AMATEUR ATHLETICS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11435, 3 February 1923, Page 9

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

PERSONAL AND GENERAL OBy ''Hurdler,” for ''N.Z. Times. ’*> COMING EVENTS. Feb. 3—Eastbourne Carnival. Rona Bay. Feb. 5 Evening Meeting, Kelburn Park, red. id —Americans at Palmerston North. Feb. 10—Masterton A.A.C., Masterton. Feb. 12—Evening Meeting, Athletio Park. Feb. 17 —Wellington Provincial Championships and second visit of American Athletes, Athletic Park. Feb. 19—Evening Meeting, Basin Reserve. Feb 24—N.Z. Championships, Athletic Park. MEETING AT RONA BAY TO DAY The East Harbour Sports’ Club are conducting a full afternoon meeting at Rona Bay to-day. Judging from the number of entries received a successful gathering should be the result. All our local champions are competing, including L. A. Tracy, H. E. Wilson, K. Griffen, P. Munro, D. Brown, C. Rowe. A. Barclay, W. Scatchard, and J. McKinlay. The 220yds handicap has been altered to 200yds. This gives competitors a straight course. There will ho over forty starters in the 100yds and 200yds. Tile lady sprinters are also down tn compete, and as they have been training hard a marked improvement in their times should eventuate. The relay race (as usual) is creating a lot of interest. This event is for teams of four —one to run 440yds. one to run 22flyds, and two to run liOyds. The University team (Griffen, Leadbetter, Whitehead and Tracey) is a good one. but will find the Wellington team (Paris, Rowe, Wilkins and Wilson) hard to heat. The boat leaves town at 1.20 p.m. ANOTHER CHIP AT THE N.Z'. COUNCIL "Amateur,” in the Wanganui "Chronicle,” lias a word to say on the doings of the Sen" Zealand Council in regard to the American tour. I append a copy of his remarks :—-"If all we hear is correct, the New Zealand Council gives Wellington a great hearing. For a 4!l(X> guarantee they got two meetings with the Americans, one of the meetings to include the triangular tests. It is now rumoured they are to have another meeting on February 17th. Have the Wellington Centre put up an extra 4)100 guarantee for this date? If they have not done so, I don't blame Canterbury fqr turning down the New Zealand Council's offer of one meeting for 4)100. 1 think the difference centres should he given a chance to instruct their delegates how to vote when it comes to arranging dates and place of venue for test meetings. Why should Wellington get all the plums?" I have tackled this question before, and cannot waste space to enter into a long controversy on "Amateur's” remarks. I can tell him this much, howevei. that the Wellington Centre have not paid, nor have they been asked to put up a further guarantee. And to give "Amateur" further room to talk, I can also tell him that at the next appearance of the Americans at Wellington, on Febru-, ary 17th, the local centre take all the profits. But—and a big but, too —what have Wellington done to deserve this concession? Well, I will tell "Amateur." The Wellington Centre was the first to put up its 4)100 guarantee. It never quibbled over its date—ran the meeting on ten days’ notice, and made a handsome profit, all of which was paid over to the New Zealand Council—approximately 4)200,. ■ The iqcal centre got nothing. v . ... J ", In the rules of the N.Z.A.A.A. ft states that the centre controlling a New Zealand! championship meeting shall receive half the profits. The New Zealand championships are to be held in Wellington, therefore the council is entitled to its share of the gate. The New Zealand Council (over the American visit) is faced with a big task to make the tour a financial success, so in its wisdom offerod the Wellington Centre February 17th free of any charge, on condition that the centre gave up its right to any call on the gate at the Aow Zealand championship meeting. This has been 'agreed too, and given a fine day the New Zealand Council will be left with a good bank balance, and so be able to foster the cause of amateur athletics throughout the Dominion JOTTINGS The evening meeting for February sth is now set down for Kelburn Park at 6 o’clock. ..The events are 100yds, 4,4oyds, three miles, 100yds ladies’ race, and a boys’ raco. B. A. H. Barker is on the limits at Eastbourne to-day. He should nearly win tho quarter andl half mile. Charlie Taylor, the Austalasian halt mile champion, is to be married next week. "Charlie" has made himself verypopular with the Wellington athletes and on their • behalf 1 wish him every success in his new venture. H. 13. Wilson is now in great form anti will surprise a few in the sprint events. Ho is training over the 440 ye distance and should have no difficulty in capturing tho Wellington and New Zealand championship hurdle events. George Anderson, the crack sprinter of the Athletio Club, has been forced to go into retirement for the rest of the season.

W. Kyle, of the Petone Club, who gav* promise last season of turning out a champion, should do more racing. It takes a lot of hard work to become a crack over >'he quarter. C. Bowler (also of the Petone Club) Is of just the opposite type. Bowler is fast racing himself in form and should soon show us what he can do. Griffen, Rowe and Gully will meet in tile 880yds provincial championship on February 17th. The finish will he close, ■and I would not like to say who will win. Americans at Auckland to-day. The Hawera Club haye unearthed a New Zealand champion hop-step-jump artist, a lad by the name of Wilkinson, who has been credited with doing over 46 feet. Hawera is now in the West Coast (South Island) Centre, and Wilkinson will represent that district at the New Zealand championships on February 2tth. D. Scott, who won the quarter hero on Boxing Day, should also be tent.

