ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15884, 3 April 1915, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

UNDER NORTHERN UNION RULES. FIXTURES. April 3—Warkworth Athletic Society. April &-Papakura Athletic Club. April 6—Te Puke Sports Sooioty. April s—Woodleigh Athletic Sports. April 6-Maungatapcro Athletic Club. April s—Wahiiroa Sports Club. April s—Mokauiti Sports. April s—Orura Athletic Sports. April 6—Kaiwaka Sports Club. April s—Putaruru Athletic Society, April 10—Buckland Athletic Sports. April 17— Whitford Athletic Club. April 17—Awtt.iui Athletic Sports. April 24— Wailii Cycling Club. During the past week the Awanui Athletic Club, Mokauiti Athletic Club (Te Kuiti district), and the Oinanawa Fall* Sports Club affiliated with the Northern Athletic Union. This, indeed, fives some indication of the union's extensive operations. The Awanui Club is the most northern spurts body in the Dominion, and the country governed by the union extends from there to Taurunga, on the East Coast, and to Titiimarunui. in the south. The Buckland nominations clone to-night with the secretary, Mr. L. Bilkey, or with the union secretary, Mr. A. J. Woodier, Auckland. These sports will he held on April 10, and. as Buckland is a convenient centre, a. good gathering should result. Tho Bombay sports have proved a financial success, notwithstanding the wet day and the expense of the lavish entertainment given in commemoration of the jubilee oi Bombay. The sum of £'50 lias been lodged at the bank for next year's sports. The committee and the active officials, Messrs A. and R. Cornthwaite, are to be congratulated on the result. , The three leading events on the Waihl Cycling Club's programme arc: Half-mile cycle race, first prize £5; one mile cycle race, first prize <M. and two mile cycle race, first prize i'. Included in the pedestrian events is a Sheffield handicap, 150 yds, lor which the first prize is £7, second i"2, third £1. Mr. 11. A. Kcven. Waihi, is secretary of the club, and entries close on April 10. Tho handicaps will bo announced in the Herald on April 17. Entries for the athletic events for the Easter Monday sports at Papakura constitute a record. This also applies to tho nonhandicap events, such as dancing, and patrons are certain of obtaining good allround amusement. Tho union's official judge, Mr. 11. Patience, will place tho dancers. Tho secretary. Mr. L. J. Mills, called at the union office, a few days ago and reported that tho track and grounds are in first-class order. There was no athletic sports meeting held in the Auckland Province yesterday. When the Auckland executive was elected just on eight years ago it decided not to grant permits for Good Friday meetings, and this rule has been strictly observed ever since. Perhaps tho finest lot of silver cups ever presented by a professional sports body in the, provinco was that given away by the Huntly Athletic Club on Saturday. The cups, which were much superior to the average trophy, should be highly prized by the winners. The big prizes offered naturally caused extra keenness among competitors. Tho postponement of ■ the sports on account of the mine disaster in no way affected the results. The secretary, Mr. S. Dixon, who is also a member of the Northern Athletic Union executive, put energy, combined with experience, into the work, and tho result speaks for itself. Among tho callers at tho union office during the week was Mr. Barr-Brown, of Putaruru, who reports most enthusiastically on athletic affairs in that p*rt of the province. This official In.id some well-thought-out schemes before the union officials, and more will be heard of these in duo course. Speaking of athletic visitors led a prominent union official to remark: "What a lot of fine fellows they are. Staunch sports and honourable men." It shows the completeness of the union's organisation to find the registered offico in the heart of the provinco serving as a rendezvous for officials of clubs and committees and acting as an information bureau for competitors and all others interested in athletics. Country members of the executive meet one another and also come in contact with town members, opinions are exchanged, and all become familiar with the work of the union, the consuls pass to and fro, reports are received and discussed, and information is thus carried to all parts of the province, and those in outlying districts are thereby kept m touch with the athletic occurrences jI, d , ay ' °" lce records are kept, sorted and filed of any matter of athletic interest which may occur throughout the Dominion, while communications from distant parts ot iSew Zealand, some confidential, are constantly arriving at the Auckland office. It is now proposed to write an athletic history so that Posterity may know to whom uj due. the credit for the hirf, standard °* time and trouble to clean up the sport in the province. <;,- On V % 'sem5 em i flrß of the union erernt vc. Mr. H. H. Brunby, has left "cm the expeditionary forces. During his long connected with -he union Mr. Brunby has displayed keen interest and enthusiasm in . L "*' P " n \ tlnc * tbo puritv of sport while during his residence at Mamrapceh he acted "l the capacity of secretary of official " ml WaS a ll,u ch-esteemed hJl° ~, owin« additional handicap, have heen declared for the Papakura snorts!! a. King. P y - ds m mile handicap: W. Sutton. I,oyds in one mile cycle race 3 " d 2oovds in two mile evelo race; A. Eustace 3yds in maiden handicap Eustace.