ATHLETIC NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, 27 August 1902, Page 41

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By “Advance.”)

The last number of the Sydney “Referee” to band contains a picture of H. W. Batger, and the appended remarks by “Prodigal” :—“Amongst the arrivals in the Elingamite on August 9th from-Auckland, was Captain H. W. Batger, who is returning to South Africa during the coming week in the Manchester Merchant. Captain Batger, at one time amateur champion hurdler of New Zealand, served for two years and four months at the front with no less than three New Zealand contingents, and was in many actions, including Bothasberg, where the New Zealanders suffered so severely. He is returning to the scene of the war to take up an appointment with, I believe, the Mounted Police. Friend Harold Batger hardly looks a day older than when I 1 rbo ™T t blm —Dunedin away back in 1889. 1 can well remember the circumstances. At the time Godfrey Shaw was the hurdle champion of New Zealand, and having met the English hurdler in the Old Country, I went out to renew acquaintance andi to see him do some practice on the day before the championship. Another visitor to the ground (Mr P. Selig, if memory serves) said to me, after‘Shaw had done his work: “If you can wait a few minutes you -will see the Wellington representative, Batger, over the sticks; he is reported to be a very good man, and one expected to extend, if not beat, Shaw, so I would like your opinion of his hurdling.” In due course Batger arrived and ran over three or four hurdles at his first effort. There did not appear much between them for pace, but Batger had by long chalks the more attractive style, and I anticipated his victory. The result is ancient history. Shaw won his heat and Batger Ins, whilst in the final the Wellington rep. beat the Canterbury crack by, if memory serves, a couple of yards.

Of the New Zealanders that did service in South Africa-, Harold Batger was the one I was particularly anxious to meet. He went out with the Fifth Contingent and joined the Seventh Contingent on arrival in South Africa. Some Petone and Hutt troopers who were members of the Seventh under Batger could not speak too well of him. Wanganui members of the Seventh also spoke highly of Batger as an officer and a man. If he returned to Wellington he was too modest to announce himself. Although Batger failed to do in England ten years ago what. George Smith did last month—win the 120yds Hurdle Championship—he was, in the writer’s humble opinion, as good as George Smith ever was or ever will be. Thia opinionl will endeavour- to- prove. Godfrey Shaw, who came out from England to Canterbury, won the first New Zealand championship in 18sec. Next season he met Batger at Dunedin. Batger won his heat in 16 3-ssec. Shaw ran over in Ills heat to heat standard, whicli he did in 16 l-ssee. Batger won the final by five yards in 16 l-ssec. Batger won the race on four occasions. At Wellington in February, 1892, Batger did 16sec, equalling an Australasian record afterwards put up by Smith and Arthur Holder. Batger journeyed to England in 1892, where he met D. D. Bulger (the Irish champion) and Shaw. Li the first heat Bulger beat Shaw a foot in 16 l-ssec. Batger won his heat easily in 16 3-ssec. Bulger won the final by half a yard froni Shaw, with Batger two feet away, in 16sec. Shaw afterwards won the race four years in succession, putting up 15 4-ssec and 15 3-ssec in 1895 and 1896. At the French championship meeting Batger put up records in the 120yds and 440yds hurdles.

W. Mendelsohn, wliose death occurred recently in South Africa, was well known in Timaru.. He won the long jump championship at the N.Z.A.A.A. nieetmg in 1893, and afterwards competed successfully at the Cambridge University.-

At a recent meeting of the Council of the, New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, Mr Aschman brought' up the report of the sub-committee’with regard to the amended conditions - under which future New Zealand championship meetings shall be conducted. The principal clause of-report, discussion on which u r as deferred till next meeting, AA-as as follows: —“The championship shield shall be annually competed for by the districts hereinafter specified, and shall be held by the chib at the headquarters of the winning-- district, the shield shall be held an. equal time by each club. Points shall be counted as folloAVS.: —lst, 6 points; 2nd, 3 points;' and 3rd, 1 point, in each’ event. '.The districts: shall bo Auckland. Wellington, ( antorburv and Otago, and the hoad-quarl-.ers. rc-fipeetively, Auckland. Wol-■iiugt:-,n. Christchurch and Dunedin. The

