ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

Bi Amateur, FIXTURES. 1 cbrunry.—Xew Zealand Championships (Auckland); Port Nicholson A.A.C. Meeting (Basin Reserve). TO A CORRESPONDENT. Athletic (Greenfield).—(l) Thero are no Otago championship athletic meetings. If you mean Xcw Zealand championships, which !a.st year were held at Diwcdin, l)c Thior (Canterbury) won the shot put with 37tt 7in, ami J. Wallace (Auckland) tho hammer with 131 ft tin.

A private letter received in Dunedin last week from G. V. Wheatley, tho Australasian niiddb dist.'ince champion, who has been invited to make a (our of New Zealand, uecoiimwicd by Davis, the hurdler, advises that it is not yet definitely settled that he can secure the necessary leave of absenco to tour Maoriland.

Apropos of this, I read somewhere that "Amateur" was still pursuing his lonely course, advancing rea.sons why Wheatley and Dftvw should not tour New Ztalatid this year. Yes, I am still pursuing that course, and will eonlmuo to do eo until such time as the promoters of the Australian invasion schome advance good and sufficient reason why tho Australian tour should be thrust upon us. It lias been claimed in certain quarters, where enthusiasm runs riot without judgment, that flic leasons advanced some weeks ago aro not material. Br; this is only begging; the question. The rea.sons, I etill contend, aro very material, and nono of the supporters of tho Scheme have yet come forward to djspiovo iny statements or to advanco better reasons for tire proposed tour than they yet have brought forward. I did think, too, that I was alone in my way of reasoning, but another writer who some time ago opposed the idoa of touring stars on general principles now lights side by side with me on tho question of the proposed- Wheatley-Davis tour of New Zealand.

This writer is _ "Sprinter," of Cantorbuvy Times; who in last week's issuo says; "Some time ago I wrote 6trongly against tours of star-s, particularly world's tours which I considered were in many cjwes arranged for the sole purpose of providing gates. And . I opined that the business of hawking amatsiir champions about the world would bo against 'the best interests ot amateurism. That was when I thought inducements were to be held out to It. E. Walker and Hefferon (beforo lie turned professional) or Vinoent Dunekcr. The South African Amateur Association very properly refusal to allow Walker to do uny movo touring, and ths nvoposal of Australia and New Zealand fell through , °. w appears that New Zealand—particularly Hsllington—is agitating for a visit of two Australian athletes, and it seems \vi i '• >av ' s ' tho hurdler, and George Wheatlsy, the middle-distance runner, will n!" t «?. Don,inion ' ' Amateur,' of the Utogo V\ itness, lias pointed out that next year lie Australasian championships will be held in New Zealand, and then would (lie memory of the Shrub-Duffey tour is the stars. If we aro to be toured by stars (the memory of the Shrubb-DufFy tour is evidently fading away), certainly next year would be preferable. But in bringing over U'heatley .and Davis the amateur Ds£o . (nations are creating a precedent that will ■n ail probability liava fai-ieaching effects, it really amounts to a tour of one subassociation of another's area, and it would w just as sensible for the two Victorians o our Queensland or New South Wales. thill! T • GVl ™ 8 '»- r<!du<xsd to an 0ta S° athlete louring Wellington or vico versa with there is no gainsaying the factthe de: ( of bolstering up tho finances of tro8 ' WhiChis ' 10t Then again (hero is nothing so extra, o d'Jianly remarkable in tho capabilities of either Wheatlcy or Davis, as compared with our own athletes, that, their tour will \W v , trcl ? endously effect on New Zealand amateurs. It is a moot qu °s jl on . whether Wheatlcy can beat Guv llaskms, and it. is certain there is very li tie to choose between St. Aubyn Murray ■ as hurdlers. At Hobart 111 1908 Davis tied with Colin Stewart twice in the final of the 120 Yards, while i WO ?t Davls brilliantly in the 440 Yards Hurdles. Also, in the natural , of thln S® Davis and Wheatlev should be over here next year for the Australasian championships, and it hardly Moms likely they will make two visits to JNow Zealand within so short a period. At tho present time there is really no need for oither of the Victorians to come across yet tho porsistenfc agitation in certain circles, may secure their presence, although tho visit cannot materially benefit Now ifc&utnd amateur, however the matter bo looked upon."—[The last sentence practicably conhrnis the views expressed in this column four weoks ago, and is the crux of the question."—Amateur.] • ■^ n( k' i ' son ' a worker and enthusiast in tho cause of amateurism, has imported a discus, which he is willing to pass on to anyone who has tho desire to go in for discus-throwing. This is one of the spoils of tho Ancient Greeks, who made quite a feature of it at the Olympic Gaines. It is with sincere regret that the Dunedin Anglican IJarriers chronicle tho loss of their energetic deputy-captain (Mr Percy Wilson) owing to his removal from Dunodin. Mr Wilson was one of the most popular members of the club, and the Anglicans' loss will be North Otago's gain, where it is hoped lie will be able to revive amateur athletics.

It is hoped that in the near future New Zealand will again bo represented at the Marathon games. With a view to sending a team, the New Zealand Amateur Alnistic Association has suggested to affiliated centres that all club members should be uskod to pay a capitation fee of 3d or bis. At a. recent meeting of the Wellington centre it was mentioned that a lew of 6tl wouk! return about £58, and consequently in three years there would be a sum of over £150 available to defray the expenses of two runners. The matter has Iron referred to the various clubs for consecration.