Javelin throwing is in the boom since the advent of the Amerioans, who have taught our boys how to manipulate the 6pcar. C. Louis is a case in point. Palmerston North and Masterton are both holding meetings on February 10th. This is unfortunate, but the circumstances were exceptional, and the clubs concerned will just have to knuckle down and make the best of it. "Poter" Munro ie going to Palmerston! H. W. Carr, the champion sprinter of Australia, will be in Wellington about February 15th. He will 'not run until fcho Now Zealand' chaiupionr.hips on February 24th, How about a relay race over 880yds, each to run 440yds, 220yds, 100yds and 110yds, between Carr, Kirksey, Krogness, Merchant and a New Zealand team composed of Taylor, Davidson, Tracy and Wilson Some race that would be! Iviksey and Davidson start off tho

scratch mark in. the 100 and 200 yards at Auckland to-day. The West Coast iNorth Island) Centre have appointed. Measra J. T. Watson and H Hyder as their delegates on the New | Zealand Council. . .

Young Jiudd, of Wanganui, is a very promising runner. Cycle racing is booming in Wanganui. Tlie Cambridge A.A.I. wishes to include professional wood-chopping events in their programme on February 28th. Their request has been turned down by the Auckland Centre, but the New Zealand Council has the right to grant the pennutiion. The Otago championships were held last Saturday, but tho performances were not great. Morgan (of Invercargill) waa tbe star performer, and may b© sent up to Wellington on the 24tli instant. C. Kalaugher, who cleared .the bar at 5 feet 5 inches at Jraraparauniu on New Year’s Da3 T , has 7 inches handicap from Krogness in the high jump at Auckland to-day. Ho should win. WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Mr A. C. Kitto, the selector for the ieam to represent Wellington at the forthcoming New Zealand championships, has chosen the following to go into trainin'/- with a view to selection: — L. A. Tracy, It. E. Wilson, J). Paris, H Whitehead. W. Kyle, L. Richardson* R. Gully, W. Candy. 0. Rowe, K. Griffen, I?-. Hose. A. Barclay, J. McKinlay, \Y. Scatchard. J. McKenzie, F. C. Hickling, J. Futter, P. Munro, D. Brown, C. Louis. G. Harvey, W. Harvey, A. Anderson. A. Jackson, J. Malfroy, ±l. Wilkins. P. G. Thomson, R. A. McKenzie, H- Whyte, R.Uowie, T. Bmmereon, W. G’ranbham, and R. W. Lander. This number is to be- increased when news is received of the Palmerston North champions. HINTS TO ATHLETES There is no need for a man to ns© up energy in winning’ a heat when second place will qualify. It is the final that matters, and every bit of energy conserved makes the all-important task so much the easier.

Never really give in as long as you have any earthly chance, and, above all, don't allow yourself to fancy that you are in this predicament until the gruesome knowledge is absolutely forced on you. For however bad youi may' 'be feeling, it by no means impossible that the other fellows may be feeling quite as much, if not even more, distressed.

To those wishing to become walking champions I say “start early” and “start slowly/' Attention to the fastening of one's shoes and the strength of the fastening is more honoured in the breach than the observance. Many a race has been lost through faulty ' preparation. Some people have an idea that staying power i© not needed in the case of a runner who confines liis attention to sprints. It is a fallacious notion, Considerable powers of endurance are required. to carry a man successfully through several Keats and finals in races of, eay, 100 or 120 yards. I strongly advise every athlete in hie novitiate to try more thari one particular branch of sport before he tries to specialise; and he need not be discouraged if his initial attempts eeem mediocre. AMERICANS AT GISBORNE The Gisborne Amateur Athletic Club had a highly successful gathering last Saturday, and more than covered their guaranteed In a note from the secretary, F. MeFadyen, he stated, that the Americana made a wonderful impression, both socially and as athletes. Unfortunately, Kirksey had a day oft, the travelling having affected him more than the others. In the 100 yards Handicap* Kirksey was second in his heat, won in 10 3-ssec. This was the slowest heat of the day. In the final, Kirksey (never looking like a winner) finished fifth. O. F. Paltridge (4*i yards) won the final in 9 4-ssec. In the 75 yards invitation scratch race, Kirkeey was also a starter. The race turned out a fiasco. After two falsa starts Kirksey was left on the mark, while the others badly beat the gun. The officials at th® tape, -seeing what happened, stopped the race and ordered it to be re-run. This time Kirksey was the only man to wait for the gun, and remained on the mark. The starter let the other three competitors go, ’ and Kirksey withdrew from the race. In the 120 yards Hurdles (exhibition), Krogness did the distance in 15 4-ssec. The relay race was won by the Americans in 46sec. J. W. Merchant threw the hammer 156 feet, and put the 6hot 44 feet 9 inches. Krogness and Merchant dead-heated for third place in the long jump, with 23 feet. Krogness also won the hop, step, and jump ©vent.