ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 11

ATHLETICS.

UNDER UNION RULES. > FIXTURES. December 26—Cambridge Athletic Club. December 26—Opouriao Sports Society. December 26—Hukerenui Athletic Club. December Dargaville Axemen's Sports. December 26—Kawakawa Sports Club. December 26—Towai Athletic Society. December Kohukohu Athletic Club. December Horeke Sports Society. December 30—Ohaeawai Sports Club. December Maungaturoto Sports. January Kaeo Sports Club. January 1— Aroha Fire Brigade. January I—To Teko Athletic Club. January I—Tauranga Sports Club. January I—Mauku Athletic Society. January 1-Waipu Caledonian Society. NOTES AND COMMENTS. The championship athletic meeting which is to be' held in conjunction with tho Auckland Exhibition is being widely advertised. Mr. A. J. Woodley, sports secretary, has received a letter from Sydney, containing an offer from a very high-class cyclist to bring a team of six to Auckland, and a foil owing outfit. The matter is now receiving the attention of the Sports Committee. The Maungaturoto handicap cup carries a first prize of £10. Tho distances are 100, 200, and 300 yards. The mile race carries £6 10s as "first prize. Mr. F. H. Burbush, of Auckland, has been appointed handicapper. Competitors from Auckland can reach Maungaturoto by boat from Helensvillo on Monday night, and after competing at the sports can proceed to Waipu, returning to Auckland direct. The secretary of the Athletic Union will receive nominations in Auckland. Entries are pouring in from all sides for the Exhibition championships, .which are to be held on January 12, 14, and 17. All nominations are duo by December 23. A meeting of the Band Contest- Advisory Committee on Thursday was attended by Mr. Gilfedder, representing the Exhibition, Pipe-Major Emslie, PipeMajor McDonald, Professor Chadwick, and Mr. A. J. Woodley (secretary). It was decided to add a points prize, aggregate, for girls sixteen years and over, in the dancing class. The dances to be highland fling, sword dance, sheantreaus, and reel. The prizes are £8, £3, and £1, and tho titlo will be that of champion of New Zealand. The appointment of a judge was carefully considered, and another meeting is to be held on Tuesday to make tho final selection, Mr. T. P. Gilfedder, president Auckland Athletic Union and Exhibition Sports Commissioner, returned to the city a few days ago after an extended tour of Now Zealand, and he reports that athletic affairs throughout the Dominion are in a flourishing condition, particularly in the North Island. On tho journey South Mr. Gilfedder was waited upon by competitors and representatives of clubs in the Auckland Province. In every case the work of the centre was appreciated, and arrangements in connection with the Exhibition gatherings were heartily approved, /it Feilding Mr. W. R. Walker, secretary Athletic Union Centre, was mot, and boundaries discussed. At Wellington Mr. Gilfedder had a bur/ timo. He had to run the gauntlet of the press inter viewers, and quite a number of ithletic enthusiasts were eager to learn particulars of the Exhibition sports, pipe band contest, dancing, etc.—the Auckland Union being particularly prominent in this connection. It was hero that some Highland dancers and pipers pinned a piece of tartan to the Aucklander's coat, with a little ceremony that made him a complete Scotchman! The working of the union was exhaustively discussed in Wellington, also the locality of headquarters. At Christchurch Mr. Gilfedder was met by the Athletic Editor, Canterbury Times, and Mr. G. S. Simpson, union centre secretary. This official was brimming full of information and was very enthusiastic over the state of athletics in North Canterbury. At Ashburton three representatives of the pipo band met Mr. Gilfedder in reference to the Auckland contest, and spoke in laudatory terms of the work of the advisory committee (Pipe-Major McDonald, Pipe-Major Emslie,* and Professor Chadwick). At Tcmuka additional items to the girls' dancing were advocated, and Mr. Cargo informed the commissioner that the Temuka pipo band would bo unable to journey to Auckland on account of harvesting operations, but at Oamaru Mr. Cooper stated that his band—tho Highland Pipe— appear against all comers, notwithstanding their loss, through death, of the drum major. The athletic community at Dunedin was found to be taking great interest in the Exhibition carnivals, and a large number of competitors intend trying their fortunes in the Northern city. A deputation from lady dancers in the Highland section asked that a class bo added for girls over sixteen years of age. Mr. Gilfedder intimated that he had already, on behalf of Temuk'a, wired to the Exhibition Sports secretary, Mr. Woodley, on the matter, and it was agreed to add a dancing class for girls over sixteen, for, say, highland fling, sword dance, reel, and sheantreaus. Prizes to be £8, £3, and £1, carrying Now Zealand championship. Sprinters also had a good deal to say, especially regarding the cost of travelling by the forry boat to Wellington. Mr. Gilfedder said that he had made representations to the Union Company on that behalf some eight or nine years ago, but the company would not entertain any reduction in regard to professional letesMessrs. McKay and Campbell (Athletic Union), and Macfie (Pipe Band) had a good many points to debate, and these were fully and freely discussed. From Gore several competitors are to journey North, and the track runner, W. Trembath, signified his certainty of competing at the Exhibition sports. Mr. W. F. Thorn, of Mataura, expressed appreciation concerning the largo number of events for boys and girls in the Highland class—soveral of whom are coming- from Mataura. At Invcrcargill Mr. Gilfedder met the union secretary, Mr. B. Murphv, tho secretary Pipe Rand, Mr. McN. Lyon, tho secretary Sawmill Union, Mr. Thomas O'Byrnc, etc., etc. Considerable enthusiasm exists in the Southern town, and when the Exhibition sports are held on January 12, 14, and 17, otiite an influx of visitors from Southland will be evident. Mr. O'Byrne stated that quite a host of axemen wero also coming to the Axemen's Carnival on February 27 and 28, when Mr. O'Byrne himself will act as judge.

Mr. Gilfedder appreciates tho courtesy extended to him on his tour, and is quite jubilant at finding such a favourable feeling towards the Auckland Exhibition, and the gatherings to bo held in connection therewith, AMATEUR ATHLETICS. Capital entries havo been received for tho amateur sport« carnival, to be held on Saturday afternoon next. In the 100 yds sprint there are 33 entries, while the 220vds has no less than 31 runners ■engaged. Additional interest is being taken in this carnival, as it will mark the reappearance of the late Olympic representative and Now Zealand champion, G. N. Hill. Hill has been in training for some time, and appears to be running as well as over. A number of enthusiasts wore doubtful of Hill regaining his form after the recent spell, but on the other hand many good judges consider that he will havo benefited by tho short retirement, and from the way'lie appears to bo shaping in his track work he appears to bo in fine form. Dormer is in splendid fettle, and after his recent victory in the 220vds championship, the general opinion is that Mark and Mulvihill will require to bo running at their very best to prevent him from addinf tho 100 yds championship to his already long list of victories. Strange to say the field events do not draw largo entires nowadays, there being only five in

the hop, step, and jump, two in the high jump, and one in the hammer-throwing. It has, therefore, been decided to delete the two latter events from the programme. The handicaps arc being eagerly looked forward to, and it is to be hoped that Mr. Fielder will bo as successful in bringing the fields- together as was the case at tho last carnival, the finishes at which were exceptionally close in several races. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. r BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] DiWKDix, Friday. The Otago Amateur Athletic Association has decided to hold the New Zealand championship meeting at Dunodin on February 7.