ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 24 October 1903, Page 7

ATHLETICS.

It is expected that George W. Smjth ! (hurdles), W. H. Madill (shot and hammei), and CO. Laurie, who have been = ed , as members of the New Zealand ****** the Australasian championships at mm bourne, will be among,*« competitors at toe Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club» s spring carnival on November 21. Botft ™" d ners and cyclists appear to be taking a good deal of interest in the meeting,,^and satisfactory entries are confidently looked forward to by the club authorities. *t,-.«urlw Local enthusiasts are agitating for the eaay formation of an Auckland branch of the ivew Zealand Boxing Association, in order ram everything may be in readiness for next season. lam informed that there would be no difficulty in getting sufficient entries to ensure successful provincial championship contests in 1904 if the branch is brought into existence and placed on a sound and sawsfactory basis. ... j. +*,„ A Kearsley correspondent, writing tne London Daily Express, says that Mr William Kilner, an insurance agent at Bolton England), and an amateur billiard player, Has succeeded in amassing a score of 580 P oin £ s on a full-sized table at the local Reform Club This is believed to constitute a record break in amateur billiards. I have to thank Mi. J. E. Green, secretary of the Pioneer Amateur Bicycle and Athletic Club, for a copy of the programme prepared for the club's spring meeting, to be held at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Thursday and Saturday, November 19 and 21. The programme embraces no less than 37 events, including four challenge competitions, a harrier race for teams of six (over two miles), and a mile relay race for teams of four men (amateurs) representing any retail business firm in Christchurch. The last-named event is one that should attract a long list of entries, and an item that might be taken into consideration by the Auckland Club when framing future programmes. It is presumably too late to add such a race to the attractions for the club's spring carnival? ,_ According to a Brisbane writer, there is very little likelihood of D'Arcy Wentworth. middle distance runner and Australasian champion, being able to represent Queensland in the amateur championships at Melbourne in January. Business is said to bar the way. Touching on the recent Australasian amateur boxing championships, held in Sydney, the special correspondent of the Canterbury Times (presumably Mr. W. G. Atack, who acted as lion, manager of the Now Zealand team) says:—"From what was shown at the tournament New Zealand is quite capable of holding its own in the light, middle and heavy-weight divisions. The bantam division is exceptionally strong; of the feather nothing can be said, as there was no competition to serve as a guide. In trickery New Zea.landors have something to learn, also in speedy footwork; but in a general way it is safe to say that the form of the Sydney amateurs has nothing in it to alarm New Zealanders. It is to be regretted that the New Zealand team was unable to perform up to its New Zealand form, but climatic influence will probably handicap the Australians when they visit New Zealand. _ This litis to be reckoned on in connection with all branches of athletic sport, and unless a visiting team is exceptionally strong the home team has a good deal the best of the position."

Intending competitors are reminded that entries for the old boys' race in connection with the Grammar School sports, to be held on the Domain Cricket Ground on Wednesday (November 4), close on Wednesday next. Writing from Eltliam, Mr. Fred E. Hardy, secretary of the New Zealand Axemen's Association, informs me that the forthcoming carnival (third annual), to be held at Eltliam on Saturday and Monday, December 26 and 28, gives promise of being a record gathering. He is being inundated with applications for programmes from all parts of the colony, a sure indication that the various chopping, sawing, running, and cycling events will attract large fields of competitors. Under separate cover, the secretary forwards the complete programme, but as it reached me rather late for detailed reference in to-day's paper, I shall enlarge on the items in my next week's notes. Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that nominations for tho chopping and sawing events close on November 21, while entries for the running and cycling races close on December 12.