AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11423, 20 January 1923, Page 9

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

PERSONAL AND GENERAL (By “Hurdler,” for “N.Z. Times.”) COMING EVENTS. January 22ud —Masterton A A.C., Masterton. January 22nd.—Levin A.A.C., I.evm. January 22nd. —Americans, at Wanganui. January 29th —Americans at Gisborne. February 17th.—Americans at Wellington. March 10th. —Wellington Amateur Athletic Club, Athletic Park. MASTERTON MEETING MONDAY On Monday fully 30 competitors from this city will leave by the early tram to take part in the sports gathering to be held at Masterton. The best of our local talent will be competing, including L. A. Tracy, H. Ei. Wilson, C. Rowe, and F. Hickling. A feature of the meeting will he the appearance of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Clubs' lady members in competition with the country iady sprinters. The' ladies here are very keen on the trip and have been training hard, so as to keep up the prestige of our city. Miss Phyliss Dawson should prove ■ & certainty for the 220 yards event, as she is improving every rim. The Wellington Club is entering two teams in the ladies’ relay race, viz., Misses Dawson, Du Chateau and Wilkins, and Misses H. Bennett, E. Posselt and Martin, and the unbeaten milo relay team in the men’s race (Rowe, Bennett, Wilkins and Wilson). ' The programme is a lengthy one and ■will need good management to get the events off to time. The train loaves Lambton at 7.50 a.m. and Masterton on the return journey at 5.55 p.m. A special carriage is being provided for the team. AMERICANS AT MASTERTON The appearance of the American athletes at Masterton last Saturday was signalled by a record attendance and fully demonstrated that if you provide the talent yoi will get the crowds. The Americans had a real gala day, and won all but one event in which they competed. I think the starter, as well as the handicappers need a word of censure, for I heard it mentioned that the handicaps were framed so that the visitors would scoop the pool, and so it proved., The local competitors did not have a chance of winning. The starter (F. Kilminster, a real fine fellow mark you) did not have enough confidence in -himself to make a success of his job. Take, for instance, the start of the' 100 yards final. A.U the competitors left the mark before he had finished saying “set," with Kirksey slightly quicker to'move than the rest. The Amerioan, thinking he had beaten the (run, practically pulled up and then found, to his astonishment, that tho gun had fired and all the others were well on their way. 1 Kirksey chased the field, but could not get any nearer than fill fourth place at the finish —though the judgeis vere kind enough to place him second. In the 220 yards final Kirksey saw to it that he did not get left again, and i had fully a two yard break on Tracy before the gun went. Kirksey won by this two yards, Tracy getting third. The hammer throwing event gave ns Merchant at his best, and he established a record that bard to boat—168ft 6in.

George Krogress gave a fine exhibition over the hurdlee and put np good time against poor opposition. The Americans were pleased with the ground and arrangements for their comfort and thoroughly enjoyed their stay in Masterton. Amongst the officials 1 noticed many prominent Rugby football-adherents, notably "Ted" McKenzie and W. Wattereon. A word of praise is due to the energy of Mr T. Jones, who acted as referee (and who, by the way, was marshal, and clerk of the course combined) for the smooth working of the gathering. The Wairarapa Centre should now be pleased for going on with the meeting. Not only was it a success financially, but it proved from tne competitors’ point of view an education in more ways than one. JOTTINGS George Murdock, our one-time champion in the shot-putting and hammerthrowing departments, is in town, and is just as keen as ever when discussing field events. L. A. Tracy has not started in a 440yds event yet. Miss Allen is the lady champion in the Wairarapa. It will be interesting to see how our champion, Phyliss Dawson, gets on with her on Monday. By tho way; this same Miss Dawson is not the young lady who started a Rugby football club here last season. ' > , Miss H. Posselt has resigned from the ladies’ club. Miss McPartland will soon win a race: she has improved wonderfully lately. It is; hard to understand how it is that Miss Wilkins is showing such poor form in her races. She has the best style of the lot, and is easily the fastest off the mark. j Miss M. Bennett had a nasty fall in the 100yds race last Monday. How is it that J. iMcKmlajr always runs better at an evening meeting than at a big; gathering? He won the mile very , easily last Monday. Some; say that McF. ran well inside the chalk: line—that is, took a short cat. | . Ralph Gully, of -Masterton, who was a competitor at the evening meeting last Monday, proved that he is “some" good by defeating "Charlie" Rowe off the same mark in the 440yds handicap. It must be admitted that Rowe had the worst passage of the two, hut nevertheless he was well beaten at the finish. The finish of the 100yds was very close, and it must have been, for I heard many round the tape say that Richardson had won. The judges did not place him first, second or third. The Wellington Amateur Athletic Club anticipates holding an afternoon meeting about March 10th; ATHLETIC CONTROL Just at the present time it may he of interest to my readers to know just by whom amateur sport in this Dominion is controlled. First of all each centre (Canterbury, Otago, Auckland and Wellington) elect their own delegates, each body being entitled to two representatives. The following gentlemen were appointed for this year:—A. T. Davies and S. S. Dean (Auckland), M Burnett and A. C. Kitto (Canterbury,) H. Murray, and F. Wilton (Otago), J. W. Heenon and B. A. Guise (Wellington). These men are supposed to have the support and confidence of their respective centres, and are placed in the position of honour to further the cause of amateur athletics throughout: the Dominion. One step the council took towards benefiting the sport was to invite, a team of American athletes to tour our islands. This tour has eventuated, and was agreed to by all centres, guarantees being put up or promised in each instance. Without consulting their delegates, both Otago and Canterbury (after agreeing to dates) nowii refuse to accept a meeting at all, and want their guarantees returned.'* To my mind the council should not allow these South Island centres any latitude, nor should they return the guarantee. This money was required to finance the tour, and should be held to meet any loss that might occur through ihe short-sighted action of these centres. The council has already put up with too much humbug over this tour, and should not allow clubs and centres to dictate over matters of policy.