ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14084, 12 December 1907, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

13y Amateur.

FIXTURES. December 13—Uunctliu Amateur Athletic Club's Evening Meeting. January—Civil Service Club's Meeting. February ]— Xeiv Sienland Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting, Wellington. February GD and March Q-Australasian Amateur Athletic CliHtupionship Meeting at Hohart.

Quito tho most enjoyable function of its kind at which I bave had the honour of being present was tho annual social and presentation of prize.? of the Dunedin Anglican Hnniers, held 011 Tuesday evening. Fnthusiasm was the keynote of the gathering, and from its commencement to the singing of "Auld lang syne"' there was not a dull moment, and the utmost harmony and good feeling prevailed. Speeches were brief and to the point, the singing excellent, tho recitations made the. blood tinule, and the supper was beyond reproach.' What more? These harriers, who take their outing? in wide, open spaces and carry with them the lieallhy atmosphere of the out-of-doors, are good to meet an<f. delightful company in music, song, and story. It was a groat night.

It has now i>con definitely decided that the New Zealand amateur aihletie championship meeting, which has been allotted to the Wellington Centre, will take place at Wellington on February 1.

W .1. O'Kane. the locni sprinter, who has been spending a holiday on the Australian side for some months past, has returned lo Dunedin. Despite rumours to Ihe contrary, O'Kaiie. purposes turning out again on the cinder path this season. O'Kane expects to slriko form in view of the championship meeting.

A regrettable accident took place at tho Dunedin Athletic Club's evening meeting on Friday last, >T. Allan, who was taking part, in tho Long .Tump, "spiking" himself badly, inflicting a nasty injury in tho fleshy purl, of tho left. leg. I am leased to say that Allan is progressing favourably, and will be able lo take part iu future meetings shortly. This athlete will have to get out of that, habit 110 has of landing on bis right leg._ otherwise he runs a risk of metting with a similar accident. Iloare, tho erstwhile sprinter, has not yet put in an appearance 011 the training track, and I understand that owing to pressure of business he dees not intend devoting miieli time to athletics this season. It has been practically decided that Hector Burk will not make Ihe trip to Hobart to compete at Ihe Australasian championship meeting, to be held there in February and March next. The local orac-k will, however, compete at the New Zealand championships, to bo held in Wellington in February. Pressure of business is the reason for his being unable to make the trip to Tasmania.

TV second evening athletic meeting of the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club will take placo on Friday evening next, at 7 o'clock', when the following events will be decided:—so Yards Flat Handicap '(D.A.A.C.), Half-mile Walk Handicap (D.A.A.C.), Putting the Weight Handicap (open), 440 Yards Flat Handicap (open), Two-milo Flat- Handicap (open)

Acknowledged with thanks from the. energetio secretary (Mr J. T. Ilamann) a list, of the popular evening athletic meetings now being hold by Ihe Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club. The events arc varied and well selected, engaging the attention alike of tho athlete and the spectator.

Thero will be a break iu the series of evening athletic meetings during the Christmas and New Year holidays. After Friday, December 20, no meeting will he held until .January 10, when the series will bo resumed.

At tho Caledonian Ground tho other evening I was introduced to a gentleman who claims to have run 50yds in unheard-of time (I blush to siate it!), and the "Hundred" in considerably under world's record! This flying sprinter who outrivals Dutfey has promised to give an exhibition of his marvellous sprinting powers.

Our old friend A. Halligan, the present 120 yds hurdle champion. and ex-member of tho D.A.A.0.. now in Wellington, is leaving for England in the course of a few days. Apropos of this a Wellington writer says: "Ilalligan is undoubtedly a good hurdler, but with Cook still avilablc his Ices will not be felt greatly. The city has two very promising hurdlers in A. Bvcneen (tho Wellington rep{CE(;Dtatjyq thjco-fimtta) a fld .T.

X. Holmden {I hp present 120 yds hurdles champion of the New Zealand Univerfcitios)."

It is possible iliat B. Gootlhchore, of who ran so well in the last 100 Yards New Zealand Championship, will not he seen on the track tJiis season.

