ATHLETICS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12231, 28 March 1903, Page 7

ATHLETICS,

The formation of an Auckland branch of the New Zealand Boxing Association is likely to bo taken up seriously by two or three well-known local enthusiasts shortly. There is also some talk of establishing an amateur wrestling association. No reply having been received from the Palmevston "ped.," A. Hall, the deposit of £10 lodged with me recently by W. Huckstep, the Auckland distance runner, to bind a match with Hall, was withdrawn early this week. •

The Canterbury College Amateur Athletic Club's annual sports meeting will be held at Lancaster Park to-day, and is said to be exciting a good deal of-interest amongst the students, as the results will determine the team to represent Canterbury College at the inter-collegiate tournament, to be held at Auckland during Easter week. A local writer is responsible for the statement that L. B. Webster, champion amateur sprinter of New Zealand, has expressed a desire to get a transfer from New Plymouth to Christchureh.

■ It is announced that the Otago athletic team for the coming 'Varsity contests in Auckland (Easter week) will include the following:—"Jumping, P. 11. Buck; walk, C. G. Aickin; hurdles and sprints, W. J. O'Kane; long and middle distances, J. Davie. Of the four athletes mentioned, Buck and O'Kane wore winners at tho recent New Zealand amateur athletic championships. Tho Wellington correspondent of a Christchurch paper predicts that the newly-formed Wellington centre of the New Zealand Boxing Association is going to be a boon. A tremendous amount of interest is being manifested in the affairs of the centre, and quite a number, of. influential citizens have signified their willingness to become office-bearers or members. Sir Joseph Ward is to be asked 'to accept the position of patron, and Mr. J. B. Coat as (general manager of the National Bank) that of president. Dr. F. Hotop, who won the weight-putting championship at tne New Zealand Inter- ' Varsity athletic tournament at Christchureh last year, finds that, owing to tho position ho now holds as house surgeon in tho Dunedin Hospital, he will not be able to make tho trip to Auckland to compete in the 'Varsity championships this year. From a Sydney paper I learn that there is rery littlo probability of the New South Wales Lacrosse Association carrying out the suggested trip to New Zealand during the coining season. The writer says the local association is certainly not in a position to finance a team.

"Mat." Roseingrave, the well-known Irish Hirdlcr, is still in the South Island. A few days ago tho genial Irishman called at one of tho°CTiristcbureh newspaper offices, and informed a local writer that he was going on to Blenheim to shoot at the Marlborough Gun Club's meeting. He intends to- return to Auckland in time for the inanimate pigeon-shooting meeting, to be held here at Easter.

A syndicate was being formed in London, when latest files to hand closed, with the object of taking to the States a party of professional athletes to compete^against the pick of American runners. Negotiations had been owned with Harry Watkins, Fred. Bacon, Dave Fenton, C. W. Hart, and I. Dance, whilst a well-known amateur had likewise been approached to join the contingent, but the latter had not yet given a definite answer to the proposal. Latest files from the South state that a mistake has been discovered in the measurements of the distances given for the hammerthrowing at the New Zealand amateur athletic championship meeting, held at Duncdm recently, which reduces the distances thrown a matter of 4ft 6in all round. The measurements were taken as usual from the middle of the circle, but in announcing the distance thrown it was omitted to_ deduct the 4ft 6in play the competitors have in the circle. The performances in the championship hammer throw now read :—S. Baird (Canterbury), 115ffc 7in, 1; A. Jriss (Dunedin), 102 ft llin, 2- W. O. Bradley (Canterbury), 73ft llin, 3. It will thus be seen that the throwing was poor. As the result of the trials hold in the Domain last Wednesday, the following teams have been chosen to represent the Auckland College at the forthcoming Inter-University College championship meeting, to be held at the Auckland Domain on Easter Monday: — 100 yds and 220vds, Messrs. Stuckey, Hay, Rosewarne; one nnle, Messrs. Stevenson, Woodward, Micklo; 880 yds, Messrs. Stevenson, Mickle. Rosewarne; 440 yds, Messrs. Hay, Gatland, Rosewarno; one-mile walk, Messrs. Griffin, Dunlop, Bedford: 120 yds hurdles, Messrs. Marsdon, Short, Gatland, long jump, Messrs. Short, Marsdon Gleeson ; 440 yds hurdles, Messrs. Short and Gat land. „ it rr tr . The sturdy young Victorian atnlete, H. H. Hunter, who was' a competitor at the Australasian championship meeting held on the Auckland Dom.ain, is credited with a very fine performance in an exhibition broad jump on the Lome Cricket Ground recently. -tie cleared 24"ft Bin. For 18ft the ground was level, and after that there was a drop ot quite 6in in the 6ft, but the measurement was made on a pole extending from the level ground over the spot where Hunter alighted. Of course, the drop would still help the jumper, but, given all this in, it was a very remarkable achievement. _ Roseingrave s Australasian record is 23ft 7jin. and it will therefore not come as a surprise to find better figures accomplished by the young Bendigonian. All being well Hunter should be a " moral" for the broad jump championship at the. next Australasian championships. Runner Orton's scheme of taking a repreventative team of American amateur athletes to Great Britain has been frowned down by the Amateur Athletic Union, and the last lias been heard of the proposal, I guess (says the American correspondent of the Sydney Referee in his last news budget). There will be something to fill the gap so far as international prospect is' concerned, for an informal intimation has been given out that Yale and Harvard will shortly receive a challenge from Oxford and Cambridge for a track meet, to be held in England this coming summer. As shadowed out, there are to be nine events, but no details will be furnished on that point for a while yet. v ■ A successful competitor at the Drury Athletic Club's sports on January 2 writes complaining of the delay in paying over -the prize-money. He says he!was informed, on making application to the -.secretary,., that his prize-money would be'forwarded to him within a week from the date of the sports, I but that be has not yet received the amount..