clubs to constitute those districts shall bo as follows Auckland district—Auckland, Waiam, To Awanmtu, Cambridge, West. Wellington district—Wellington, Wanganui, Mansw:\tn, Hawke’s Bay. Canterbury district'—Pioneer, Oantorbwry College, Post and Telegraph, North Canterbury P tbl'U Schools. Ashburton, Ashburton Public School, South Oanterbury. South Canterbury Public Schools, Otago district—Dunedin, St. Andrew’s Harriers, Y.M.C.A. Harriers, North Otago. Southland Harriers, Invercargill Harriers. . . A competitor to be eligible to represent a district must hare been resident in suck district for throe oonsecutive months immediately prjor to the date of the meeting. _ In the event of an intending competitor ivmoving from cue district to another, oonsequent on his vocation, within the smv-ihed throe months, application shali be made to the Council for permission to compoto for the district in which .ns new residence is situated. Ihe following shall be the championship events and standards: —liVbrds flat. 10 1-oscc: 220 vd< fiat. - 4-osec: 440yds flat. sfis<v; half-mile fiat , 'drain isect" one mile fiat. 4min Sda-ec; throe miles flat, lomin dvkoc: vine mile walk, Train; three miles walk, fidmir. 2tbee; 120yds hurdles t'lo fi.glns. Sft fihfi. Id S-oseo: 440vds hurdles ;10 flights. Sft dink 6Ssec: long innvo. 00:t' dm: high jump, oft Tin: pole’ pump. I Aft : putting Irlb hammer .?«*- Vmele\ gg* t Ain: throwing 161 b hammer v9fi oive.oh ISiht. Vh.c annual meeting; of the Pioneer Amateur Athletic Club was held on the fiord instant. Twelve- new members were electee.. and officers ter the e«sume vear w.-m appenhted as fo.lows: —President. the Hem K C-d btevens: vice-presidents. Messrs A it. An,.terser. J F Grierson. Alex Lowry. 2*. Kohm and Dr. Thomas: committee. Messrs F. U Uar'.OT. F 5 Harley. P. M.or.mow F W. Oards'e. T. H. berth, xt. ", livid. H. IVttnam. K. AA m.aee. H. b Batchelor, and K W. AVa .er. trustees. Alessrs F. Oectvr. Al. b. Breru. are. L Carl oantain. Mr Frank Harley : v.ee-cAptmm Mr AY. V. Wa.lor: a megs:?; to vac Ywr Feaiand Amateur At hie;.e Association Messrs A. H. Anderson xtoo-rresideu: de egatn. O. A Me h r H. B. Batchelor and F. M. .lehrstor. . delegate to the North Oan-i terhrrv centre o: the 1.-eara-e e: New Foslmvl AY.uvlme-r.. Mr AY. F. Wader. delegate ;e the Spores Protect tor. As-seo-.st-.0r.. Mr 7. hi O.'nsna... It was decried to accept r.reposa. s of Mr H. -LBo her for the sale of a sor'ier. o-p-------■o.v :e . Gss v'e: rare h office :n G .-once new d'e.h r.v :s The br.t dug f be a .‘ c - e". > e: ' u ~ ■-? . r s:\ office- on t e gee-'nri been, mm or :: :s an: c owed there should he no difficulty it. lem ng Mr F F Bar er presented t :.e d'hth v -.do. a s -.-e-r c:.-a..-lenge e.r fer -. 1 ,c.h the cemr.utee v„. tr.s: e.m c me; res Hearty Ft .auks v e-ee eee.mc.t tc Mr Bamer tot tee B. . e, - m. ee. spec s ;o be : : or. t .'••• Bf.ce: F. - r . or. YC ednesdsy. Bm mock 7 e rc • e pal ever.: ty. r«e a BN-fix He :ehear._ BF yards Cm: try y:s can r-htstr. a copy e: same >y ' scnd.rm t rict address t o a •'nrK Mr mod office 7 - pceposei that the am* rent s th-trs. W. F. B.r-psox and 800.. b e eh. who are- rermerg ii rhi- Pss K- -.ffie-ahy r-e'ccree-el holes by bits Worshg- the Mayor at the Potmen.; Chambers Ttiey n fill be ergeraasc • by retFc sc the WeTfingtro: Are.srerr Vble::r d' :>£ a smi.ke c-OT-ror: rr be he'd re : e evoT.cm eg Tgigsty or bamrd>c of : ere; mock.