ATHLETIC NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4301, 9 March 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

ATHLETIC NOTES

BY "ADVANCE. 11 . FIXTURES—MARCH. 7. —Tariki Caledonian Society. 8. —Waitnra Athletic Club. 14. —Strathmore Athletic Club.14.—Gisborne St. Patrick's meeting. 16.—Wellington Hibernian Society. 18.—Blenheim Hibernian Society. 18.—Geraldine Hibernian Society. 18. —Tirnaru Hibernian Society. 18.—Eangiwahia and Pemberton. 18.—Alfredton. XB,—Waverley Athletic Association. 27.—Otaki Athletic Club.

' The Makotuku athletic sports, which were fixed for February 27th, have been postponed till March 27th. J. Garritty and J. Sexton are entered at the Waverley and Rangiwahia meetings, both of which are to be held on March 18th.

The Auckland Amateur Athletic Club’s Autumn Meeting will be held this afternoon.

The Blenheim Hibernian, Society’s handicaps appeared in yesterday’s issue of tho “New Zealand Times.” The Wellington Hibernian Society’s handicaps will appear in Monday’s issue. lire Waverley handicaps "will appear in Tuesday’s “Wanganui Herald.”

"Mr Geo. Watson, the well-known sports official, appears to be dropping right cut of the business. He has notified the St. Patrick’s Day sports committee that he will be unable to officiate as starter on Saturday next. Mr T. W. Leslie, the well-known heel and toe exponent, was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr Leslie has acted as starter at the grocers’ picnic on two occasions, and got the fields away well in line. From Mr F. L. Bellringer, hon secretary, I have received a copy of the New Plymouth Star Football Club’s proramme for Easter Monday. The athletic events are 120yds Sheffield, £7, £2 and £1; 220yds, £4, £1 and 10s; 440yds, £7, £2 and £l; one mile, £7, £2 -and(£l; half mile, £4, £1 10s and 10s: 300yds, £4 and £2.

Among the entries for several cash meetings, I notice the names of persons who previously competed for trophies. Evidently some of the amateurs are getting tired of that class, of sport. L. H. Furrie, the Feilding_ Sheffield winner, will probably make his first appearance at the Basin Reserve next Saturday. Tha travelling athletes are well catered for along the Taranaki coast. The Eltham meeting was on the 6th, followed by Tariki and Waitara on the 7th and Bth, Tongaporotu on the 13th, Strathmore on the 14th, Waverley and Okato on the 18th, and Inglewood on the 21st. . , Several of the nomination papers for

tho Blenheim Hibernian Society’s meetrino" have been retiirned by the handicapper endorsed ‘'performances incoriecfc and misleading.’' There is no walking event on the programme of the St. Patrick’s Days’ sports, and P- McColl, who is generally in training, has engaged in the running events. Included in the programme of the New Plymouth Star Football Club’s sports for Faster Monday is a 120vqs school beys’ provincial championship of Taranaki; open to boys attending Government primary schools in Taranaki to bo nominated by master of school. Tho first prize is a gold medal, and the nomination 1«. This is an event that should become general on‘all sports programmes. Mr Jas. Doyle will act ns referee at tho St. Patrick’s sports next Saturday. The nominations received for the Wav-e,-lev Athletic Association's sports on March 18th are first-class, mere are 02 iii the 100yds, 21 in the 220yds, 19 in the 440yds, 17 in the 150yds (district), 16 in the 440yds (district), ten in the half mile, and 9in the mile. Champion longdistance runner, James Lextou, is the uest known of those engaged. He is giving away 45yds in the halt and 90 yards in the mile. . 1 Very satisfactory nominations have been received for the Blenheim Hibernian sports on the 18th. There are 29 m the Handicap, and 23 in the mile. F. H. Corners and A. IV. Watts are the best known of tho engaged. The Wellington nominators are J. W. Pikc E. W. Evans, H. Pavne. T. Carrig. E. A. Ready, W. D. Bennett (Taita) and A. Ross (KumeFor the first time in about twenty years the Wellington Druids’ Lodges will not hold a sports meeting on the Basin Reserve on Easter Monday tins ye»ar. Xhe arrangements in connection with ‘the affair were left too late, aud it was'therefore decided to abandon the Gala and art union, so far as holding it on the Basin. Reserve is concerned. A sports meeting may be held on Easter Monday at tho Upper Hutt Recreation Ground, if it is available, and the usual gala and sports will probably be held on Now Year’s Day. Now that the Excelsior and Pacific Lodges are meeting in the same hall, it seems a reasonable request* that the former lodge should join in and help to make the gala a bigger success than hither-