Mr A. A. Paapo (secretary Southland f'enlre. X.Z.A.A.A.) supplies the following amonded list of fixtures in Southland for, amateurs, 1o bo held during the holiday season: —Clifton (Christmas Day)— One Mile Handicap, entry Is 6d; 220 Yards Handicap, le; Half-mile, Is; 100 Yards, Is. Winton Caledonian Society (Boxing Day)— Amateur Handicap (150 yds). entry 2s; 440 Yards, 2s. In addition to the usual prizes, a handsome silver cup (value £5) will be presented lo the competitor gaining most points in the two events. Points to count 3. 2. 1. Makarewa Athlot-io Society (at Wallacetown, December 30)—100 Yards Handicap, entry 2s; 440 Yards Handicap, 2s. Caledonian Society of .Southland (January 1)—100 Yards Handicap, entry 2s; 220 Yards Handicap, 2s; 440 Yards Handicap, 2.1. Riverton Athletic Society (Friday, December 27)—1 Mile Handicap, entry 2s; 440 Yards Handicap, 2s; 220 Yards Handicap', 2s. The fate of Harry Kerr's walking record of oniin 26seo is slill in doubt. The Australasian Board of Control, to whom the performanoe was submitted for endorsement as_ an Australasian record, has postponed final consideration until its next meeting in February.

The recent Wanganui A.A.C.'s spring meeting brought to light a promising sprinter in A 7. S. Williams, who won the 100 Yards Maiden in Usee, his heat of the 75 Yards (open) in 8 l-sth see off seven yards, and the final in E«ee. The mile run was won bv W. A. M'Kenzie, a Wellingtonian, in 4miu 49.see olf 34 yards.

I'rosf.'ects are wry bright for the annual sports meeting of the Tokomairiro Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club at Milton on New Year's Day. Already a large number of Dunedin runners have decided to make tho trip: amongst others the champion Hector Burk, whose pre.sence alone will make the meeting' of more than provincial importance. In addition entries are promised from Lawrence and Balehitha. T.ipa,imi can be relied on to send a strong contingent, so that the meeting at Milton will afford an opportunity for country athletes to show their mettle against, the pick of the. city representatives. The handicapping will bo in the competent hands of Mr W. M'Donald (honorary handicapper tothe'OiagoCentre) and Mr A. I'arlane, who acts in a lit;? capacity for the Tokomairiro Club. The races should prove all t.lie more interesting on that account. In addition to Ihe active athletes a large number of supporters of amateurism intend making the sporis meeting the occasion of a holiday I rip to the clean town, par excellence, of Otago. Tho following programme will he submitted:—loo Yards Flat, 120 Yards Maiden, Half-mile, One Mile, Relay Tiace of aboul a mile, for teams of four, Toko Handicap of 220 Yards, 120 Yards. Hurdles. I'oli) .lump, Long .lump, High .lump, and Putting the Shot, besides which there will be a race for youths under 18 over 220 yards, a relay race for schoolboys, and a handicap' of 120 yards, also for sehoollioys. All entries will eloso on Tuesday, the 24th, with the honorary secretary, Mr E. Moore, box 23, Milton, or Mr U. CI. Anderson, G.P.0., Dunedin.

In connocr.ion with Ihe mishap that befell Allan in the long jump at the Duncdin Amateur Athletic Club's sports meeting on Friday night, it is fortunato that there was present Mr W. Wilkinson, an expert in rendering first aid, who speedily made the sulferer comfortable. Mr Wilkinson holds a high certificate of efficiency in the rants of the St. Jolm Ambulance Association, and his ready assistance has been available on many similar occasions. Mr 1?. G. Andeivon having presented one of the bamboo poles recently imported to the order of the New Zealand Council to the Toko Club, an early opportunity will be given of testing the manv advantages olaimed for the bamboo. The polo vault at Milton on New Year's Day will be of more llmti ordinary interest for this reason alone.

In the long iump on Friday night the usual tako-ofl was dispensed with, competitors taking off from a 2in chalk line. Even with the assistance of handkerchiefs placed on the ground jumpers seemed to bo all at sea at judging the take-off. and much of the mediocrity of the display may he put down to this cause.

The attention of runners is drawn to tho two amateur events at Lawrence on Boxing Dav. The distances are 120 yds and 350 yds, and entries (Is for the first and 2s for the second) clc.f-e with Mr J. Airey, Lawrence, on the 18th inst. These events are put on the programme with the intention of helping the newly-formed amateur club and town athletes, mid those residing in adjoining districts who make the trip xv'll bo helping'the newly-formed club to promote amateurism'in the goldfields, besides having a thoroughly enjoyable outing among their Lawrence brother athletes.

