AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10540, 17 March 1920, Page 8

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

INTERESTING JOTTINGS COMING EVENTS. March 17—Hibernian Society, Newtown March 37—Victoria University Sports, Kelburn Park. . . . March 29— Country Clubs' Championship, Wanganui. . ._ ,_, April S—N.Z.UniversiFics Championship, Basin Reserve. Notes and comments. "Victor," writing in the Wanganui "Herald" of March 9th. places an entirely wrong construction on my comments re tho programme submitted by the Wanganui Club * tor the country clubs' championship. 1 would like to give my friend \ ictor" a little inside information. At .a gathering of atheletes at Eona Bay on February 22nd, an impromptu meeting was held between J. Lynch (Wanganui), J. Bradbury (Wairarapa), and. C KUto (Wellington Centre), and an agreement was come to re tho events for the country clubs' championships. The decision was that the same events. as were held on the previous day (Wellington provincial championships constitute tn o programme for the meeting. , „ Now, I still hold that the Wanganui Club in not setting in touch with the Wairarapa Club' before submitting the altered programme to the Wellington Centre, committed a serious breach oi faith, and. then, to leave out the three events in which the Masterton Club (on paper).have a strong-hold, made tho position look worse. If the Wanganui officials were informed by their representative of the agreement entered into by him. on behalf of his club, then my criticism was just. As to "Victor's" remarks that the Wanganui amateur officials a.re quite as sportsmanlike as our Wellington friends —well, that part of the question has never been in doubt, and I do not think that anyone is more conversant of tho fact than "Hurdler" himself. On numerous ocasions I have been present at a Wanganui gathering, and I might say that outside competitors have always received and appreciated the extra attention given them by the officials ot the club. I might bo allowed in this connection to mention my old friend "Bill Corby, on whose shoulders most of the work has fallen in keeping the. Wanganui Club alive, and I am certain "'at mv remarks will be taken by him in the spirit in which they were penned—for the good of the sporti generally. Just one more word, then I will let the letter drop: "Victor" states, in his coneluding sentonces that "It may be, too, > that the Wairarapa champions will not have it all their own way in at least one or two of the events in question, as presumably 'Hurdler' hopes .it .will. ■ Well, this is the. unkindest. cut of all. for mv'hopes.are entirely the opposite way, "as- it. would be. most pleasing to me to see the Wanganui Club, win the shield and have a bumper gate. SYDNEY NEWS. . . At. the ninth annual. Charity, Carnival of the New South Wales police and firemen, 'held on the agricultural ground, Sydney, ' last Saturday week, herore a crowd of 40,000 people, some good performances were put up, notably the put with the 161 b ehot of W. J. O'Reilly (an old Australian champion) of 41ft 6m, and C. T. Fergusoni's throw in the hammer, ,121 ft lOin. ■ ■ . ' An event (100yds handicap) was on .the programme for Athletic League players and was won by Harold Horder (wellknown for his pace on the football' field) off 6i vards in lOsec. Not fast enough to'catch Davidson, of Auckland, who is also a League player. LOCAL NOTES.

The entries • for' Sit. Patriot s Day sports are exceptionally good. The 440vds ladies' bracelet, me main event of" the day, has twenty-five competitors. The jumping events have been'made post entry. Included on the programme is a 100yds open .handicap and I have heard numerous inquiries as to whether it is open for amateur runners. I can answer that question by saving "No." Our last year's provincial champion (100yds ■ and 220yds), N. A. J. Barker has started to train in earnest and expects to capture tho two sprint ©vents at the New Zealand Universities Championships to bo held here at Easter. To enable the college to have its best representatives all that meeting they are holding a "try out" meoting on Kelburn Park on Saturday week, and I advise all those interested in amateur athletics not to miss the .gathering. For the benefit of outside clubs thev are including a 100yds, 440yds, and one 'milo handicaps. Petor McColl (one-time professional walker) has once again applied for reinstatement and the verdict is in the hands of the New Zealand Council. OLYMPIC GAMES.

Has our Olympic Council gone to sleep? If so. it is just about time it woke up. Surely it does not need to wait for nominations beforo moving in the matter of how to collect tho necessary funds. As tho sending of a team to represent this Dominion at Antwerp is a big advertisement for our country I think tho Government should be approached with a view of giving X for .£ subsidy. To my mind the men worthy of representing us, with a. fnir chance of success, are:—lladfiold (sculling champion), Atkinson (brcast-stroko champion), AVilson (hurdle champion), and Davidson (sprint champion). To send 'these men would cost practically -£IOOO pounds. So you pro that it is timo somebody got moving! -