ATHLETICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16472, 26 August 1915, Page 8

ATHLETICS.

By Amateur. Local athletes continue to respond to (lie call to arms :u tile iino spirit that characterised the first rush of volunteers for the trout. Among others who marched otf proudly with the Otago section of tho liiyhth on Tuesday were 11. G. Anderson and F. M. Held, two well-known members of the Ot.ago Centre of the N.JS.A.A.A. 'J'lie former luus taken u keen interest in the legislation of amateur athletics in New Zealand for many years, and has been one of the hardest workers in the cause of amateurism. Frank Ueid was one of the mosf consistent performers in Outgo for a number of yeais, and until last when lie practically dropped active work on the track, always perlorined with distinction. Bob Anderson and Frank lie id will eventually join many other Olaqo athletes ul. the front, and, be sure, tJiey will be among the first at tile starting-line on the longdistance race to Constantinople. Several of tlios„' who were familiar figures on the racing tracks of Or ago and in the cross-country fields last year are now in the trenches at GallinoH. A few have bvon wounded, some have been killed in action, and some are missing. All have, won undying fame. Colonel Arthur Bauchop, who was killed in a recent engagement, was one of Ota go's best-known middle-distance runners a few years ago. Though lie never achieved to championship honours, he was, nevertheless, a sound performer, and ran in the best company of his time. Bob Mitchell, wounded the other day, was probably the best known of our latter-day athletes, as he was one of the most versatile, lie took part in most athletic events, miming a. good quarter, hurdled well, and jumped better than lie ran or hurdled. He twice won the High Jump Championship of New Zealand, and would have made a groat success of this department oi athletics had he specialised in it instead of attempting the number of events lie did. Then there is Mitchell's boon companion and sharer of liis joys on many an athletic field, Dick Egglcstouo, the ex-New Zealand 100 champion, who has been missing since that grim first landing at Gallipoli. One cannot think of one without the other. They worked together pnd played together; when the war broke out they enlisted together: they fought together, and now. I like to think, though or;o is missing and the otlier wounded, they will yet laugh together.