ATHLETIC SUPREMACY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13583, 12 September 1908, Page 6

ATHLETIC SUPREMACY.

AUCKLAND'S SPLENDID RECORD. Auckland's supremacy in the sporting world is brought under the notice of the local youth at the present time by an array of shields in the Queen-street window of Mr. H. E. Partridge. The shields therein displayed have been honestly and strenuously earned in different fields of athletic competition, in which the Auckland youth has shown his superior prowess to. his fellows from other parts of the Dominion, "i' ■- ' ' "-'■• ; ''': The display of shields is the tangible proof of a remarkable record, which clearly indicates Auckland's superiority in the most important brandies of field sports for 1908. ; To begin with there is the Ranfurly shield for Rugby football. This shield was originally awarded to Auckland as premier province in 1902. Wellington successfully competed for it two years later, but Auckland's team got it back the following yew, and has held it since. The "soccer" shield, presented by Mr* .Robert. jopibajl j* 1891, might Still be Auckland's if it had not tbeen allowed to go by default; Auckland won the shield last year after a desperate battle with Wellington in Alexandra Park, but this - year the necessary funds were not forthcoming to 'send a team South to fight for possession of the shield, so it went. .' ; : : ',- ,':'" « Auckland bids fair to become the possessor of the handsome shield presented by the New Zealand Hockey Association last year. The Auckland boys have been challenged for the shield seven times this season. Six times they have won, and the seventh challenge will be decided to-day-The record is a ehield-keeper's one. The approach of the cricket season calls to * mind that the ' 7 Plunfcet ■ shield was last * season won by Auckland. Th© shield was donated two years ago, and was awarded to Canterbury by the New Zealand Cricket Association for having the best record. Auckland put in a challenge, and last season went down to Canterbury— conquered. The shield came back with the Auckland boys, and is here at the present time—-possibly ' for a good long time. ' In the gentle game of lawn tennis Auckland also leads. Last season Auckland were the winners of the Auekland-Taranaki interprovinoial lawn tenuis championship banner. : . : ■"'''■-,•-" ■-' '•• •-•'■?■■*< In the billiards of the turf Aucklanders can. give points to their fellow-New ; Zealanders, the Carlton Bmvling Club having carried.off 7 the Northern Bowling Association shield, in which a groat number of the best teams of New Zealand competed.;