At. its next meeting on tho 16th inst. tho i Otago Centre will have to take into consideration tho representation of Otago at (lie New Zealand championship meeting in Wolliiifjlon 011 February 1. The matter will present some difficulties this season, as Ihem will, in the first place, lie very little to go cn in tho selection of tho team, the Milton meeting 011 Now Year's Day being practicallv 1110 only test before entries will close. Then, again, there is the question of finance. Tho Otago Centre lias a balance certainly, lint quite inadequate for the purpose, so that presumably the time-honoured method of going round with the hat will have to lie adopted. Last year the clubs came to the rescue, both the Civil Service and the D.A.A.C. donating £5, while the other clubs assisted according to their means. "Amateur" is of opinion, in the light of past, experience, that a small team should l*> sent this year, and that the men should arrive in Wellington at least the day before the meeting, and earlier if possible. As the meeting is held on a Saturday it would bo possible* to leave Dunedin on Thursday, arriving in the Empire City 011 Friday and returning on Saturday night, reaching home on tho Monda-v night by tho first cxpre.ss. Guv Raskins has written from Philadelphia to a friend that he is a fixture in the Slates, and does not intend returning to New Zealand, as reported, and will not, ('••refore, be available for the Australasian championships. Rather disappointing, 110 doubt, to Now Zcalanders, but a good man out. of tho |Kith of G. A. Wheatley and others (says 'Harrier''). Owing to having snapped a back tendon, 110 was not competing in the National Championships this year. The inilo was ran in 4min 29sec, and as Ilaskius luis 4tniu 20 2-sse© to his credit for tile distance, lio should have had a big say in the result.

loininy Bums, who recently defeated Bill Squires so easily for tho world's championship, was to have fought. Gunner Moil-, the English champion heavy-weight, in London last week. Providing l he defeated Moir, Burns promised to moot Jack Johnson, tho coloured champion, 011 his return to* America.

These two paragraphs, both from late American iilea, seem to clash: "Alfred Shrubb has accepted the position 0 f inslruetor to tiie Irish-Canadian Athletic Club of Toronto, and intends to retire from the track. . Ho recently refused 10 race Irishman Day over a mile." A little later tho following dofiance from Shrubb appears, dated October 12:—" Sporting Editor Globe: Dear Sir,—l soe by your issue of to-day's doto that it is the opinion of certain good judges of distance running in Tcrronto that Longboat can beat me at a long distance. I am prepared to run Longboat 20 or 25 miles 011 a properly measured track for 2000dol, and place the money as mutually agreed. A 6 it has been Kiid by a prominent amateur that I am out for money-making, I am prepared, if Mr Longboat, will meet, me, to give my proportion of the gate receipts to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children. I trust that Mr Longboat, will accept, tlris challenge, and then the publio will see which is the better man. I 0111 tired of hearing so much blutF. Now come along.—Yours faithfully. Alfred Shrubb."' According to Mr T. C. Flanagan, the great American authority, and president of the. Irjsh-Canadian Club, Longboat lias .refused the challenge, on the ground that he is an amateur, and intends to stay as such.

Slirubb, however, is liuding other game, as the following. aL-'o by tho American mail, shows: Alfred Shrubb, the English champion runner, is etill carrying all before him in America. At tins Caledonian sports ho met Home of the beet American athletes, and in cverv event in which he competed— the Mile, Three .Miles, and l'ive Miles—ho defeated allcomers. In the Mile and Five Miles lie had as opponent a full-blooded It is slid that Trembath will bo a competitor at Milton on New Year's Day, and should tho (iorc champion make the trip he will for the first time measure strides with liec-tor Burl;, and an opportunity will bo given of Bottling the question us to the southern man's chances with the New Zealand champion. Personally, the vriler hopes io witness the quarter and half in which both compete, being satisfied tliat Trembath will put tip a ereat Tace. As to his chances of beatinff liurk well that is another story. For those clubs in search of novelty in sports events hero is tho latest American notion—a pole vault for distance. In a recant competition of this description in New York one Martin Sherjtjan won out .with a jujpp of 2Mt 6iii..

pmin 'pun '||ijd SinpuEjg oj.iav iat|4 jt sb pj.nj ,n|| u.ttoj) (WAvbui 'KimiU(Uiii[o' Xis IsuirJic poi|.>ii:ur sbm o.vr.i o|uii-o.\t^ oi|| [[[ -,)[q!io.u oil ui>uu|sj|iiii;.[ oqi oWjt '""II i' u l WU J J !'P «mp»[ inj.tii ;ii|i jo }ui!puo3>\>[> i! 'ireipuj great cheering. cantered home a winner b\over liaif a mile. Shrubb was carried olf the field on tiie shoulders of (wo brawny Scots, lo iho accompaniment of a band of Highland pipers,