(AMATEUR.)

NZ Truth, Issue 90, 9 March 1907, Page 3

(AMATEUR.)

(By Centre.)'

Despite the very unpromising aspect of the weather there was a good attendance at the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club's Autumn carnival last. Saturday. The strong wind that prevailed was all against fast times, and considerably handicapped many of the competitors with the result that there were several surprises brought off during the afternoon.^ The handicapping svu.s on the whole excellent, though the- winner of the half and one mile handicaps was m a measure thrown m, and Kerr, m the one mile walk, was a,aked .to concede too much. The enclosure -was for once m a while almost entirely clear of dead-heads' who had no business there. The racing was of a high order, more especially in'the sprints.

The' large field ' m the 100 yds only allowed of firsts, m heats starting m the final, and. there was m cbnse Iquence some unusually exciting racing, racing m the heats. Carruther-s, the winner, ran with great determination, . just getting up on the tape. JoLnsoii, who followed Carruthers home, is up to fifty yards one of the fastest sprinters here. He gets out of the holes like a flash, but begins tp come back toy/ arris the .end of IQO yds. The surprise of the- ''face" \ was Goodbehere's splendid showing. He sot away better than usual and was coin!?: very strong at the finish., Anoihsr half dozen yards and he would have won. • : ■

The maiden was an unsatisfactory race. Roberts was "shot out of the gun" and had nearly . a five yards start before the' others got under way. As it was he only just got home m ifront of Fama, who!, finished very well.

Carruthers, by winning the 220 yds handicaps with something to spare, gave another glimpse of his quality. L. A. Chapman ran well and'finished second, but if the r - referee- had been awake he would have, been disr oualified for jostling- in the early part of the race. The sooner- competitors are disqualified „ for trying to get through on the inside when there is only about six inches to spare the better it will be for the sport. ■ .

■- Cunninghame, running with good judgment and coming away nicely .m the straight, had little difficulty m winning the .. big race, the 440 yds handicap. Casey and Lauchlan, who followed him home, ran very, well, but the distance appears to, be just a little too far for Casey. V

In. 1 the 500 yds Club -race Fisher was seen at his best and he has seldom run a better* race. Cozens ran. with his customary pluck, but does not seem to be improving at all. He was probably better two.; years ago than at present. . . . .

.Burge had a cakewalk m the half mile and could undoubtedly have won it from scratch. His- finishing power is marvellous. No matter how hot the pace is m the earlier stages, he always seems to have something left to go on with at the business end. In the mile he was- fully thirty yards behind the leaders entering on the last lap; but when he started to make up ground there was no one else m it with him. *

The mile and a half handicap was won easily by H; T; Thompson off the 200 yds mark. Thompson is the ideal build for a distance man and is capable of vast improvement.

The field events do not call for much comment. * The high and broad jumping was of ay. very -poor nature —m the latter event particularly so, not one effort being above fourth rate. Our jumpers all seem to be scared of taking, off from the board. McKay won the "shot" : with a put of 36 feet 4£ inches, a creditable performance. Outside Wallace's throw of 129 feet the performances m the hammer were of the feeblest possible kind. It is quite on the cards, that next year Wallace will break Madill's record. of 136 feet H inches.

The events of ' the day were the walks. Kerr, giving away foig starts, won the two miles and was third jn the mile. After Saturday's display there can be little doubt as to the fairness of Kerr's walking. Cashman, second m the two miles and winner of the mile walk, is. a coming champion. This is his first" season on the track, but he has already shown very promising form and is on the improve all the time. ,

■The arrangements were highly satisfactory and reflected the greatest credit on Secretary Talbot and -- his hard-working colleagues'. The strictest punctuality was observed m getting off the respective events, and m this respect alone the • responsible officials are entitled to a pat on the back. ......

Athletic circles are the gainer by the transfer of Arthur Skinner from Auckland to this city. He claims the world's records for throwing the 16ft straight-handled hammer a .distance of 167 ft liin, and for putting the 561 b shot from a 7ft circle a distance of 40ft 7in: Mr Skinner tilso claims the Australasian record for throwing the stone, Irish style. \ln the wrestling field' he and his pupils have gained most of the honors during the last seven years, though ■ a notable defeat was when Cameron, the British wrestler, beat Mr Skin*ner m Graeco-Roman and catch-as-catch-can, the latter proving victorious m the Cumterland style. He was also responsible for the inauguration of the very successful physical culture school m connection With the Auckland police. .. •