ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1247, 23 January 1896, Page 26

ATHLETICS.

AMATEURS AND AMATEURS. From Our Oiun Correspondents London, November 23. An important conference between representatives of the Amateur Athletic Association, the Amateur Swimming Association and the National Cyclists 5 Union .vas held last Saturday at AndertoiTs Hotel, Fleet street. The meeting was called to decide upon a definition of the word “ amateur, 55 and the following uniform definition was fiually hit upon : “ An amateur is one who lias never competed for a money-prize or monetary consideration, or for any declared wager or staked bet, who has never engaged in, assisted in, or taught any athletic exercise as a means of pecuniary gain, and who has never taken part in any competition or public exhibition with anyone who is not an amateur. 55

Nicely put and clear as a pikestaff to anybody. But look at this. “To this certain exceptions are to be allowed as under the existing rules, the principal being that amateur athletes, cyclists and swimmers shall not lose their amateur status by competing with or against professionals at cricket, football, golf, baseball, goalball, handball, tennis, lawn tennis or racquets, provided that no prizes be given other than medals or certificates in connection with cup or other competitions permitted by the respective governing bodies of such pastimes, and providing always that such competitions form no part of nor have any connection with any athletic or swimming meeting. Schoolmasters giving instruction in athletic exercises as part of their duties, instructors in life-saving, participants in competitions at arms between volunteers and regulars, competitors in officers 5 races at naval or military meetings, as well as those who take part in the army championship contests are also to be exempted from the operation of the new law, and each governing body is to be empowered to make such other exceptions in its" own branch of sport as its members may deem fit, provided such competitions (if any) are not held at mixed meetings. 55 The governing bodies in the athletic world have only to put forward a few more “ rules 55 (with exceptions) of this kind to bring about their own end. The new rule is perfect to the words “ pecuniary gain, 55 but the tail of the rule, considering the “ exceptions, 55 is a piece of ill-considered buffoonery. Why in the name of common-sense should W. G. Grace be allowed to play with or against George Lolimann and yet remain an amateur, whilst I as a swimmer may not go into the water with my instructor to give an exhibition at his annual entertainment without forfeiting my amateur status ? Or, why should uny amateur be allowed to play tennis or race nets with a professional at a public exhibition, when I as a boxer may not, for tlie benefit of my old teacher, “ mix it 55 for three rounds with “ Professor 55 Jones without becoming a “ pro. 55 in the eyes of the A.S.A. ? And why, oh why, should an “ instructor in life-saving 55 be able to accept remuneration, or recompense for his labours, and still remain an amateur when a teacher of swimming may not: 1 Gentle reader there are no good reasons for any of these anomalies. They are the result of a long system of grandmotherly attempts at legislation the direct outcome of a desiro on the part of the members of the several “ governing bodies 55 to enhance their own personal importance, and to suit their own personal convenience. We do not want these “governing bodies 55 with their reams of rules and exceptions and their fads and follies. One general amateur association, with a code of rules based on the definition of an amateur given in the new rule (minus its tail) and commonsense, would bo quite sufficient. The clubs themselves should be left to see that their members conformed with the rules. To me it seems, however, that the new rule might be altered with advantage. The nature of a mail’s employment ought not to fix his status in those branches of sport which he takes up as recreation. Under the existing A.S.A. laws a bath attendant is ineligible to compete in any amateur swimming race. Why y The A.B.A. does notdebar a boxer’s valet from the amateur championships, nor declare the carpenters who fix up the stages professional pugilists. In my humble opinion a man should only be deemed a professional in those branches of sport out of which lie earns hard cash. Because a man happens to be a professional runner I do not see why he should be debarred from swimming, rowing or boxing as an amateur. Again, I think in every branch of sport it should be possible for an amateur to measure his strength and skill against a professional if he desires to do so, without his amateur status. The it o-overning bodies, indeed, ought to encourage such contests. “Jocky Tyers, for instance, believes he is a better swimmer than “ Joey Nuttall, and the latter holds a different opinion. Why not let them meet on the basis of a “ pot 55 for the amateur and a purse for the “ pro. 55 ? The A.S.A. swallows the monstrous camel to be found in the “ exceptions 55 to the new definition of an amateur, but chokes at this little "nat. Yet it is a proposition made by one who, as a swimmer, objects forcibly to amateur “ life-saving instructors 55 receiving any payment whatever. How far Antipodean associations are guided by the rules and regulations formulated by the “ governing bodies 55 at Horne, I do not know. My advice to my

own canoes 55 without reference to the meddlesome and muddling committees, which misdirect affairs on. this side of the world.