ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12603, 5 March 1903, Page 2

ATHLETICS.

Bv " Amateur."

; FIXTURES. j March 7.—New Zealand Amateur Alhlotio j Championship Meeting, Easter.—lnter-Varsity Athletic Tournament at Auckland. Tho New Zealand Championship meeting at Carisbrook promises to bo ono of tho best meetings of its kind over held in New Zealand, and, given fine weather, there should be a splendid attendance of the general public. The latter will certainly witness a good day's sport, as in addition to a good [ number of tho best local men. champions I flora Auckland, Wellington, Cliristcliurnh, | Timarn, Onmaru, and Invercnrgill will coin- [ pete. Canterbury is sending down a strong L team, and their chances of winning tho . coveted shield are very bright. The loeal f men will have to look to their laurels and i put forth their most strenuous efforts to : gain tho prize. There is hardly any (louht, I however, but that all those competing will • do their utmost in tho various events to bo , decided, looking not so much for individual ) honours as for the glory of tho province tc i which they belong. r The New Zealand Championship Shield. ■ which has replaced the banner, around i which, metaphorically speaking, many a hard , battle has been fought, is now on view in . Jacobs's window. Tho medals are also to . be seen there, and the show is attracting a ; good deal of attention. Both shield and medals reflcct the greatest credit on the craftsmen who designed and manufactured thein. , Tho entries to hand for the championship i on Saturday total closo on 60, spread over the following tevents: —100 yds, 7; Long ' Jump, 6; nainmcr-throwing, 4: ■ Weightthrowing, 4-: Half-mile. 5: One Mile Flat, 5: Three Mile Flat, 6: Quarter-mile Flat, 6: One Mile Walk. 6; Three Mile Walk, 6; 220,vds, 1; 440 yds Hurdles, 4; 120 yds Hurdles, 5: High Jump, 3; Pole .Tump, 3. It is satisfactory to note the largo entry for the t(vo walking events. It is a long time since a good walking race has been witnessed in Dunedin, The Hnlf-mile Championship is euro to be a, good race, as tho men who havo entered are all in the first rank. I learn that Invorcargill is sending up a representative for tho one and three-milo events. Seoing that tho harriers down south were so numerically strong, it is rather disappointing that more representatives for these ovifnts could not bo found. Dunedin has no representative in the Pole Jump. This is distinctly n pity, as the local men are thereby bound to lose points. However, tliey may gain them in something else. It is to bo hoped so. Altogether, tho meeting on Saturday should' be well worth visiting. The local Centre Committee and tboir energetic secretary arc doinp all in thoir powor to make a success of the gathering. The formation of a Canterbury Centre of tho N./i.A.A.A. lias now been accomplished, a meeting having been recently held in Ohrfetehurch for that purpose. The meeting was thoroughly representative, and on the motion of Mi East (Canterbury College), seconded by Mr Curtis (Ashburton), the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was formed, the clubs comprised in it being the Pioneer, J'ost and Telegraph, Canterbury College, Ashburton. South Canterbury, North Canterbury Public Schools, South Canterbury Public Schools, and Ashburton Publl'o Schools. Mr East was appointed acting secretary. It wan resolved that the clubs' forming tho Centre should be entitled to representation as follows:—One representative for the first 50 members, one for the ceconcl 50 members or part thereof, and ono for the third 50 or part thereof: the maximum number of representatives from a club to bo threo. The subscription payable by each club was fixed at 10s for cach representative. Messrs Aschman; Cardale, aiid East, were appointed a sub-committeo to draft rules and report to a mooting of . tho Centre on March 10. ' The Dunedin Harriers hold their annnal mooting next Tuesday, and the club begins operations toon after. The report and balance sheet show tho club to bo in a most healthy and flourishing condition, and credit is duo to the outgoing committee for the energy they displayed throughout the 1902 soason in order to put tho club on a good solid foundation. That they have succeeded nlay be judged from the fact that tho membership during the season stood at between 60 and 70, and also over £20 was paid nAvay for prizes and trophies. The balance sheet shows that in all, the club's treasurer handled between £50 and £60, and the committee has disbursed the amount with judicious care. Harrierism is likely to be more poptilar this season than even before. All the clubs are again showing signs of life, preparing reports and balance sheets for annual meetings, discussing plans for the coming season, etc. The memberships all round are expected to be largely increased. Entries for the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Cliilj'e autumn sports carnival Hosed with the secretary (Mr Ohlsen) on Saturday nvenitig (wires by Auckland correspondent), hilt were, not sufficiently large to warrant the club authorities to look forward to a successful and profitable meetinsf next Saturday week (March 14). Everything points to this old-established and once powerful club hanging up the shutters. Tho Auckland nrofessional runner Hnckstep is endeavouring to arrange a trlnnatlllsr match for £150 with the Queensland champion T). Smith, and a man down the coast named Hall. Tho distances suggested ore one to three miles, but I am afraid that the. match will not get beyond tho newspapers. R. W. Wadsley, the English champion, has arrived at. Los Angeles, California. Ha intends to compete in tho next Californian championships, and will then probably retire from tho . track.