A prospectus issued in oonncction with m Olymnio Fete to be held in Hobart in February makes interesting reading so far a-i the champion athletes of New Zealand are concerned. It reads" Among the

competitive visitors who will attend tho carnival and contest the various events will be the following.—From New Zealand: Wooriger (■'printer), M'Kay (pole-vaulter), Kerr (walker), and Dickson (three-mile distance runner). From Victoria: Ellis (sprinter), Sufl'ren (distance runner), Fairloy (high jumper), Walker (pole-vaulter). From New South Wales: A largo number. From Queensland: Mailer and Frawley." Now this is surely an optimistic Etatemont to make _ by the authorities in the " tight little island." No one over here, 1 vontijro to say, had ever previously heard of Woodger, M'lCay, Dickson, and Co. expressing their intention to visit Ilobart in February. Quito apart from the approaching Now Zealand championships, about February, at which it is reasonable to assumo that the champions named will compete, there is tho fact that, they wore in Australia in August last, and are not likely to make another trip to Hobart early next year. PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS. By SI'ORT. FIXTURES. —December.— 25.—Athletic Sports, Kaitangata. 28.—Athletic Sports, lieriot. 25.—Athletic Sports, Enfield. 26.—Caledonian Sports, Duntrcon. 26.—Caledonian Sports, Kelso. 211.—Athletic and Cycling Sports, Roxburgh 27,—Caledonian Sports, Wnimate. 27.—Athletic Sports, Mataura. 27.—Athletic Sports. Waipiata. 27.—Caledonian Sports, Wrikouaiti, 27.—Caledonian Sports, Winton. 27.—Caledonian Sports. Balfour., 28.—Athletic Sport 3, Rivorton. 2f>.—Athletic Sports, Miller's Flat.

Pedestrians are reminded that, entries close for the Kaitangata Sheffield Handicap on Saturday next with Mr D. F. M'Kay (Dunedin) and Mr H. Bennett, secretary (Katangata). Handcaps wll bo issued on Decem'bcr 16. Acceptances clow on Dtcembar 21, on which date entries for tho 220 yds and 75vds races close.

• Under the heading, "Donaldson's latest Rccord," tho ltaml Daily Mail (Johannesburg) of October 14 speaks of An overnight performance by .1, Donaldson at tho Stadium : " The chief attraction or t.he evening lay m the effort ot Jack Donaldson to lower tho world's 600 yds record c.f Imm .13scc, held by E. 0. Brdin since 1897. Tho soreen announced that 'all watchholders are invited to take tho time.' In his heat tho 'Blue Streak' no attempt at a. record, as lie practically walked away from his field from tho last bank homo, although conceding 80yds start, Tho final saw one of t.lio finest finishes ever witnessed at the Stadium, or oleeu'hTo in. South Africa, for a. middle distance race Donaldson started after his field at a great paw, and inch by inch closed tho "(raps between himself and tho back-markers. Passing the screen on tho last lap tho ' Bluo Stalk' was t good 40jds behind Hoes, who led tho field, but it was lww where tho Australian mado his great, finishing power felt. Front tho east bank into the straight tho old Transvaal runner still hold a. big lead, but Donaldson's stride was telling, and after a magnificent buret down the straight, he gamed tho verdict by a yard, rive watch-holdera were in th* arena and their clocking were retunuvi as follows:-Mr Rufe Naylor ('dog watch'l, -V ' r Secrombe, 2ft inside 1.12; •Mr funsey (watchmaker, Carlton liuild- ! c ' l- 11 J-ssco; Transvaal Leader, 1.12 IjSsec; Mail representative, 1.12. Tho tuno returned, allowing for any possible discrepancies, was 1.12 1-5. After the raw tl]{? tiTvek wis mMSurcfl hy tho pros® r£t>r©sentatives, Ift from the line, being 601vds c ;-<? °f "J 01 "® fnJl « to tho ' Blue Streak, _ who thoroughly Aservcd the rocopuon .his great feat received." lteal'.y one cannot help a smile at Donaldsons attack on Bredin's lmin 15™ Md s.nco 1897, Jack Donaldson would douhf, leas know nothing about it, but what sort 01 a record has the Stadium management ? ao!I , A 'l " n amateur, E. 0. Brodin ran 600 yds in London on June 10, 1E93 in 4 Mm'-Amateur W. Halswell'put {UK ♦" Gksgow in 1005; amateur Mclvm W. Sheppn,r<i hoisted lmin: il 3-osw at New York on. October 1/, 1906; amateur Thomas E. Burke raj. 600 yds in lmin llwo in New York on September' 19, 1896: and amateur E H Montagus put up lmin llsoo in- Londoii on September 19, 1908. After Bredin "wont OV S r ' . \ vas on tho down grado athkti- . - \ iIC r-"t up 1.13 over this, for professional s, rathor nnusuo.l distance, and this what ponald'son was sent, against. An English funnel*, Gardiner, has eorce forward to say that ho ia willing- to run Shrubb 10, lo and 20 miles, and it would appear that if Shrubb is anxious for a match he can be accommodated at onco. «ot a. great deal is known outside a limited circle as to what Gardiner can really do. In tho early part of this year he won the London professional Marathon Kaco in 2nr 63niin 23isec, and altogether Jtas won 10 lonp-dictanoa races from 12 jo 26 milee. During tho coming winter he has entered into an undertaking to go out to America, where ha will run under tho auspices of the National Sporting Club of America, at Chicago. He is very keen on mcolin? Shrubb beforo lie leaves for tho States.