ATHLETIC NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20174, 11 August 1927, Page 5

ATHLETIC NOTES.

By Amateur. SATURDAY’S ROAD RACE. Good entries have been received for the road race on Saturday, no fewer than 33 runners having signified their intention of taking part. The race will be started at 2.30 p.m. froni Forbury Park, probably from the St. Clair end, and the competitors will proceed along Victoria road to Onslow House, where they will turn into Queen's drive and then take the Lower Portobello road to Macandrcw’s Bay and back again. It is satisfactory to note that most of the runners who have been performing well of late figure amongst the list of entrants. Such capable men as C. W. Frye, R. M. Stevens, J. W. Tape. J. Cameron, H. T. Emmerson, C. R. Hebbanl, E. P. Rowlatt, and R. Pate are expected to face the starter, and provided the conditions are favourable and the handicaps reasonably adjusted a keen contest may be looked for. It is noteworthy that the bulk of the entries come from the Caversham and Pacific Clubs, the former having 13 and the latter 11. The inauguration of the race is due to the generosity of Mr N. Nickels, an enthusiastic supporter of amateur athletics, who started the movement by offering to E resent three valuable prizes. These have een supplemented by the Otago Centre, which has decided to give £3 3s for the fastest time, £1 Is for the second fastest, and £1 Is as a fourth prize. NEW ZEALAND SELECTORS. In the course of a speech at a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last week, Mr Guy said that when the appointment of the selectors of the New Zeahind team for the Australian and New Zealand championships was made known criticism suddenly arose, and from one centre in particular. He referred to the Otag Centre. Ha had had a fair amount to do with the Otago Centre, and he had a large amount of respect for the same centre. Therefore, he was all the more surprised that it should level accusations of parochialism against the council. There had been a good deal of adverse criticism in the press about the whole matter, which emanated in the first instance from Otago. “The Otago Centre,” added Mr Guy, “seems inclined to use this council as an ‘Aunt Sally,’ and this council is inclined to catch the coconuts as they come over the fence.” He thought the Otago Centre should refrain from making statements •which were contrary to fact. Mr H. Urquhart (Otago): I am very sorry that this position has arisen, and I am also sorry that Mr Guy has taken this personal view. He added that he did not think Otago had taken up the attitude it had purely with the idea of upsetting the action adopted by the council. The Otago Centre’s contention was that one selector from each centre should be appointed. Mr R. Connop (Wanganui-Taranaki): I think we should hit the nail right on the head and appoint one or three selectors and stick to it. ' Mr Tracy referred to the question of expense in bringing the members of the Selection Committee together at Christchurch. The expense would fall on the council and not on the centres. Mr Connop: Expense is a secondary consideration if we are to have the best team, if we have men here who can select a team with our confidence and with the confidence of New Zealand 1 think we should appoint them as the selectors. CASE OF R. W, LANDER. Reference was made (says the Wellington Post) by Mr E. Guy at last week’s meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to the criticism levelled at the council by the Otago Centre for not sending the name of R. W. Lander on to the Olympic Council as a man up to Olympic standard iat the present time. The sub-committee appointed to select the athletes, said Mr Guy, had recommended to the N.Z.A.A.A. Council that Lander would probably be an Olympic candidate, and would probably be up to Olympic standard before the selection of the New Zealand team for the games. He was without doubt a very fine, admirable, and promising athlete. “1 do not think, however,” added Mr Guy, “ that the Otago Centre in its sane senses could eay he is up to Olympic standard at the present time. If he were up to that standard, and this council did not send his name to the Olympic Council, then there would be cause for criticism. Lander has done 15 l-ssec at Auckland in the 120 yards hurdles, but he has only put up that time once. He may be up to Olvmpic standard by the time the team is selected, and I hope he will be.” Mr Guy referred to the fact that J. T. Fleming (Wellington) had run 440 yards in Auckland in 50sec, a time which had not been equalled by any other New Zealander competing in New Zealand. Had he not an equal claim to Lander? Of course he had, and yet Fleming’s name had been forwarded to the Olympic Council on equal terms with that of Lander’s. The Otago Centre, he thought, should refrain from making statements contrary to fact.

NOTES. The Hanover Street Baptist Harrier Club, which was recently formed, will hold its club championship on the 27th inst. J. Barnes has injured a ligament in ©no of his legs, and will be unable to run for some time. He hopes to be fit again in time for the track championships bt the end of November. The application of the Mornington Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club for affiliation has been granted by the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. The harrier sports meeting, at which a comprehensive list of events will be decided, will probably be held on the Caledonia# Ground on October 8. The performance of F. Brady (Wellington Club) in clearing 6ft in a high jump event on February 19 last has been passed by the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association as the best on record in New Zealand, subject to the receipt of a certificate from the referee at the meeting. The New Zealand amateur 50 miles cycle road race championship, to be contested under the direction of the Auckland Centro of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, will be decided on September 10, when the Auckland 10,000 metres cross-country championship also will be decided. The combined harriers' dance will be held in the Art Gallery Hall on Wednesday, 31st inst. The arrangements are well under way, and if the fixture is purported as it should be a substantial sum should be raised towards the cost of sending the Otago team to the New Zealand championships at Christchurch in December. J. W- Savidan, the New Zealand crosscountry champion, reached Sydney on tho morning <of Saturday, July 23. The New South M ales Cross-country Championship was contested that afternoon, and ho was granted permission to start with the field in order to have the benefit of a run. After leading for about two miles and a-half he retired. The Dominion champion, at tho time of leaving Sydney, iyas in good fettle. Tho fifth annual race by tho pupils of the Cavcrsham School for tho Memorial Cup presented by tho Cavcrsham Hamers in memory of those members of the club who paid the supreme sacrifice during the Great War was contested bv between 39 and 40 runners, whoso capabilities worts only exceeded by their keenness. Tho Harrier Club is to bo commended for its efforfi; to encourage tho development of a lieait.lv sport amongst the juveniles, and part experience has proved that it reaps a benefit in later years. Tho winner, C. M’Gregor ran a. good race, and won easily. Last year’s runner-up, J. Cranston, had to be content with third place this year, while the winner in 1526. D. 11. M'Dougall, was unplaced last week. Tho Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club held tho eleventh meeting of its winter series of sports competitions on Saturday week. A. Clarke, the oldest runner in the chib, won the Two Milo and ajialf Steeplechase, and 11. S. Roper heat tho redoubtable Elliot in the 76 Yards Handicap sprint. The track was sodden, and Elliot could not pick un wav over tho later half with his customary dash. Ho finished fourth, however, out of 15 startcis. Time, Ssec. Elliot secured first place in throwing the discus. It was stated at a mooting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association that tho Auckland Centro had not sent any real answer to correspondence since May. despitfrequent requests from (ho secretary of the Now Zealand Council. It v.a- agreed that in view of the revival of professional sport in the Auckland province something ifoniiltl be done bj tbs New Zealand Coun-