to. The silver cup presented by Mr George Payno to tho winner’ of mo-st points in athletic events at the St. Patrick’s Day sports is a very handsome one. It is on view at the bicycle depot, next doer to the Western Hotel. The Wellington Amateur Athletic Club have decided not to hold an autumn sports meeting this year, which is not very encouraging to the runners, especially as no amateur events are put on the - programmes of local sports meetings. Tho champion runner, L. MoLachlan, is said to be returning to Sydney shortly. In his absence F. H. Somers - will be back marker up to 440yds. lam informed that thd Maori runner, Peri Natalia (P. Nathan), a back marker in the Northern Wairoa district, who has been worked on to a long mark, will accompany McLachlan to Sydney with a Botany Handicap in view. They may pay Stawell a visit at Easter time. Reports of the Hunterville, Cheltenham and Eltham meetings, hold on Wednesday last, will appear next week. The Dreyerton sports were held on Thursday last. W. F. Cathro was on marks good enough to win if he started. Results will appear next week. At a meeting held in Kimbolton on February 27th it was decided to form a Sports Club, to be known as the Kimbolton Sports and Picnic Club. Mr Hugh Mclntyre presided over tho meeting, which was very well attended. It was decided to hold sports on the cricket ground on Wednesday, March: 20th, to be followed by a concert and dance in the evening. A good programme, to. consist of athletic, horse, novelty, and' general events was drawn up.' It was decided to engage the Feilding Brass Baud to play at the sports. Following; officers were elected:—Patron. F. Y. Lethbridge, Esq., M.H.R.; . president, Mr F. W. Ellis; vice-presidents, Messrs R, IT. Harden, A. H. Tompkins, J. A. Bailey, Dr Greig, A. Dick, 0. Bray, R. Mcßeth, A. C. Matheson, H. Taylor, H. Towler, D. Howie, W. Johnston, W. Andrew; hon. treasurer, W. Hansen; secretary, W. G. Hicks; assistant-sec-retary, J. W. Tompkins; handieapper and director of sports, Mr C. Bray; starter, Mr Pettigrew ; judge of horse events, Mr J. D. McGregor; director of. toting, Mr R. B. McKenzie. The “Sportsman” correspondent thus refers to the Wanganui Amateur Club’s meeting; -—The weather was simply perfect, but, in spite of the fact that tho meeting had been well “boomed,” tho public manifested little interest, th« gate receipts totalling under £l3. 'Arthur Holder was advertised to start, but failed to put in an appearance. Pat Webster journeyed from New Plymouth, and for the second time this season on Cook’s Gardens was credited with running the 100yds from scratch in lOseo dead. He also won the 250yds Ladies’ Bracelet, but no time was taken for this event. Webster is undoubtedly a. pretty and speedy runner. 8. Davison, who is an improving pedestrian, won the Club Championship. 440yds, in 62 sec, but as only two watches wore timing the standard will not bo applied for. The fields in the College events were large, and tho finishes close. Hughie Good turned up promiscuously and appropriated the Putting, the Stone,_ beatinv his only opponent;, young Ritchie, of the College, somewhat easily. The officials all worked hard to ensure bn a success of the meeting, and a special word of praise is due to tho secretary, Mr S. R. Williams. At a meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland A.A. and C.C. on Wednesday last a letter was read from M. M. Roseingrave, intimating his willingness to mom George Smith in a 120yds invitation hurdle race at the autumn carnival if specially invited to town. He is at present in tho Upper Thames Goldfields District. As the Irishman has left the matter until the eleventh hour—despite the fact(hat Smith in his challenge had notified that he must have two clear months’: notice for training purpose, and that he had been written to on the matter several weeks back, but failed to reply—the communication was merely received, as Smith has been out of training ever since the November meeting. It was, however, decided to invite the Irishman down to the meeting, and it was announced by Smith that, given reasonable notice, lie would bo still quite ready to meet Roseingrave over the sticks.