ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14928, 28 February 1912, Page 9

ATHLETICS.

THE AMATEUII SPORT. . NOTES AND COMMENTS. Keen interest, is being shown in the autumn carnival of the Auckland Amateur Athletio and Cycle Club, which will be held in tho Domain on Saturday. The carnival promises to bo tho most successful held for several years, for the entries constitute a record, the best amateur athletes in the district will bo engaged, and the competition will be very keen. For the 15 events on the programme, 266 entries have been received from over 100 athletes. With the division of the events into heats, there will, therefore, bo plenty of good sport, and many close finshes are confidently anticipated. So far as the foot ovents are concerned, particular interest is being manifested in the running of G. N. Hill, the Australasian distance champion, and A. W. Dormor, who now holds the 440 yds and 880 yds championships of New Zealand. It will probably be Hill's last appearance on the track before his departure for the Olympic Games. 'Dormor has made such splendid; progress lately that his running will be very closely watched. A groat meeting should be that of Hill and Dormor in the mile, in which tho Australasian champion will concede 20yds to iDormor.

A matter arising out of an amateur' cycle raco at tho Hamilton Amateur Athletio Club's December meeting: lias been considered by the Auckland centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Tho race in question was won by Tonge, with Leckie second- Leckie protested against the winner, on the ground that Tongo was a professional, and the club referred the matter to the centre. The" latter 'body found that Tonge had competed with cash riders at late as October 23. The protest was, therefore, upheld, Tonge was formally declared ■a professional, and Leckie was awarded the first prize. The centre has .also considered a matter sent forward by tho Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club. At the Foresters' sports at Takapuna on the 10th inst, R. E. Fordham. a member of the club, unwittingly competed with professionals, and the club asked the centre for a ruling as to Fordham's status. After going into the. matter, i the centre found that Fordham did not know he was competing with professionals, and it, therefore, ruled that ho had not infringed his amateur status. • Another question considered by the centre was an application from. Sir. A. Plustro for a riding with regard to amateur and professonal athletes competing together at sports meetings held by territorial regiments. The centre held that, according to the rules of the N.Z.A.A.A., it is allowable! for amateurs to compete with professionals at recognised territorial sports, meetings without losing their amateur status. * G. N. Hill and A- W. Dormor, who were jo successful at the New Zealand championships meeting at Invercargill, and J.' .T. Mulvihill, who, besides acting as manager of the Auckland swimming team at Christchurch, has competed at on© or two amateur athletic meetings in the South, are expected to return to Auckland on Friday morning. ,

UNDER UNION RULES. FIXTURES. March 2:. Waitakaruru Athletic Club, Thames. , ,; ■,;■.■ March 7: Waiuku St. Patricks Sports. March 9: ' Premier Picnic and Sports March I' 6: St. Patrick's Day Sports, in Domain. ' ' , _>• ' ''■.• j March 23:, Bombay Athletio Club. March 27: Te Kuiti Athletio Club. March 28: Otorohanga Athletic Sports. March 30: WaUri Athletic and Cycling Sports. : NOTES AND COMMENTS. Present indications point to heavy entries being received for all. fixtures next; month; and very keen competition is looked ■for. Tho annual meeting and conference. of athletic clubs in the Auckland province will take place on March 15, the day prior to St, Patrick's sports. This will suit the convenience of country visitors, -who -wish to witness the Postle-Donaldson contests at these sports- A re-union will be held on the same evening (Friday), at which Postle will be present. Donaldson will arrive in Auckland next Sunday. \ The date of the Rangiriri Athletic Club's annual fixture Will probably be April 6 (Easter Saturday), , and the Onenunga Cycling Club have applied for March 30Wit)*" the consent of the Thames Foresters' Committee, April 8 has been. allotted by the union to the Waihou Athletic Club. The union officials speak well of the commendable spirit which prompts tho Thames people .in this matter, as Waihou is not far distant, I and the arrangement of Easter dates is a difficult one. I On his arrival in Auckland on Sunday Postlo was met by the veteran sportsman, Mr. A. J. Woodley, secretary of the St. Patrick's Sports Committee. Negotiations are pending for the appearance of Postlo at the Gcraldine St. Patrick's sports on March 20. _ ;. The latest additions to the list of affiliated societies are the sports clubs at Aria, near To Kuiti, and Mangapeehi. It is expected that two delegates will bo present from most of the clubs in the province at the annual meeting and conference. Considerable changes in the present routine of holding sports arc to be decided -upon, and put into force next season. At tho request of Mr. (rilfedder, Arthur B Postle will deliver a short, address at the re-union on March 15, on-" Athletic Training" This will be of special interest to competitors, and of general interest to local largo' number of spectators assemble in A largo number of spectators assemble in the Domain each morning to witness the performances of the Queensland pedestrian, and the style of the visitor is. being very favourably "commented on. His quickness in getting off the mark is a subject of surprise to the ordinary onlooker, but a special I art in Forties athletic science.

A CONTEST ABANDONED. [BY TELEGRAPH.--PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DtrwßDlv, Tuesday. At a meeting of the Caledonian Society tonight, the proposed match between Donaldson and Pestle in Dunedin, on Maroh 23, was abandoned.