend Hawkes propelled the leaden sphere in exactly the same manner as ho has been accustomed to do in the past, the. incident supplies material for reflection. With the notable exception of W. O'Reilly, of Bathurst, and, -oerhaps, I should add, W. Bethune, M. M. Roseingrave and "W. T. Macpherson, I do not remember having seen one of our amateur shot-putters of recent years "put" the shot in a really proper manner.